Not much is known of Scherwitz's life until June 1939 when he joined the "Luftwaffe" with the rank of "Hauptmann" in the reserves. He served as the commander of "Luftwaffe" Protection Battalion I on the eastern front. He was promoted to "Major" on 1 September 1942 shortly before being seriously wounded in the Battle of Stalingrad on the 20th of that month. After recuperating, he was transferred to the army in late 1943 or 1944 but no further details of his life are documented. He died on 23 October 1985.