|rank death_place death_date birth_place |caption awards |commands battles birth_date nickname signature image article_title |allegiance name
generalfeldmarschall munich , bavaria , west germany 2 july 1973 munich , kingdom of bavaria , german empire ferdinand schörner pour cross with oak leaves , swords and diamonds le mérite knight 's cross of the iron army north -lrb- july 1944 -rrb- army group centre -lrb- january group 1945 -rrb- oberkommando des heeres -lrb- 30 april 1945 -rrb- south -lrb- march 1944 -rrb- army group world war i 12 june 1892 blutiger ferdinand -lrb- bloody ferdinand -rrb- ferdinand schörner signature.svg bundesarchiv bild 183-l29176 , ferdinand schörner.jpg ferdinand schörner
 german empire -lrb- to 1918 -rrb- -- 45 ferdinand schörner
ferdinand schörner

ferdinand schörner -lrb- 12 june 1892 -- 2 july 1973 -rrb- was a general and later field marshal -lrb- `` generalfeldmarschall '' -rrb- in the german army -lrb- `` wehrmacht heer '' -rrb- during world war ii .
he was one of 27 people to be awarded the knight 's cross of the iron cross with oak leaves , swords and diamonds -lrb- `` ritterkreuz des eisernen kreuzes mit eichenlaub , schwertern und brillanten '' -rrb- and one of the youngest german generals .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross and its higher grade the oak leaves , swords and diamonds was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership .
schörner was a convinced nazi and became infamous for his brutality .
by the end of world war ii he was hitler 's favorite commander .
he was also the last of hitler 's field marshals to die .
