Career
The was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Otto Schulz received the on 17 May 1944 for the evacuation of the 17. Armee (17th Army) from the Crimean peninsula.
The actions of the Kriegsmarine in the evacuation of the Crimea were thoroughly investigated after the operation, and the commanders-in-chief of the Heeresgruppen (Army Groups) and Armies gave the Kriegsmarine a negative performance evaluation.
In a letter to the Heeresgruppe Südukraine (Army Group South Ukraine), they accused the naval leadership of providing deliberate misinformation, of panicking and disorganization. (15 April 1940) War Merit Cross with Swords (30 January 1942) Bibliography.