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. Iron Cross (1914) Bibliography.
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 Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (21 September 1939) 1st Class (2 October 1939) Panzer Badge in Bronze Eastern Front Medal German Cross in Gold on 22 April 1942 as Oberst in the 19. Schützen-Brigade 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.
