Gustav Schmidt (general)

Gustav Richard Ernst Schmidt (24 April 1894 – 7 August 1943) was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gustav Schmidt committed suicide on 7 August 1943 to avoid capture by Soviet troops.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1914)
 * 2nd Class (15 September 1914)
 * 1st Class (18 October 1915)
 * Wound Badge (1914)
 * in Black
 * Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
 * Cross of Honor
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (21 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (2 October 1939)
 * Panzer Badge
 * in Bronze
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * German Cross in Gold (22 April 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 4 September 1940 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 742
 * 203rd Oak Leaves on 6 March 1943 as Generalleutnant and commander of 19. Panzer-Division