Bio of Oberst Emil Schuler (1902-1983)

Emil Schuler

Date of Birth: 10.10.1902 - Emershofen, Neu-Ulm (German Empire)
Date of Death: 08.08.1983 - Aschau, Oberbayern (West Germany)

Promotions:
00.00.19__ Polizei-Leutnant
00.00.19__ Polizei-Oberleutnant
15.10.1935 Hauptmann mit RDA vom 01.11.1934 (18f)
01.06.1940 Major (66)
08.04.1942 Oberstleutnant mit RDA vom 01.04.1942 (1059)
15.02.1943 neues RDA vom 01.03.1942 (340a) erhalten
00.00.1944 Oberst mit RDA vom 01.01.1944 (25a)
00.00.1956 Oberst (Bundeswehr)

Career:
15.10.1935 Transferred from Polizei to Heer as Chef 12. (MG) / Infanterie-Regiment 40 in Erlangen
06.10.1936 Chef 4.Kompanie (Maschinengewehr) / Infanterie-Regiment 21 in Fürth
00.00.194_ Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 206
20.08.1941 Führer Infanterie-Regiment 218
19.01.1942 Führerreserve Wehrkreis XIII
25.07.1942 Kommandeur Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment 17
15.06.1943 Kommandeur Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218
25.06.1944 kommandiert zum Stab der 20. Gebirgsarmee als Führer eines Sondererkundungsstabes
00.00.1944 - 00.00.1956 No information
1956-1962 Oberst der Bundeswehr

Awards and Decorations:
00.00.193_ Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen (DRL-Sportabzeichen)
00.00.193_ Heeresbergführerabzeichen
19.09.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung IV.Klasse (4 jahre)
00.00.19__ Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung III.Klasse (12 jahre)
17.07.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
00.00.194_ Allgemeines-Sturmabzeichen
03.11.1941 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (although Patzwall shows as the awarding date 02.11.1941, the awarding document shows 03.11.1941 as the actual awarding date)
12.08.1943 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (awarded for a wound received on 09.08.1943)
27.10.1943 Ehrenblattspange des Heeres und Waffen-SS
09.12.1944 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Oberst and Kommandeur Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division. Schuler's Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: "On 10.08.1941 Major Schuler took over the leadership of his regiment after its commander had fallen in action. He did so at a most difficult time, specifically during the regiment's first offensive battles in the heavily fortified areas in front of Kiev. Nonetheless he was able to gain firm control over his new command and excelled in the following weeks of heavy offensive and defensive fighting. He particularly distinguished himself during the 4-day attack on the south front of Kiev from 16.09.-19.09.1941. Each day Major Schuler proved himself through prudent leadership and exemplary bravery at the head of his regiment. For the third day of the attack (18.09.) his regiment was intended to attack west of Myzhelovka with the Schwerpunkt on the left wing. They were to break through a heavily defended chain of lakes and push through to the northern edge of Kiev's city forest. The regiment began the attack at 11:00, with the I. Bataillon attacking on the left. On the right wing, the III. Bataillon was to conduct reconnaissance probes against the enemy field positions. The II. Bataillon formed the reserve, and Schuler placed it behind the left wing. The first reports of the I. Bataillon indicated that the chain of lakes had been pierced, suggesting good progress in the attack. As such Schuler rushed forward, but by the time he arrived at 12:00 he found a completely different situation. Only very weak elements had penetrated into the enemy field positions, and these could go no further. The rest of the battalion was pinned down by MG and artillery fire from several previously unidentified bunkers and they suffered heavy losses. By contrast, at about 12:30 Major Schuler received a message from the III. Bataillon. It stated that they had penetrated into the enemy positions with powerful raiding parties, encountering only weak resistance. Upon hearing this, Schuler recognized that the Schwerpunkt of the attack had to be shifted to the right wing of the regiment, in contrast to the original plan of attack. In doing so he accepted the risk stemming from the as yet unknown situation on both sides of the regiment's attack. With vigour and haste the regimental commander executed his decision. He personally directed the III. Bataillon to attack the heavily defended Hill 173 and threw in his reserve battalion in support of the right wing. The ever lengthening flank of the attacking force was by now becoming increasingly vulnerable. Major Schuler nonetheless stuck to his goal, personally deploying the companies of his II. Bataillon against the NE sector of the Kiev city forest. The deep flank and rear of his regiment would be the concern of follow-up divisional elements. When the regimental commander returned to the III. Bataillon to oversee its advance to Hill 173, the commander of the battalion was fatally wounded by a tree sniper while standing right beside Schuler. The regimental commander thus decided to temporarily take over the command of III. Bataillon, which was at this stage the primary unit in the attack. He succeeded in breaking through a total of six enemy defensive positions in his defensive web north of Myzhelovka, and seized Hill 173 by 15:30. During the course of the day the hard fighting enemy had once again suffered heavy losses. This day the regiment was able to capture 200 prisoners, 21 guns/mortars and 44 machine guns. Through his independent decision, quickly put into action by Major Schuler with outstanding bravery, the critical enemy positions on the southern front of Kiev had been broken through and the way opened up for the attack on the city itself. Due to the strong threat from the flanks during the attack of the regiment on this day, as well as the increasing losses suffered during the attack, a decision to temporarily halt the attack would not have been condemned. However in doing so the chances of a breakthrough in this place on this day would probably have been forsaken, and the enemy would have precious time to rest and be better prepared for any future attacks. The bold and independent decision of Major Schuler thus brought about decisive success for the Division. The successful attack of the regiment on the afternoon of 18.09. despite the heavy enemy resistance is primarily thanks to the excellent personal bravery of the regimental commander. His leadership can also be credited for his unit's successes on the 4th day of the attack (19.09.), whereupon his regiment along with the Infanterie-Regiment 218 was once more able to break through several enemy field positions, finally penetrating into the city at around 10:00. And by 13:15 Schuler along with the forward elements of his troops had reached the Dnieper bank in Kiev itself. Thus, on the grounds of his record of brave deeds (which culminated in his leadership being displayed at its best on 18.09.) I hold Major Schuler as being particularly worthy of the high honour of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes." (Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis was dated on 15.12.1944).
00.00.194_ Lapplandschild

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Emil Schuler as a member of Freikorps Epp upon return from the Ruhr Area, 1920. Freikorps Epp was formed on 8 February 1919 in Ohrdruff. It was at first not allowed to recruit or train in Bavaria by the Bavarian government but after the intervention by Gustav Noske, a compromise was reached, recruitment was allowed in Bavaria, but training had to take place in Thuringia. It saw action against the Münchener Räterepublik in Munich April-May 1919 and in the Ruhr April 1920. It was then used to form Reichswehr-Brigade 21.



Emil Schuler (arrow) with his comrades from Freikorps Epp, 1919-1920. Note sleeve insignia position.



Emil Schuler as a member of Bayerische Staatliche Polizei (Bavarian State Police). After serving in the Freikorps Epp (1919-1920), Schuler was transferred to the Bavarian State Police in 1924, then to the newly reorganized and strengthened German Army in 1935. He obtained promotion to officer in the police early on but apparently did not attend any courses for higher leadership such as battalion or regimental command.



Emil Schuler as a member of the newly reorganized and strengthened Wehrmacht.



Emil Schuler showing his schmiss (dueling scars) that he received from youth time. More about this particular scars can be read HERE.

Emil Schuler as a Major in the Wehrmacht. The picture was taken in 1941 during Unternehmen Barbarossa. The Biblio reference book on Ritterkreuz recipients of the Gebirgsjäger (German Mountain Troops) mentions that he had stomach surgery which kept him in hospital from 11 September 1939 to 15 November 1939 followed by assignments to rear area formations for some time. Surviving correspondence makes mention that half his stomach was removed!



Soldiers of II.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 206 marches past the commander, Major Emil Schuler, during the parade held in Brody, Galicia, on 19 October 1941. The regiment belonged to the 7. Gebirgs-Division, formerly 99. leichte-Division. On 15 November 1941 it was renamed to Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 206. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Vinzenz Engel.

Oberstleutnant Emil Schuler.

Oberstleutnant Emil Schuler.

Oberst Emil Schuler making a speech.

Emil Schuler (left) awarded the Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse to his soldiers.



Oberstleutnant Emil Schuler (left, Kommandeur Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division) shortly after being wounded in the battle. For the wounds received on 9 August 1943, Regimentskommandeur Schuler being awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz on 12 August 1943.



Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Oberst Emil Schuler (Kommandeur Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division) which were held in Lappland region on 15 December 1944, while the award document dated 9 December 1944. The medal was presented by Generalleutnant August Krakau (right, Kommandeur 7. Gebirgs-Division). Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.

Emil Schuler in a propaganda postcard not long after he received the Ritterkreuz. He was previously twice recommended for the Ritterkreuz with the second recommendation changed to the Ehrenblattspange (the first proposal for the Ritterkreuz award was made in 1941 and denied. The second one was made in 1943 and amended to the Ehrenblatt (Honor Roll) which as you most likely know had an outwardly recognizeable distinction instituted later, namely the Ehrenblattspange). He received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold as early as 3 November 1941.

Oberst Emil Schuler.

Oberst Emil Schuler.



From left to right: Generalleutnant August Krakau (Kommandeur 7. Gebirgs-Division), Oberst Emil Schuler (Kommandeur Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218 / 7.Gebirgs-Division), Finnish Major-General Aaro Pajari (Commander of 3rd Division), and Oberst Albin Esch (Kommandeur Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 206 / 7.Gebirgs-Division). The picture was taken in Lappland, Finland, 1943-1944. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.

Emil Schuler as an officer in the Bundesgrenzschutz. Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS, Federal Border Guard) is the former name of the German Bundespolizei (Federal Police). Established on 16 March 1951 as a subordinate agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the BGS originally was primarily focused on protecting the West German borders. During their early days, BGS units had military structures, training and equipment. The law enforcement officers legally had military combatant status until 1994. A major part of the early BGS personnel joined the newly founded German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in 1956 and thus significantly contributed to West Germany's rearmament.

Emil Schuler as an Oberst in the Bundesgrenzschutz.

Emil Schuler as an Oberst in the Bundeswehr.

Emil Schuler wearing traditional Bavarian dress with the 1957 version decorations. The red cross below the medal bar is Bundesverdienstkreuz (Federal Cross of Merit), which is the only federal decoration of Germany after the war. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellectual or honorary fields..

The grave of Emil Schuler.

Ritterkreuz Vorläufige Besitzzeugnis (preliminary certificate) for Oberst Emil Schuler, dated 9 December 1944. Other groupings of Emil Schuler can be seen HERE.

Emil Schuler awards and decorations, auctioned in Andreas Thies site along with other groupings and pictures, with the price of 15,000 Euros.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive
Bernhard H. Holst photo collection
Agustin Vazquez photo collection
"Ritterkreuzträger Oberst Emil Schuler: Vom Ritterkreuzträger zum Gauhauptmann der Oberbayerischen Gebirgsschützen" by Roland Kaltenegger
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2011/05/album-foto-upacara-penyerahan-medali.html
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auktionen/67-751342
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=254344
https://gmic.co.uk/topic/59428-oberst-eschuler-knights-cross-mountain-troops-photos/
http://www.irishbrigade.eu/recruits/keogh-michael/freicorps/epp-freikorps.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/18160/Schuler-Emil.htm
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/-1957-medals-orders-and-decorations/646561-vets-wearing-their-57ers?p=7379563#post7379563
https://www.ww2depot.com/product/oberst-und-kommandeur-des-gebirgs-jager-regiment-218-postcard/