Leopold Schrems

Leopold Schrems
Born	4 October 1922 Kirchberg, Austria
Died	8 July 2008 (aged 85) Seekirchen, Austria
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Heer
Years of service	1941–45
Rank	Unteroffizier der Reserve
Unit	Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85
Battles/wars	World War II Operation Barbarossa Siege of Leningrad Italian Campaign Battle of Monte Cassino
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Leopold Schrems (4 October 1922 – 8 July 2008) was a highly decorated Unteroffizier der Reserve in the Wehrmacht 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. Leopold Schrems was captured by American forces in May 1945 and was held until August of that year.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (27 June 1943)
  • 1st Class (11 August 1943)
• Wound Badge (1939)
  • in Black
  • in Silver
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
  • in Silver
• 3 Tank Destruction Badges for Individual Combatants
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Eastern Front Medal
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 July 1944 as Obergefreiter and Group leader in the Stabskompanie / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85^[1]
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht (27 May 1944)

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
27 May 1944	Als Einzelkämpfer haben sich der Jäger Fries, Richtschütze in einer Fallschirm-Panzerjägerkompanie, durch Abschuß von 17 feindlichen Panzern innerhalb von zwei Tagen, der Obergefreite Schrems in der Sturmkompanie eines Jägerregiments, durch Vernichtung von drei Panzern im Nahkampf hervorgetan.[2]	As individual fighters distinguished themselves, the rifleman Fries, gunner in a parachute armored infantry company, by shooting 17 enemy tanks within two days, Lance Corporal Schrems in the assault company of a hunter regiment, by the destruction of three tanks in close combat.

References

Citations

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 316.
2. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, p. 111.

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.
• 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.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 3, 1 January 1944 to 9 May 1945] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• World War 2 Awards.com
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945