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GENERALMAJOR FRITZ VON SCHOLZ IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE

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GENERALMAJOR FRITZ VON SCHOLZ IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE
GENERALMAJOR FRITZ VON SCHOLZ IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE OAK LEAVES TO THE KNIGHTS CROSS
Important war-date typed document recommending Waffen-SS Gen. FRITZ VON SCHOLZ be awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross for his brilliant defense of the Narva isthmus near Leningrad in 1944. The document, signed in type by FELIX STEINER, is 6pp. large 4to., [n.p.., n.d., but typed in Berlin, February, 1944], and is titled: I>"Recommendation for the Bestowal of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross." The document, typed in an extra-large font to allow easy reading by Adolf Hitler, first sets forth von Scholz's name, rank, rank, status, and previous awards. There follows Steiner's accounting of von Scholz's actions deserving of the Oak Leaves. In part: "...During the engagements in the Northern part of the Eastern Front, from 16 January until now, SS-Brigadefuhrer Fritz von Scholz continually proved himself... His division had the task of pushing itself forward along the track Kipen-Narwa against the superior enemy forces... On 28 January 1944 the enemy succeeded to break through... now the dangerous threat to the Battle Group 'Lohmann'... were surrounded by the enemy... Scholz conducted a counterattack... and reopened the runway, throwing the enemy back... In spite of strong attacks by the enemy tanks, parts of the division succeeded in breaking up their continuous attacks... created the basis for the orderly occupation of the Narwa bridgehead... made it possible to win time for the introduction of the Panzer Grenadier Division 'Feldherrnhalle'... his rigidness drove the troops... this exemplary steadfastness... carried this still young division along..." There follows a March 6, 1944 endorsement from the field signed in type by HEINRICH HIMMLER wherein he supports Steiner's recommendation that the award be made. This document was then sent to Fuhrer Headquarters in Berlin where Hitler's adjutant RUDOLF SCHMUNDT submitted the recommendation to Hitler who approved the award. Schmundt in turn accordingly endorses the document: "Recommended" and adds his signature on March 11, 1944. Also present is von Scholz's service record, 4pp. 4to., his photo attached to the first page with a listing of all of his postings within. The last entry notes von Scholz's death on July 28, 1944. The former document has marginal file holes but is otherwise fine, the latter is stained a bit at left and also has file holes. With translation. Finally included is an original 5" x 7" photo showing von Scholz in uniform. FRITZ VON SCHOLZ (1896-1944) first commanded a battalion in the SS-Regiment Der Fhrer which would later become the 2nd SS Panzer Division, "Das Reich" Division. After seeing action in the west, von Scholz was transferred east to lead the Nordland Division where he took Rostov and was awarded his Knights Cross. After fighting partisans in Croatia, von Scholz was then sent to Leningrad still commanding the 11th SS Panzergrenadiers but now under Felix Steiner. On March 12, he would be officially awarded his Oak Leaves. In late July, after the collapse of Army Group Centre, Steiner's corps retreated to behind the Narva River. On July 27, while visiting the front line, Scholz was caught in an artillery barrage and received a mortal head wound. He was posthumously awarded the Swords to the Knight's Cross on Aug. 8, 1944.