Artur Schmitt
Artur Schmitt (20 July 1888 – 15 January 1972) was a highly decorated German soldier during World War I and World War II. While serving as a General with the Afrikakorps during World War II, Schmitt was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross), which was usually awarded to recognise extreme bravery, or successful military leadership. Early life Schmitt was born at Albersweiler in what was then the Bavarian Rhine District. He was educated at the Humanistische Gymnasium at Landau in der Pfalz. In 1907 he joined the Bavarian Army, as an officer cadet with the Königlich Bayerisches 18. Infanterie-Regiment „Prinz Ludwig Ferdinand“ (German Wikipedia; "18th Royal Bavarian Infantry Regiment "Prince Louis Ferdinand"), in Landau and attended the Bayerische Kriegsakademie (Bavarian War Academy) in Munich. In 1912, Schmitt joined the Imperial Schutztruppe and was posted to the colony of German Southwest Africa (later Namibia). World War I He took part in the South-West Africa campaign of World War I, during which he was captured. After being transferred to a prisoner of war (POW) camp in Britain, Schmitt attempted to escape, without success. He was repatriated to Germany before the end of the war, and then