SS-OberscharFUHRER KRISTOFF SCHMIDT
AWARDS: |
Anschluss Medal: 31. Mai. 1938
Hindenberg Cross of Honor: 12. Dez. 1938 Sudetenland Medal: 12. Dez. 1938 DRL Sports Badge in Bronze: 18. Jun. 1939 Iron Cross 2. Klasse: 1. Jul. 1940 |
PROMOTIONS: |
SS-Schutze: 14. Sep. 1935
SS-Oberschutze: 6. Sep. 1937 SS-Sturmmann: 23. Feb. 1938 SS-Rottenfuhrer: 6. Aug. 1938 SS-Unterscharfuhrer: 10. Okt. 1939 SS-Oberscharfuhrer: 6. Mai. 1940 |
Born on 22. Mai, 1895 in Linz, Austria, Kristoff Schmidt was the son of a professional soldier, and an officer with the Alpinekorps. When he was old enough, Kristoff volunteered for service in the Austrian Army. Like his father he was assigned to the Alpinekorps. He was among the last wave of replacements to see combat during The Great War. He was never wounded, and after the war, moved to Berlin and began working as a police officer.
He joined the SS in 1935, and along with most other Austrian volunteers, was posted to SS-Hilfswerk-Lager Schleißheim. This unit would later be formed into the SS-Standarte 1. "Deutschland" based in Munich. Kristoff and the rest of the SS-Standarte 1. would participate in the Annexation of both Austria and Czech. The Annexation of Austria was a wonderful moment for Kristoff, as he had always been taught by his father that Austria should have always been part of Germany. He was promoted to SS-Sturmmann in early 1938, and later on that year was promoted to SS-Rottenfuhrer.
Kristoff found a home in the military, and seemed to excel at all the tasks he was assigned. In September of 1939, Kristoff and the rest of his Standarte rolled into Poland. In October of 1939, he was promoted to SS-Unterscharfuhrer and was assigned to command a Gruppe. Following his unit's return to Germany after the Invasion of Poland, Kristoff was sent to the SS-Unterfuhrerschule at Dachau to continue his training as a Non-Commissioned Officer.
In Late April, 1940 Kristoff was transferred to the newly formed SS-Division "Totenkopf", which was in desperate need of experienced NCO's. Upon his arrival, he was immediately promoted to SS-Oberscharfuhrer, and made a Zug Chef, in SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1.
In the days leading up to the Invasion of France, Kristoff was a newly transferred NCO, thrown into 1. Zug, 2. Kompanie, expected to take charge. Kristoff did exactly that. He quickly earned the respect of the soldiers serving under him, as he was always in the thick of any situation, and anything he asked his men to do, he did himself.
In July 1940, Kristoff was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, for his leadership during the unit's capture of the French city of Bethune on the Le Blassee Canal. Although he made it clear he was not happy with his transfer out of the SS-Verfugungs-Division when he first arrived, following the combat in France, the brutes from the SS-Totenkopf-Division were beginning to grow on him.
He joined the SS in 1935, and along with most other Austrian volunteers, was posted to SS-Hilfswerk-Lager Schleißheim. This unit would later be formed into the SS-Standarte 1. "Deutschland" based in Munich. Kristoff and the rest of the SS-Standarte 1. would participate in the Annexation of both Austria and Czech. The Annexation of Austria was a wonderful moment for Kristoff, as he had always been taught by his father that Austria should have always been part of Germany. He was promoted to SS-Sturmmann in early 1938, and later on that year was promoted to SS-Rottenfuhrer.
Kristoff found a home in the military, and seemed to excel at all the tasks he was assigned. In September of 1939, Kristoff and the rest of his Standarte rolled into Poland. In October of 1939, he was promoted to SS-Unterscharfuhrer and was assigned to command a Gruppe. Following his unit's return to Germany after the Invasion of Poland, Kristoff was sent to the SS-Unterfuhrerschule at Dachau to continue his training as a Non-Commissioned Officer.
In Late April, 1940 Kristoff was transferred to the newly formed SS-Division "Totenkopf", which was in desperate need of experienced NCO's. Upon his arrival, he was immediately promoted to SS-Oberscharfuhrer, and made a Zug Chef, in SS-Totenkopf-Infanterie-Regiment 1.
In the days leading up to the Invasion of France, Kristoff was a newly transferred NCO, thrown into 1. Zug, 2. Kompanie, expected to take charge. Kristoff did exactly that. He quickly earned the respect of the soldiers serving under him, as he was always in the thick of any situation, and anything he asked his men to do, he did himself.
In July 1940, Kristoff was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, for his leadership during the unit's capture of the French city of Bethune on the Le Blassee Canal. Although he made it clear he was not happy with his transfer out of the SS-Verfugungs-Division when he first arrived, following the combat in France, the brutes from the SS-Totenkopf-Division were beginning to grow on him.
DISCLAIMER: 2. Kompanie is a non-political organization We do not support naziism, or fascism. We are not associated with nor do we condone the actions of the Third Reich or the actual 3.SS Division.