Wilhelm Schmalz

Wilhelm Schmalz (1 March 1901 – 14 March 1983) was a German general (Generalleutnant) in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Schmalz surrendered to American troops in May 1945.

Wilhelm Schmalz
Born	(1901-03-01)1 March 1901 Reußen, German Empire
Died	14 March 1983(1983-03-14) (aged 82) Braunfels, West Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	Army Luftwaffe
Rank	Generalleutnant
Commands	Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Schmalz was tried and acquitted of war crimes by a court in Rome on 12 July 1950. This included the Civitella in Val di Chiana massacre on 29 June 1944 where 146 civilians were murdered by soldiers of the Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring. .^[1]

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (14 September 1939) & 1st Class (16 October 1939)^[2]
• German Cross in Gold on 8 February 1942 as Major in Kradschützen-Bataillon 59^[3]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 28 November 1940 as Major and commander of I./Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 11^[4]
  • 358th Oak Leaves on 23 December 1943 as Oberst and commander of Panzerbrigade z.b.V. der Panzer-Division "Hermann Göring"^[5]