Ferdinand Schorner

Ferdinand Schorner

Field Marshal of the Army of the Third Reich
Date of Birth: 12.06.1892
Country: Germany

Biography of Ferdinand Schörner

Ferdinand Schörner was a General Field Marshal of the Third Reich. He was born on June 12, 1892, in Munich, to a police officer's family. Schörner began his military service as a private in the Leib-Guard Bavarian Infantry Regiment in October 1911. He left the service as a Vice-Feldwebel in 1913.

During the outbreak of World War I, Schörner returned to military service as a volunteer. In November 1914, he received the temporary rank of lieutenant and officially became a lieutenant in December 1917. He was awarded the prestigious military order Pour le Mérite on December 5, 1917, for his distinction in the Battle of Caporetto.

Schörner ended World War I as an Oberleutnant, having been severely wounded three times. He continued his military career in the Reichswehr and participated in the suppression of the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. Despite being a member of several nationalist organizations, Schörner joined the Nazi movement in 1924, becoming one of Hitler's most loyal officers.

By the start of World War II, Schörner had reached the rank of colonel. He participated in the Polish Campaign as the commander of the 98th Mountain-Jäger Regiment and received additional Iron Crosses for his service. He also took part in the French Campaign and commanded the 6th Mountain Division during the Balkan Campaign, where he was awarded the Knight's Cross for breaking through the Greek defense.

From 1942 to 1943, Schörner served as the commander of the 19th Mountain Rifle Corps in Lapland and later commanded the 40th Tank Corps in Ukraine. On April 17, 1944, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. He became the commander of Army Group South on April 7, 1944, and later assumed command of Army Group North on July 25, 1944. On August 28, 1944, he received the Swords to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, and on January 1, 1945, he was awarded the Diamonds to the Knight's Cross.

On April 5, 1945, Schörner was appointed General Field Marshal by Hitler and given command of the forces defending Berlin. Despite attempting to resist Soviet forces in Czechoslovakia after Germany's surrender, he eventually ordered his troops to retreat westward and fled to Austria. He was arrested by American forces on May 18 and handed over to Soviet authorities.

Schörner was imprisoned in Butyrka, Lefortovo, and Vladimir prisons. On February 11, 1952, he was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment in labor camps. He was transferred to the authorities of West Germany on January 7, 1955, and was subsequently released. In 1957, he was sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment by a Munich court for ordering the execution of German soldiers without trial. Schörner, who outlived all other Field Marshals of the Third Reich, passed away on July 2, 1973, in Munich.

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