Rudolf Schmidt (Major)

Rudolf "Rudi" Schmidt (15 March 1914 – 23 February 2000) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Rudolf "Rudi" Schmidt
Nickname(s)	"Rudi"
Born	15 March 1914 Plauen
Died	23 February 2000(2000-02-23) (aged 85) Esslingen
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Branch	Reichsmarine (1932–35) Kriegsmarine (1935–?) Luftwaffe (?–1945)
Years of service	1932–45
Rank	Major
Unit	Jagdgruppe 88 Kampfgeschwader 26
Commands	II./Kampfgeschwader 26
Battles / wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Invasion of Poland Norwegian Campaign Battle of France Battle of Britain Invasion of Yugoslavia Operation Barbarossa Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942) Battle of the Mediterranean
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Despite being half Jewish, or Mischling under the Nuremberg Laws, Schmidt enlisted in the Luftwaffe and served with distinction.^[1][2]

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold (13 August 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 28 March 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 26^[3]