Wilhelm Schöning (8 June 1908 – 2 November 1987) served as commander of the 66th Panzergrenadier Regiment of the 13th Panzer Division during the Siege of Budapest.
Wilhelm Schöning | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 June 1908 Gumbinnen, Prussia |
| Died | 2 November 1987 Bochum, Germany |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Army |
| Rank | Oberstleutnant |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Budapest |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Order of Michael the Brave |
Most of the division was encircled and destroyed in Budapest between December 1944 and February 1945. Those who escaped, consisting of 200-300 men, were reformed under Schöning. Wounded during the battle, Schöning broke through Soviet lines and reached the German 3rd Cavalry Brigade on the Buda side. Schöning remembered it thus:
Suddenly I had the feeling that my leg was being torn off. (...) As my pistol was empty I ordered my lieutenant to finish me off because I didn't want to be taken prisoner. He was himself wounded in the arm. He then called to me: “Only another 2,000 metres, Lieutenant Colonel. We have to make it!'” I crept through the snow up a hill with the major...Two wounded grenadiers from our battle group picked us up under the arms under the heaviest fire and stood us upright and I dragged myself with several wounds to the feet the two kilometres to the German position.[1]
Awards and decorations edit
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (11 July 1940) & 1st Class (12 August 1941)[2]
- German Cross in Gold on 14 February 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 120 (motorized)[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Order of Michael the Brave
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Krisztián Ungváry (December 10, 2007). "The battle for Hungary". Budapest Times. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ^ Thomas 1998, p. 279.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 422.
Bibliography edit
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Moore, Perry (2008) [2007]. Panzerschlacht: Armoured Operations on the Hungarian Plains September-November 1944. Helion & Company. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-9060-3316-3.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
