Helmut Scholz

Helmut Scholz was a Hauptsturmführer (Captain) in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves.

Career
Scholz was born on the 12 July 1920, at Grottkau, Upper Silesia. He volunteered to join the SS in December 1937 and was assigned to the 3rd Company, SS Standarte Germania, and transferred to the SS Standarte Der Führer, in 1938.

He was selected for officer training and sent to the SS-Junkerschule, at Braunschweig being promoted in September 1939 to Unterscharführer (Sergeant).

He took part in the Battle of France in 1940 and was then transferred to the 1st Company, SS-Regiment Wiking and from June 1941 was involved in the invasion of Russia, Operation Barbarossa.

On 1 November 1941 he returned to the SS-Junkerschule and on 20 April 1942 made an SS-Oberjunker until June 1942 when he  was promoted to Untersturmführer and given command of a platoon in the III.Btn/SS Regiment Nordland which was serving in Russia.

In 1943 he joined the 49th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment De Ruyter and in March 1944 was the commander of the 7th Company, 49th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment De Ruyter, 23rd SS Panzer Grenadier Division Nederland.

It was while in command of the 7th Company that he took part in the Battle for Narva Bridgehead defending the bridgehead against Russian attacks, that he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

In August 1944 he was given command of the Regiments II Battalion which was located to the northwest of Peipussees and for the Battalion's actions was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross on 21 September 1944.

He was next made the Adjutant of the 48th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment and promoted to Hauptsturmführer in January 1945.

Scholz survived the war and died on the 12 November 1997, at Herne. He is survived by his daughter under the name De Waal and grandson. His grandson a former member of the Australian Defence Force served in Afghanistan and Iraq.