Oberkommando des Heeres
Schmidt held various positions in the "Heer", including chief of operations in Fifth Army (25.08.39–12.10.39) and Eighteenth Army (05.11.39–01.10.40). On 25 October 1940 he served as chief of staff in 5th Army Corps, a position he held until 25 March 1942, when he moved to the Führerreserve at "Oberkommando des Heeres" (OKH). On 26 January 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold.