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. Wilhelm Schmalz was captured by American troops in May 1945, he was accused of war crimes in Italy, but after 5 years the charges were dropped. Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (14 September 1939) 1st Class (16 October 1939) Eastern Front Medal Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe German Cross in Gold on 8 February 1942 as Major in Kradschützen-Bataillon 59 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 28 November 1940 as Major and commander of I./Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 11 358th Oak Leaves on 23 December 1943 as Oberst and commander of Panzerbrigade z.b.V. der Panzer-Division "Hermann Göring".
