Friedrich-August Schack

Friedrich August Schack (27 March 1892 − 24 July 1968) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. He is best known for his pyrrhic defense of Caen after the allied invasion, September 1944, and for his brief leadership of the LXXXI Army Corps defending Aachen and the Siegfried Line.

Schack enlisted in the army, 6 August 1914 and fought in World War I. After the war he was retained in the Reichsheer where he served in junior officer roles. In 1934, Schack was appointed tactics teacher in the war college in Dresden. In 1937, he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On 1 October 1938 Schack was appointed commander of MG battalion 15, and fought in the Polish campaign at the outbreak of the Second World War, September 1939. On 18 January 1940 Schack was named commander of infantry regiment 392, which he led during the western campaign in spring 1940. On 1 October he was promoted to colonel. In June 1941 Schack fought in Russia. For the capture of Salla, 24 July 1941, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. On 1 October 1942 he became commander of the war College in Potsdam. On 7 May 1943 he became leader of the 216th Infantry-Division. On 1 July 1943 Schack was promoted to major general and commander of the 216th Infantry division. Schack led his division in bloody combat in Orel, July 1943, during the Battle of Kursk, and suffered heavy losses. Some of the surviving soldiers were sent to Belgium, where they became the 272nd Infantry-Division. On 15 December 1943 Schack was appointed commander of the division. As such he was promoted, 1 January 1944, to lieutenant general. For leading his division during the defense of Caen after D Day, Schack was awarded, 21 September 1944, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. However, Schack had sustained heavy losses during the battle and was suffering severe combat fatigue. On 4 September 1944 Schack became leader of the LXXXI Army corps, five badly mauled divisions, charged with defending Aachen and the Siegfried Line. Schack’s superiors became dissatisfied with his performance and replaced him with General Friedrich Köchling. Beginning 15 November 1944 Schack led the LXXXV army corps in southern France and the Ardennes for one month. On 26 March 1945 Schack was assigned to lead the XXXII Army corps, on the Oder near Stettin. On 20 April 1945 Schack was promoted to General of Infantry and commanding general of the XXXII Army corps. At war’s end the Allies imprisoned him. They released him 24 March 1948.

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (22 March 1916) & 1st Class (29 March 1918)
• Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (10 October 1939) & 1st Class (25 June 1940)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 24 July 1941 as Oberst and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 392
  • 597th Oak Leaves on 21 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 272. Infanterie-Division
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht (4 August 1944 and 27 August 1944)

• ^ Thomas 1998, p. 244.
• ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 653.