Heinrich Schmetz

Heinrich Schmetz
Born	22 October 1914 Essen
Died	22 July 2004 (aged 89) Unknown
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	?–1945 1956–74
Rank	Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	KG 4 KG 30 Kampfgeschwader 100
Commands held	III./Kampfgeschwader 100
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain Invasion of Yugoslavia Battle of Crete Eastern Front Italian Campaign
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinrich Schmetz (22 October 1914 – 22 July 2004) was a highly decorated Hauptmann in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and 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. Heinrich Schmetz later joined the Bundeswehr rising to the rank of Oberst.

Awards and decorations

• Flugzeugführerabzeichen
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
  • in Bronze
  • in Silver
  • in Gold
  • in Gold with Pennant
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (20 May 1940)
  • 1st Class (27 September 1940)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black (12 September 1944)
• Ärmelband Crete
• Bronze Medal of Military Valor
• German Cross in Gold (18 May 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Kampfgeschwader 100^[1]

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 309.

Bibliography

• 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.
• 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.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Das-Ritterkreuz.de