Franz-Joseph Schulze

Franz-Joseph Schulze
Born	18 September 1918 Salzkotten
Died	31 January 2005(2005-01-31) (aged 86) Bonn
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe (1937–1945) Heer (1956–1979)
Years of service	1937–1945 1956–1979
Rank	Oberleutnant (Wehrmacht) General (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Flak-Sturm-Regiment 241
Commands held	6th Panzergrenadier Division Joint Force Command Brunssum
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Franz-Joseph Schulze (18 September 1918 – 31 January 2005) was a highly decorated Oberleutnant in the Luftwaffe 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. Franz-Joseph Schulze was captured by British forces in April 1945 and was held until October 1945. He joined the Bundeswehr in 1956 and retired in 1979 as a General.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class
  • 1st Class
• German Cross in Gold (1 January 1945)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 November 1944 as Oberleutnant and Chef of the 3./Flak-Sturm-Regiment 241
• Großes Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
• Commander of the Legion of Honour
• Commander of the Legion of Merit

References

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 (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

External links

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

Military offices
Preceded by General Karl Schnell	Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe (NATO) 7 January 1977 – 30 September 1979	Succeeded by General Ferdinand von Senger und Etterlin
Preceded by Generalmajor Karl Schnell	Commander of 6th Panzergrenadier Division (Bundeswehr) 15 December 1970 – 31 March 1973	Succeeded by Generalmajor Johannes Poeppel