Walter Schmidt (SS officer)

Walter Schmidt (28 January 1917 – 28 July 2000) was an Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves, an award that recognized extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Walter Schmidt joined the SS in 1935 (SS-Nr. 311 100) and was posted to the III. Battalion, SS Standarte Germania. He was later selected to become an officer, attending the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. Upon graduation he was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant). He returned to the Germania as a platoon commander in the 4th Company, in time for the Polish Campaign. After that campaign he was given command of the Panzerspähzuges (Armoured car platoon) in the SS-VT Division, serving with them over the Battle of France.

In June 1941 he was posted to the Wiking Division, and took part in the invasion of Russia, Operation Barbarossa. On 9 April he was awarded the German Cross in Gold and was given command of the III. Battalion, Westland, SS Wiking.

Schmidt was awarded the Knight's Cross for his battalion's successful defense in the Izium sector. He then led his battalion out of the Cherkassy pocket, for which he was promoted to Hauptsturmführer (Captain) and was awarded the Oak leaves to his Knight's Cross.

In November 1944 he was promoted again to Sturmbannführer (Major) and returned to the SS-Junkerschule in January 1945 as an instructor.

In March 1945, he was given command of the 96th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, the 38th SS Division Nibelungen, which was formed from instructors and students from the SS Junkerschule. The regiment surrendered to the American forces on the 8 May 1945.

Schmidt survived the war and died on the 28 July 2000 in his home town of Bremen, Germany.