Fritz von Scholz

Fritz von Scholz
SS-Brigadeführer Fritz von Scholz, as commander of 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland", 1944.
Born	9 December 1896 Pilsen, Kingdom of Bohemia, Austria-Hungary now Plzeň, Plzeň Region, Czech Republic
Died	28 July 1944 (aged 47) Narva, Reichskommissariat Ostland, Generalbezirk Estland now Narva, Ida-Viru County, Estonia
Allegiance	Austria-Hungary (to 1918) (to 1934)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Austro-Hungarian Army Waffen-SS
Years of service	1914–19, 1934–44
Rank	SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS
Service number	NSDAP #1,304,071 SS #135,638
Commands held	11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland"
Battles/wars	World War I World War II Battle of Tannenberg Line †
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Fritz von Scholz, Edler von Rerancze,^{[Note 1]} (9 December 1896 – 28 July 1944) known as Fritz von Scholz, was an Austrian Austro-Hungarian Army Oberleutnant and later German Waffen-SS officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars.

Scholz was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross on 12 March 1944, as well as the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty (2nd class) with Swords. On 20 April 1944, Scholz was promoted to Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS.^{[1][Note 2]}

In late July, after the launch of the Soviet Operation Bagration and the collapse of Army Group Centre, the corps retreated to behind the Narva river. On 27 July, while visiting the front line, Scholz was wounded in an artillery barrage; he died on 28 July 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross on 8 August 1944.^[3]

Awards

• Sword of honour of the Reichsführer-SS
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 May 1940)^[2]
  • 1st Class (29 May 1940)^[2]
• Eastern Front Medal
• Infantry Assault Badge
• German Cross in Gold on 22 November 1941 as SS-Standartenführer in SS-Regiment "Nordland"^[4]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 18 January 1942 as SS-Oberführer and commander of SS-Regiment "Nordland"^[5][6]
  • 423rd Oak Leaves on 12 March as SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS and commander of the 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland"^[5][7]
  • 85th Swords on 8 August 1944 (posthumously) as SS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS and commander of the 11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland"^[3][5]

Notes

1. Regarding personal names: Edler is a rank of nobility, not a first or middle name. The female form is Edle.
2. Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z, lists him holding the rank of SS-Obergruppenführer.^[2]

References

Citations

1. Berger 2000, p. 321.
2. Thomas 1998, p. 282.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 44.
4. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 421.
5. Scherzer 2007, p. 681.
6. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 387.
7. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 80.

Bibliography

• Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Krätschmer, Ernst-Günther (1999). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Waffen-SS]. Coburg, Germany: Nation Europa Verlag. ISBN 978-3-920677-43-9.
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.