Schmitt Artur

Artur Schmitt (20 July 1888 – 15 January 1972) as a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. 

He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Artur Schmitt was captured by British troops in January 1942 and was held until 1948. After the Arab defeat by Israel in 1948, the Arab League recruited Schmitt to train Arab armies. See the French documentary (2014), “The Nazi Exiles: The Promise of the Orient,” by the French-German filmmaker Géraldine Schwarz.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class, 1st Class
• Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class, 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 February 1942 as Generalmajor and commander of rückwärtiges Armeegebiet (rear army area) 556 and leader of a Kampfgruppee