Wilhelm Schöning

Wilhelm Schöning
Born	8 June 1908 Gumbinnen, Germany
Died	2 November 1987 (aged 79) Bochum, Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Years of service	?–1945
Rank	Oberstleutnant of the Reserves
Commands held	Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Order of Michael the Brave Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Georg 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.

Siege

Most of the division was encircled and destroyed in Budapest between December and February 1944-45. The remnants which escaped, consisting of 200-300 men, were reformed under Schöning. Wounded during the battle by a hand grenade, Schöning managed to break 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. Division doctor Major Seeger, who was lying near me, wanted to help me. He bent over me and in so doing was himself wounded. Right at the start of the breakout he was shot in the leg which exposed his Achilles tendon and was then hit by another bullet which tore away his backside. 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.

Dates of Rank

• Leutnant
• Oberleutnant
• Hauptmann - 194x
• Major - 21 Jan 1945
• Oberstleutnant - 1945

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (11 July 1940)
  • 1st Class (12 August 1941)
• Infantry Assault Badge
• Wound Badge
  • in Black or Silver
• Close Combat Clasp
  • in Bronze
• Eastern Front Medal
• Honour Roll Clasp of the Army
• Order of Michael the Brave
• German Cross in Gold on 14 February 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 120 (mototized)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 7 February 1944 as Major of the Reserves and commander of the I./Füsilier-Regiment "Feldherrnhalle"
  • 707th Oak Leaves on 21 January 1945 as Major of the Reserves and leader of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66

External links

• Lexikon der Wehrmacht
• Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945