John Banner gets a spotlight in "The Rise and Fall of Sergeant Schultz" as his character, Stalag 13's Sergeant of the Guard Hans Schultz, is singled out for special attention that can also benefit Hogan's Heroes as they're tasked with a difficult intelligence assignment.
Turning in a typically intricate yet tidy script, Laurence Marks ties together the serious business of needing to spirit a crucial underground linchpin out of Germany before the Gestapo tortures him into revealing incriminating details about Hogan's covert unit with some spirited interplay between Banner and co-star Werner Klemperer. His Colonel Klink must curry favor with both Schultz and with General Kammler (Whit Bissell), the new commander of the military district that includes Klink's Stalag 13, when, during his initial inspection, Kammler recognizes Schultz as his old First World War buddy who saved his life--and now insists on regular reports from Klink on Schultz's well-being.
Meanwhile, the Heroes seem sunk. Masquerading as Gestapo/SS officers, Sergeant Carter and Corporal Newkirk try using forged orders to get Becker, the underground agent, sprung from the Gestapo's detention, but the officer on watch (Edward Knight) insists on a higher authority than "Colonel Hoganmeyer," signatory to the bogus orders, to authorize the release, forcing Carter and Newkirk to withdraw. However, the officer did mention that Becker will be moved to a nearby hotel, which offers greater security, and which, leaving aside how a public hotel is more secure than the seeming jail he's in already, inspires Hogan's caper to break Becker out of the hotel and send him to England.
After organizing a sham escape involving Corporal LeBeau that is engineered to make Schultz look heroic, Hogan goes to work on Klink. He insists that Klink recommend Schultz for a medal and ask Kammler to present it to Schultz, then suggests to Klink to make the ceremony a special occasion by hosting it at the same hotel where Becker is being held. It's a standard Marks ploy--Hogan managing to persuade Klink to carry out actions that would raise suspicions in someone other than a vain, fatuous, barely competent Klink--but of course it does the trick.
Allowed to do more than act the stooge, Banner gives Schultz crucial dimension--Marks even hints that Schultz was a valuable mentor to Kammler during the First World War, thus enabling Kammler to rise to the rank of general--while still keeping within the parameters of his character even as the denouement returns Schultz to his previous status vis-a-vis Klink. Smartly executed by director Gene Reynolds, "The Rise and Fall of Sergeant Schultz" builds character while keeping "Hogan's Heroes" chugging along.