Background
Adelbert Schulz was born on 20 December 1903 in Berlin, the son of a civil servant (Beamter).
Adelbert Schulz was born on 20 December 1903 in Berlin, the son of a civil servant (Beamter).
He graduated from a Berliner Realgymnasium (secondary school) with his Abitur and took on an apprenticeship at a bank. To fulfill his ambition in becoming a bank director he attended a merchant college (Handelshochschule) from 1923 to 1924.
He was one of 27 people to be awarded the (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten) and one of the youngest German Generals. The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade the Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. At the time of its presentation to Schulz it was Germany"s highest military decoration.
In December 1925 he changed his mind and joined the Prussian police force at the Police school (Polizeischule) in Brandenburg.
After completing his training in 1927 he was promoted to Polizeiwachtmeister and after eight years on 20 April 1934 of service was promoted to Polizeileutnant (second lieutenant) in Berlin. On 1 October 1935 Schulz transferred from the Police (preußischen kasernierten Landespolizei) to the German Army as an Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).
Schulz"s unit took part in the occupations of Austria and the Sudetenland. During the western campaign and in 1940 was promoted to captain.
He participated in the invasion of Belgium, attacks on French and British positions and assisted in the breakthrough to Cherbourg, serving under General Erwin Rommel.
He was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross on 31 December 1941. On 6 August 1943 he received the Swords to his Knight"s Cross and was promoted to Colonel. On 9 January 1944, he received Diamonds to his Gold Cross, was promoted to Brigadier General (Generalmajor) and made commander of Rommel"s former division.
Schulz was wounded in action in the area of Shepetivka on 28 January 1944, he succumbed to his injuries in the field hospital the same day, having only been in command for less than a month.
His death was announced on 30 January 1944 in the Wehrmachtbericht. His rise on the Russian Front was fairly dramatic, as he went from the rank of Major to Generalmajor in less than a year.
A German Army barracks in Munster (Örtze) is named after Schulz. Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (24 May 1940) 1st Class (24 May 1940) Wound Badge in Black Panzer Badge in Gold Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds Knight"s Cross on 29 September 1940 as Hauptmann and chief of the 1./Panzer-Regiment 25 47th Oak Leaves on 31 December 1941 as Hauptmann and commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 25 33rd Swords on 6 August 1943 as Oberstleutnant and commander of the Panzer-Regiment 25 9th Diamonds on 14 December 1943 as Oberst and commander of the Panzer-Regiment 25 Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht.
