Bio of Oberstleutnant d.R. Wilhelm Schöning (1908-1987)

Georg Wilhelm Schöning

Date of birth: 8 June 1908 (Gumbinnen an der Pissa, Ostpreußen, German Empire)
Date of death: 2 November 1987 (Bochum, Westfalen, West Germany)

Promotions:
01.10.1937 Leutnant der Reserve
00.00.1940 Oberleutnant der Reserve
01.03.1942 Hauptmann der Reserve
01.10.1943 Major der Reserve
21.01.1945 Oberstleutnant der Reserve

Career:
00.00.1937 Reserveoffizier in Infanterie-Regiment 23
26.08.1939 Drafted to Infanterie-Regiment 23 during mobilization
00.11.1939 Chef 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 244
00.00.1940 Chef 10.Kompanie / Infanterie-Regiment 120
00.05.1942 Ordonannzoffizier in Infanterie-Regiment 120
01.06.1942 Führer III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 120
16.10.1942 Seriously wounded near Kalatsch
00.03.1943 Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment "Feldherrnhalle"
08.02.1944 Führer Füsilier-Regiment "Feldherrnhalle"
26.07.1944 Kommandeur Panzer-Brigade 110
00.09.1944 Führer Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66
00.05.1945 POW of the Soviet
00.10.1945 Released from the POW camp

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen
11.07.1940 1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
12.08.1941 1939 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Nahkampfspange in Bronze
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Bronze und Silber
14.02.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
00.00.1942 Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
00.00.194_ Order of Bravery 4th Class (Bulgaria)
00.00.194_ Ordinul Mihai Viteazul 3rd Class (Rumania)
00.00.194_ Krimschild
16.10.1942 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
07.02.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Major der Reserve and Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Füsilier-Regiment (motorisiert) “Feldherrnhalle” / 246.Infanterie-Division
21.01.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #707, as Major der Reserve and Führer Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66 / 13.Panzer-Division

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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.

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."

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/m064km4b?hl=en
https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%B6ning,_Wilhelm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Sch%C3%B6ning
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=96192
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/S/SchoeningW-R.htm
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/18011/Sch%F6ning-Wilhelm.htm?c=aw