Born in 1892, Schulz entered the army of Imperial Germany as an engineer at the age of 18.

He served in World War I and was among the personnel retained in the postwar Reichswehr (Imperial Defence).

After a period of time as a civilian, he returned to the military in 1934 by joining the Heer (Army) branch of the Wehrmacht, initially in his previous rank of Hauptmann.

In March 1943, and now an Oberst (Colonel), he was given command of the 10th Panzergrenadier Regiment which was part of the 9th Panzer Division.

His time leading the division was brief as he was killed on the 27th of November 1943 in the area north of Kryvyi Rih in the course of the Soviet Army's Lower Dnieper Offensive.