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Sunday, December 17, 2023

Bio of Oberst Heinrich Schüler (1903-1945)

Heinrich Georg Schüler

Date of Birth: 17.12.1903 - Provinz Posen, Preußen (German Empire)
Date of Death: 12.01.1945 - near Weichselbogen (Poland)

Battles and Operations: Invasion of Poland (1939), Battle of France (1940), Operation Barbarossa (1941), Battle of Kiev (1941), Battle of the Caucasus (1942-1944), Operation Bagration (1944), Bobruysk Offensive (1944), and Vistula-Oder Offensive (1945)

Promotions:
00.00.1924 Freiwilliger
00.00.1939 Feldwebel
01.02.1940 Leutnant der Reserve
00.00.1941 Oberleutnant der Reserve
01.03.1942 Hauptmann der Reserve
00.00.1943 Major der Reserve
00.00.1944 Oberstleutnant
00.00.1945 Oberst (posthumously)

Career:
00.00.1924 joined the Reichswehr as a volunteer
00.00.1936 released from the army and became an official at the Reichspost
00.00.1939 called up again as a Feldwebel
00.00.1940 transferred to 298. Infanterie-Division
Summer 1942 Führer II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 525 / 298.Infanterie-Division
30.07.1944 Führer Grenadier-Regiment 130 / 45.Infanterie-Division

Awards and Decorations:
22.12.1939 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.00.1940 Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber
25.06.1941 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
00.00.194_ Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber
28.02.1942 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
01.09.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" (Ostmedaille)
18.09.1942 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 525 / 298.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for actions during the battle of Rostov. While south of the city,he was able to capture a crossing over the Don which the rest of his Division was able to quickly exploit. This had important consequences for the remnants of the Soviet forces around Bataisk. The city was stormed shortly afterwards on the 27.07.1942 after a tough fight by the defenders.
02.04.1943 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #218, as Hauptmann der Reserve and Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 525 / 298.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for his outstanding leadership during the retreat of the 298. Infanterie-Division back to the Donez river in early 1943. In the process the Division would be encircled a total of three times by the Soviets, but each time it was able to break out and continue its movement until it reached Malinovka, SW of Izyum. Schüler would particularly distinguish himself during this time.

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Heinrich Schüler joined the Reichswehr as a volunteer in 1924. After completing his service, he was released from the army in 1936 and became an official at the Reichspost. At the beginning of the war he was called up again as a sergeant. In 1940 he came to the 298th Infantry Division, where he was promoted to Leutnant der Reserve on February 1, 1940. From June 1941 he took part in the Russian campaign. On March 1, 1942, he was promoted to Hauptmann der Reserve. In the summer of 1942 he led the 2nd Battalion of the Infanterie-Regiment 525. For his battalion's successes on the Don, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz on September 18, 1942. During the defensive battles from the Don to the Donets that took place in the winter of 1942/43, he once again particularly distinguished himself, for which he was awarded the Eichenlaub for his Ritterkreuz on April 2, 1943. He was then promoted to major. On July 30, 1944, he was appointed leader of the 130th Grenadier Regiment. He then led this unit during defensive battles on the Eastern Front. On January 12, 1945 he fell in the Vistula.


Bearded Heinrich Schüler wearing ushanka (Russian fur cap), winter 1942/43. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 18 September 1942 as Hauptmann der Reserve and Führer II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 525 / 298.Infanterie-Division. Awarded for actions during the battle of Rostov. While south of the city,he was able to capture a crossing over the Don which the rest of his Division was able to quickly exploit. This had important consequences for the remnants of the Soviet forces around Bataisk. The city was stormed shortly afterwards on 27 July 1942 after a tough fight by the defenders.



Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) congratulates the new recipients of Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes during award ceremony which were held at the Große Halle, Berghof (Obersalzberg), 16 April 1943. In this occasion, there were 14 members of the Wehrmacht (7 from the Heer, 6 from the Luftwaffe and 1 from the Waffen-SS) who got the honor to came to Berghof and have an audience with Hitler. This picture shows, from left to right: Hauptmann Walter Scheunemann (Kommandeur I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 272 / 93.Infanterie-Division. Eichenlaub #202 on 6 March 1943), Oberleutnant der Reserve Josef Bremm (Chef 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 426 /126.Infanterie-Division. Eichenlaub #165 on 23 December 1942), Major der Reserve Heinrich Schüler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 525 / 298.Infanterie-Division. Eichenlaub #218 on 2 April 1943), Hauptmann Peter Frantz (Kommandeur Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung "Großdeutschland" / Infanterie-Division "Großdeutschland" [motorisiert]. Eichenlaub #228 on 14 April 1943), Oberleutnant Werner Baumgarten-Crusius (Führer I.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 156 [motorisiert] / 16.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]. Eichenlaub #199 on 27 February 1943), Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Schlee (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 / 4.Gebirgs-Division "Enzian". Eichenlaub #222 on 6 April 1943), Unteroffizier der Reserve Georg Rietscher (shaking hands with Hitler. Vorwärtser Beobachter in 14.Kompanie / III.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 513 / 294.Infanterie-Division. Eichenlaub #210 on 14 March 1943), Oberstleutnant Paul-Werner Hozzel (Geschwaderkommodore Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann". Eichenlaub #230 on 14 April 1943), Major Werner Streib (Gruppenkommandeur I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1. Eichenlaub #197 on 26 February 1943), Oberleutnant Theodor Nordmann (Gruppenführer III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 1. Eichenlaub #214 on 17 March 1943), Oberleutnant Hans Ulrich Rudel (Staffelkapitän 1.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann". Eichenlaub #229 on 14 April 1943), Hauptmann Egon Mayer (Gruppenkommandeur III.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". Eichenlaub #232 on 16 April 1943), Hauptmann Georg Dörffel (Gruppenführer I.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 1. Eichenlaub #231 on 14 April 1943), and SS-Standartenführer Hinrich Schuldt (Kommandeur SS-Brigade "Schuldt". Eichenlaub #220 on 2 April 1943). It is worth noting that all the Heer members were photographed by the famous photographer Tita Binz in her own studio and photos were later published by the Film Foto Verlag company for its series dealing with Ritterkreuzträger.



Major der Reserve Heinrich Schüler (Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 525 / 298.Infanterie-Division) on the day of the audience with Hitler at Berghof Obersalzberg, 16 April 1943. In this occasion, Hitler met with 14 members of the Wehrmacht - including Schüler - who just received the Eichenlaub to their Ritterkreuz. All Heer members were then photographed by the famous photographer Tita Binz in her own studio and photos were later published by the Film Foto Verlag company for its series dealing with Ritterkreuzträger. Schüler himself received the Eichenlaub #218 on 2 April 1943. The medal was awarded for his outstanding leadership during the retreat of the 298. Infanterie-Division back to the Donetz river in early 1943. In the process the Division would be encircled a total of three times by the Soviets, but each time it was able to break out and continue its movement until it reached Malinovka, Southwest of Izyum. Schüler would particularly distinguish himself again and again during this time.


A lecture by Eichenlaubträger Heinrich Schüler in front of Wehrmacht soldiers in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. According to the original caption in the reporting notebooks of the Bundesarchiv Bildarchiv in Koblenz, this image shows Major Heinrich Schüler, commander of an infantry unit engaged in Greece. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Werner Bockelmann (Luftwaffenkommando Südost) on 9 July 1943. Schüler himself received the Ritterkreuz on 18 September 1942 and Eichenlaub on 2 April 1943. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.



Eichenlaubträger Heinrich Schüler (center) with Luftwaffe officers in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. According to the original caption in the reporting notebooks of the Bundesarchiv Bildarchiv in Koblenz, this image shows Major Heinrich Schüler, commander of an infantry unit engaged in Greece. This picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Werner Bockelmann (Luftwaffenkommando Südost) on 9 July 1943. Schüler himself received the Ritterkreuz on 18 September 1942 and Eichenlaub on 2 April 1943. Other pictures from this occasion can be seen HERE.


Source :
https://www.akpool.de/kategorien/33725-ansichtskarten-iii-reich-ritterkreuztraeger
https://alchetron.com/Heinrich-Schuler
https://www.andreas-thies.de/auktionen/67-750892
https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/une-conference-du-major-heinrich-schuler.html#
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/S/SchuelerH-R.htm
https://lsbauctions.com/464/heinrich-schuler-knights-cross-consigned-at-lasb/
https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Heinrich_Sch%C3%BCler
http://pantorijn.blogspot.com/2013/06/tita-binz.html
http://www.ritterkreuztraeger.info/rk/s.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/18162/Sch%C3%BCler-Heinrich.htm

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