schwarzenegger had served in the austrian army from 1930 to 1937, achieving the rank of section commander and in 1937 he became a police officer. after enlisting in the wehrmacht in november 1939, he was a "hauptfeldwebel" (master sergeant) of the "feldgendarmerie", which were military police units. he served in poland, france, belgium, ukraine, lithuania and russia. his unit was feldgendarmerie-abteilung 521 (mot.), which was part of panzer group 4. wounded in action in russia on 22 august 1942, he was awarded the iron cross first and second classes for bravery, the eastern front medal or the wound badge. schwarzenegger appears to have received much medical attention. initially, he was treated in the military hospital in łódź, but according to the records he also suffered recurring bouts of malaria, which led to his discharge in february, 1944. considered unfit for active duty, he returned to graz, austria, where he was assigned to work as a postal inspector.