List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients

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The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military of the Third Reich. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. Within each grade the recipients are ordered chronologically. An exception is the lowest grade, here the recipients are ordered alphabetically by last name. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded. Broken out into sub lists are the recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, one list for every year between 1940 and 1945 the award was presented. Also listed separately are the alphabetical lists of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients. The foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross and the foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves are listed separately as well.

The last legal presentation of the Knight's Cross, in any of its grades, had to be made before 23:01 Central European Time 8 May 1945, the time when the German surrender became effective. A number of presentations were made after this date, the last on 17 June 1945. These late presentations are considered de facto but not de jure awards. In 1986, the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) acknowledged 7,321 presentations made to the members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich for a total of 7,364 recipients.[1] Analysis of the German Federal Archives revealed evidence for 7,161 officially—de facto and de jure—bestowed recipients, including one additional presentation previously unidentified by the AKCR.[2] The AKCR names 890 recipients of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, including the eight recipients who served in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich. The German Federal Archives do not substantiate 27 of these Oak Leaves recipients. The Swords to the Knight's Cross were awarded 160 times according to the AKCR, among them the posthumous presentation to the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, 13 of which cannot be supported by the German Federal Archives. The Diamonds to the Knight's Cross were awarded 27 times, all of which are verifiable in the German Federal Archives. The final grade, the Golden Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross was verifiably awarded once to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944.

  This along with the + (plus) indicates that a higher grade of Knight's Cross was awarded as well.
  This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
  This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that author Veit Scherzer [de; fr; uk] has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.

Background[edit]

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments. The first enactment, Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939 instituted the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz), the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes.[3] As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.[4] In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 introduced the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten).[5] At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944, became the final variant of the Knight's Cross authorized.[6]

Grand Cross of the Iron Cross[edit]

The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross). This grade was awarded only once. The sole recipient was Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring, who at the same time was promoted to Reichsmarschall.[7]

Number Name Service Rank Role and unit Date of award Notes
1 Hermann Göring Luftwaffe Generalfeldmarschall Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe[7] 19 July 1940 at the same time promoted to Reichsmarschall[7]

Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds[edit]

The "Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds" is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944. This grade of the award was to be awarded twelve times only. The sole recipient was Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel.[8]

Number Name Service Rank Role and unit Date of award Notes
1 Hans-Ulrich Rudel Luftwaffe Oberstleutnant[9] Geschwaderkommodore of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[8] 29 December 1944[9] at the same time promoted to Oberst[8]

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds[edit]

The "Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds" is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Ultimately, it would be awarded to only twenty-seven German soldiers, sailors and airmen, ranging from young fighter pilots to field marshals.[10]

Number Name Service Rank Role and unit Date of award Notes
1 Werner Mölders Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[11] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51[12] 15 July 1941[13][Note 1] Killed in plane crash 22 November 1941[13]
2 Adolf Galland Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[15] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[12] 28 January 1942[15]
—
3 Gordon Gollob Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[16] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77[12] 29 August 1942[16]
—
4 Hans-Joachim Marseille Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[17] Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 27[12] 3 September 1942[17] KIA 30 September 1942[18]
5 Hermann Graf Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant of the Reserves[19] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[12] 16 September 1942[19]
—
6 Erwin Rommel Heer 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall[20] Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Afrika[12] 11 March 1943[21] Committed suicide 14 October 1944[22]
7 Wolfgang Lüth Kriegsmarine 15-MFregattenkapitän[23] Commander of U-181[12] 9 August 1943[23] Killed 14 May 1945[23]
8 Walter Nowotny Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[24] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54[25] 19 October 1943[24] KIA 8 November 1944[26]
9 Adelbert Schulz Heer 17-HOberst[27] Commander of Panzer-Regiment 25[25] 14 December 1943[27] KIA 28 January 1944[27]
10 Hans-Ulrich Rudel+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[28] Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[25] 29 March 1944[9] Awarded 1st (and only) Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944[9]
11 Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz Heer 17-HOberst[29] Commander of a Panzer Group in the Heeresgruppe Nord[25] 15 April 1944[29] Promoted to Generalmajor with the Diamonds[25]
12 Herbert Otto Gille Waffen-SS 19-WSS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS[29] Commander of 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking"[25] 19 April 1944[30]
—
13 Hans Hube Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe[31] Commander of 1. Panzerarmee[25] 20 April 1944[32] Promoted to Generaloberst with the Diamonds,[25] killed in a plane crash 21 April 1944[32]
14 Albert Kesselring Luftwaffe 22-LGeneralfeldmarschall[32] OB Süd (Heeresgruppe C)[25] 19 July 1944[33]
—
15 Helmut Lent Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3[25] 31 July 1944[34] KIA 7 October 1944[35]
16 Josef Dietrich Waffen-SS 21-WSS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst of the Waffen-SS[35] Commanding general of I. SS-Panzerkorps "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[25][Note 2] 6 August 1944[37]
—
17 Walter Model Heer 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall[37] Commander in chief of Heeresgruppe Mitte[25] 17 August 1944[38] Committed suicide 21 April 1945[38]
18 Erich Hartmann Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[38] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[25] 25 August 1944[39]
—
19 Hermann Balck Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe[40] Acting commander of 4. Panzerarmee[25] 31 August 1944[40]
—
20 Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke Luftwaffe 19-LGeneralleutnant[41] Commander of Fortress Brest[42] 19 September 1944[43] Awarded the Swords simultaneously with the Diamonds.[43]
21 Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[43] Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[42] 16 October 1944[44]
—
22 Albrecht Brandi Kriegsmarine 15-MFregattenkapitän[45] Commander of U-967[42] 24 November 1944[45]
—
23 Ferdinand Schörner Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[46] Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Nord[42] 1 January 1945[46]
—
24 Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe[46] Commander-in-chief of 5. Panzerarmee[42] 18 February 1945[47]
—
25 Theodor Tolsdorff Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[47] Commander of 340. Volks-Grenadier-Division[42] 18 March 1945[48]
—
26 Dr. med. dent. Karl Mauss Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[49] Commander of 7. Panzer-Division[42] 15 April 1945[49]
—
27 Dietrich von Saucken Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe[49] Commander-in-chief of Armeeoberkommando East Prussia[42] 8 May 1945[50]
—
Rank on day of award Heer Waffen-SS Kriegsmarine Luftwaffe Foreigners Totals
Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral 2 1 3
Generaloberst / Generaladmiral 1 1 2
General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral 4 4
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral 1 1 1 3
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral 1 1
Oberst / Kapitän zur See 2 2 4
Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän 1 1
Major / Korvettenkapitän 2 2 4
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant 2 2
Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See 3 3
Totals 11 2 2 12 27

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords[edit]

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Year Number of presentations Posthumous presentations
1941
5
0
1942
18
1
1943
20
2
1944
76
10
1945
41
2

The "Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords" is also based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The sequential numbers greater than 143 are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and therefore denoted in brackets.[51] The number of the 160 Sword recipients is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the (AKCR).[52] Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 13 of these listings.[2] The majority—12 recipients—of these disputed recipients have received the award in 1945. The deteriorating situation of the Third Reich during the final days of World War II has left the nominations unfinished in various stages of the approval process. Hermann Fegelein had received the Oak Leaves in 1942 but was sentenced to death by Adolf Hitler and executed by SS-Gruppenführer Johann Rattenhuber's Reichssicherheitsdienst (RSD) on 28 April 1945 after a court martial led by SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Wilhelm Mohnke. The sentence was carried out the same day. The death sentence, according to German law, resulted in the loss of all orders and honorary signs.[53]

No. Name Service Rank Role and unit Date of award Notes
1 Adolf Galland+ Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant[15] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[54] 21 June 1941[15] Awarded 2nd Diamonds 28 January 1942[15]
2 Werner Mölders+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[13] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51[54] 22 June 1941 Awarded 1st Diamonds 15 July 1941[13]
3 Walter Oesau Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3[54] 15 July 1941[Note 3] KIA 11 May 1944
4 Günther Lützow Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3[54] 11 October 1941
—
5 Otto Kretschmer Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän Commander of U-99[54] 26 December 1941
—
6 Erwin Rommel+ Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commander of Panzergruppe Afrika[54] 20 January 1942[20] Awarded 6th Diamonds 11 March 1943[56]
7 Heinrich Bär Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[Note 4] Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[54] 16 February 1942
—
8 Hans Philipp Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[58] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54[54] 12 March 1942[59] KIA 8 October 1943[60]
9 Herbert Ihlefeld Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 77[54] 24 April 1942
—
10 Max-Hellmuth Ostermann Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[60] Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54[54] 17 May 1942[61] KIA 9 August 1942[62]
11 Hermann Graf+ Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant of the Reserves[19] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[54] 19 May 1942[17][Note 5] Awarded 5th Diamonds 16 September 1942[19]
12 Hans-Joachim Marseille+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[17] Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 27[54] 18 June 1942[17] Awarded 4th Diamonds 3 September 1942[17]
13 Gordon Gollob+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[16] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77[64] 23 June 1942[16] Awarded 3rd Diamonds 30 August 1942[16]
14 Leopold Steinbatz Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[62] Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[64] 23 June 1942* KIA 15 June 1942[65]
15 Albert Kesselring+ Luftwaffe 22-LGeneralfeldmarschall[32] OB Süd[64] 18 July 1942[32] Awarded 14th Diamonds 19 July 1944[33]
16 Werner Baumbach Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 30[64] 17 August 1942[Note 6]
—
17 Erich Topp Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-552[64] 17 August 1942
—
18 Reinhard Suhren Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-564[64] 1 September 1942
—
19 Joachim Müncheberg Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Deputy Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[64] 9 September 1942 KIA 23 March 1943
20 Joachim Helbig Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the I. (Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1[64] 28 September 1942
—
21 Karl Eibl Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[67] Commander of 385. Infanterie-Division[64] 19 December 1942[67] KIA 21 January 1943[68]
22 Hans Hube+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[31] Commanding general of the XIV. Panzerkorps[64] 21 December 1942[31] Awarded 13th Diamonds 20 April 1944[32]
23 Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[69] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[64] 23 December 1942[69]
—
KIA 23 March 23 1944[67]
24 Alfred Druschel Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[67] Deputy Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 1[64] 19 February 1943
—
25 Hermann Balck+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[40] Commander of 11. Panzer-Division[64] 4 March 1943[40] Awarded 19th Diamonds 31 August 1944[40]
26 Josef Dietrich+ Waffen-SS 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS[70] Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[64] 14 March 1943[70] Awarded 16th Diamonds 6 August 1944[37]
27 Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz+ Heer 17-HOberst of the Reserves[71] Commander of Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[72] 28 March 1943[71] Awarded 11th Diamonds 15 April 1944[29]
28 Walter Model+ Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[73] Commander-in-chief of 9. Armee[72] 2 April 1943[73] Awarded 17th Diamonds 17 August 1944 Committed suicide 21 April 1945[38]
29 Wolfgang Lüth+ Kriegsmarine 14-MKorvettenkapitän[23] Commander of U-181[72] 15 April 1943[23] Awarded 7th Diamonds 9 August 1943[23]
30 Walter Gorn Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10[72] 8 June 1943
—
31 Dietrich Peltz Luftwaffe 17-LOberst im Generalstab Angriffsführer England[72] 23 July 1943
—
32 Helmut Lent+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[72] 2 August 1943 Awarded 15th Diamonds 31 July 1944[34]
33 Adelbert Schulz+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[27] Commander of Panzer-Regiment 25[72] 6 August 1943[27] Awarded 9th Diamonds 14 December 1943; KIA 28 January 1944[27]
34 Günther Rall Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52[72] 12 September 1943
—
35 Hermann Hoth Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[68] Commander-in-chief of 4. Panzerarmee[72] 15 September 1943[74]
—
36 Josef Harpe Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of XXXXI Panzerkorps[72] 15 September 1943
—
37 Walter Nowotny+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[24] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54[72] 22 September 1943 Awarded 8th Diamonds 19 October 1943; KIA 8 November 1944[75]
38 Waldemar von Gazen, called von Gaza Heer 15-HMajor Leader of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66[72] 3 October 1943
—
39 August Dieckmann Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 "Westland"[76] 10 October 1943* KIA 10 October 1943[77]
40 Günther Hans von Kluge Heer 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Mitte[72] 29 October 1943 Committed suicide 19 August 1944
41 Gerhard Graf von Schwerin Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 16. Panzergrenadier-Division[72] 4 November 1943
—
42 Hans-Ulrich Rudel+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[28] Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[72][Note 7] 25 October 1943[28] Awarded 10th Diamonds 29 March 1944; 1st Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944[9]
43 Hajo Herrmann Luftwaffe 17-LOberst Inspekteur der deutschen Luftverteidigung[79][Note 8] 23 January 1944
—
44 Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[79] 23 January 1944* KIA 21 January 1944[81]
45 Erich Bärenfänger Heer 15-HMajor[74] Commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment. 123[79] 23 January 1944[82] Committed suicide 2 May 1945[83]
46 Dietrich von Saucken+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[49] Commander of 4. Panzer-Division[79] 31 January 1944[50] Awarded 27th Diamonds 8 May 1945[50]
47 Herbert Otto Gille+ Waffen-SS 19-WSS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS[29] Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier Division "Wiking"[79] 20 February 1944[30] Awarded 12th Diamonds 19 April 1944[30]
48 Hermann Breith Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of III. Panzerkorps[79] 21 February 1944
—
49 Dr. med.dent. Franz Bäke Heer 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves[83] Commander of Panzer-Regiment 11[79] 21 February 1944[84]
—
50 Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[85] Commander of 7. Panzer-Division[79] 22 February 1944'[85] Awarded 24th Diamonds 18 February 1945[47]
51 Egon Mayer Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[79] 2 March 1944* KIA 2 March 1944[86]
52 Gerhard Barkhorn Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[84] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 52[79] 2 March 1944[87]
—
53 Franz Griesbach Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 399[79] 6 March 1944
—
54 Werner Streib Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[79] 11 March 1944
—
55 Richard Heidrich Luftwaffe 19-LGeneralleutnant Commander of 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division[79] 25 March 1944
—
56 Hinrich Schuldt Waffen-SS 17-WSS-Oberführer Commander of 2. lett. SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade[79] 25 March 1944* KIA 15 March 1944[88]
57 Georg-Wilhelm Postel Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 320. Infanterie-Division[79] 26 March 1944
—
58 Wend von Wietersheim Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 11. Panzer-Division[79] 26 March 1944
—
59 Erich von Lewinski, called von Manstein Heer 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Süd[89] 30 March 1944
—
60 Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist Heer 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe A[89] 30 March 1944
—
61 Alwin Boerst Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[90] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[89] 6 April 1944*[91] KIA 30 March 1944[92]
62 Dr. jur. Ernst Kupfer Luftwaffe 17-LOberst Former Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2[89] 11 April 1944* Killed in flying accident 6 November 1943[93]
63 Hans Kreysing Heer 20-HGeneral der Gebirgstruppe Commanding general of XVII. Armeekorps[89] 13 April 1944
—
64 Hans Jordan Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commanding general of VI. Armeekorps[89] 20 April 1944
—
65 Hermann Prieß Waffen-SS 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS[94] Commander of 3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf"[89] 24 April 1944[95]
—
66 Albrecht Brandi+ Kriegsmarine 14-MFregattenkapitän[45] Commander of U-380[89] 9 May 1944[45] Awarded 22nd Diamonds 24 November 1944[45]
67 Ludwig Heilmann Luftwaffe 17-LOberst Commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3[89] 15 May 1944
—
68 Georg-Hans Reinhardt Heer 21-HGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of 3. Panzerarmee[89] 26 May 1944
—
69 Horst Niemack Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[89] 4 June 1944
—
70 Alfons König Heer 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 199 "List"[89] 9 June 1944
—
KIA 8 July 1944
71 Michael Wittmann Waffen-SS 14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer Chief of the 2./schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501[89][Note 9] 22 June 1944 KIA 8 August 1944[89]
72 Eduard Dietl Heer 21-HGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of 20. Gebirgsarmee[89] 1 July 1944* Killed in flying accident 23 June 1944[36]
73 Josef Priller Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[89] 2 July 1944
—
74 Friedrich Lang Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 1[89] 2 July 1944
—
75 Erich Hartmann+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[38] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[89] 4 July 1944[39] Awarded 18th Diamonds 25 August 1944[39]
76 Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[95] Commander of 26. Panzer-Division[97] 4 July 1944[98]
—
77 Hans Dorr Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"[97] 9 July 1944 Died of wounds 17 April 1945[97]
78 Anton Hackl Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 11[97] 9 July 1944[Note 10]
—
79 Reiner Stahel Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of Fester Platz Wilna[97] 18 July 1944
—
80 Theodor Tolsdorff+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[48] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1067 and leader of a Kampfgruppe[97] 18 July 1944[48] Awarded 25th Diamonds 18 March 1945[48]
81 Fritz Bayerlein Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of Panzer-Lehr-Division[97] 20 July 1944
—
82 Johannes Steinhoff Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77[97] 28 July 1944
—
83 Hermann Fegelein?[Note 11] Waffen-SS 19-WSS-Gruppenführer[102] Commander of 8. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer"[97] 30 July 1944 Executed 28 April 1945[103]
84 Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[43] Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[97] 30 July 1944[43][Note 12] Awarded 21st Diamonds 16 October 1944[44]
85 Fritz von Scholz Edler von Rarancze Waffen-SS 19-WSS-Gruppenführer Commander of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"[97] 8 August 1944* KIA 28 July 1944[105]
86 Felix Steiner Waffen-SS 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS Commanding general of III. germanische SS-Panzerkorps[97] 10 August 1944
—
87 Walter Fries Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 29. Panzergrenadier Division[97] 11 August 1944
—
88 Kurt Bühligen Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[97] 14 August 1944
—
89 Dr. rer. pol., Dr. Ing. Johannes Mayer Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 329. Infanterie-Division[97] 23 August 1944
—
90 Paul Hausser Waffen-SS 21-WSS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst of the Waffen-SS Commander-in-chief of 7. Armee[97] 28 August 1944
—
91 Kurt Meyer Waffen-SS 17-WSS-Standartenführer Commander of 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"[106] 27 August 1944
—
92 Robert Ritter von Greim Luftwaffe 21-LGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of Luftflotte 6[106] 28 August 1944[Note 13]
—
93 Ferdinand Schörner+ Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[108] Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Nord[106] 28 August 1944[46] Awarded 23rd Diamonds 1 January 1945[46]
94 Theodor Wisch Waffen-SS 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Commander of 1. SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[106] 30 August 1944
—
95 Otto Baum Waffen-SS 17-WSS-Standartenführer Commander of 2. SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich"[106] 2 September 1944
—
96 Hans Kroh Luftwaffe 17-LOberst Leader of 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division[106] 12 September 1944
—
97 Wilhelm Wegener Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commanding general of L. Armeekorps[106] 17 September 1944 KIA 24 September 1944
98 Theodor Nordmann Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Schlachtgeschwader 1[106] 17 September 1944
—
99 Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke+ Luftwaffe 19-LGeneralleutnant[41] Commander of fortress Brest[106] 19 September 1944[43] Awarded 20th Diamonds simultaneously with the Swords 19 September 1944[43]
100 Otto von Knobelsdorff Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of XXXX. Panzerkorps[106] 21 September 1944
—
101 Dr. med. dent. Karl Mauss+ Heer 18-HGeneralleutnant[49] Commander of 7. Panzer-Division[106] 23 October 1944 Awarded 26th Diamonds 15 April 1945[49]
102 Werner Ziegler Heer 15-HMajor Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 186[106] 23 October 1944
—
103 Fritz Feßmann Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves Commander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5[106] 23 October 1944* KIA 11 October 1944[109]
104 Hermann Recknagel Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commanding general of XXXXII. Armeekorps[106] 23 October 1944 KIA 23 January 1945
105 Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 24. Panzer-Division[106] 23 October 1944
—
106 Hans Källner Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 19. Panzer-Division[106] 23 October 1944 KIA 18 April 1945
107 Werner Mummert Heer 17-HOberst of the Reserves Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 103[110] 23 October 1944
—
108 Josef Wurmheller Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[110] 24 October 1944* KIA 22 June 1944[111]
109 Dr. rer. pol. Hermann Hohn Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 72. Infanterie-Division[110] 31 October 1944
—
110 Hans von Obstfelder Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commanding general of LXXXVI. Armeekorps[110] 5 November 1944
—
111 Ernst-Günther Baade Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 90. Panzergrenadier Division[110] 16 November 1944 KIA 8 May 1945
112 Karl-Lothar Schulz Luftwaffe 17-LOberst Leader of 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division[110] 18 November 1944
—
113 Otto Kittel Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 2./Jagdgeschwader 54[110] 25 November 1944 KIA February 14/16 1945
114 Georg Freiherr von Boeselager Heer 16-HOberstleutnant Leader of 3. Kavallerie-Brigade[110] 28 November 1944* KIA 26 August 1944[92]
115 Helmuth Weidling Heer 20-HGeneral der Artillerie Commanding general of XXXXI. Panzerkorps[110] 28 November 1944
—
116 Heinz Harmel Waffen-SS 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Commander of 10. SS-Panzer Division "Frundsberg"[112] 15 December 1944
—
117 Traugott Herr Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of LXXVI. Panzerkorps[110] 18 December 1944
—
118 Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of 98. Infanterie-Division[110] 24 December 1944
—
119 Joachim Peiper Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer Commander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[113] 11 January 1945
—
120 Walter Krüger Waffen-SS 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS Commanding general of VI. Waffen-Armeekorps der SS[113][Note 14] 11 January 1945 Committed suicide 22 May 1945
121 Wolfgang Kretzschmar Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Jäger-Regiment 24 (L)[113] 12 January 1945* KIA 27 December 1944[115]
122 Dr. jur. Lothar Rendulic Heer 21-HGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of 20. Gebirgs-Armee[113] 18 January 1945
—
123 Maximilian Wengler Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 227. Infanterie-Division[113] 21 January 1945 KIA 25 April 1945
124 Walther Nehring Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of XXIV. Panzerkorps[113] 22 January 1945
—
125 Hermann Hogeback Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 6[113] 26 January 1945
—
126 Erich Rudorffer Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[103] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 54[113] 26 January 1945[116]
—
127 Friedrich Kirchner Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of LVII. Panzerkorps[113] 26 January 1945
—
128 Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commanding general of LXVIII. Armeekorps[113] 27 January 1945
—
129 Helmut Dörner Waffen-SS 17-WSS-Oberführer Leader of a Kampfgruppe in the 4. SS-Polizei Panzergrenadier Division[113] 1 February 1945 KIA 11 February 1945
130 Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 14./Jagdgeschwader 27[113] 1 February 1945
—
131 Erich Walther Luftwaffe 17-LOberst Leader of Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring"[113] 1 February 1945
—
132 Max Sachsenheimer Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[117] Commander of 17. Infanterie-Division[113] 6 February 1945[118]
—
133 Gerd von Rundstedt Heer 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall OB West[113] 18 February 1945
—
134 Dietrich von Müller Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 16. Panzer-Division[113] 20 February 1945
—
135 Friedrich Schulz Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commander-in-chief of 17. Armee[113] 26 February 1945
—
136 Gotthard Heinrici Heer 21-HGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of 1. Panzerarmee[119] 3 March 1945
—
137 Heinz-Georg Lemm Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[118] Commander of Füsilier-Regiment 27[119] 15 March 1945[120]
—
138 Otto Kumm Waffen-SS 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Commander of 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen"[119] 17 Mar 1945
—
139 Walter Hartmann Heer 20-HGeneral der Artillerie Commanding general of VIII. Armeekorps[119] 18 March 1945
—
140 Georg Bochmann Waffen-SS 17-WSS-Oberführer[121] Leader of 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"[119] 30 March 1945[108]
—
141 Arthur Jüttner Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 164[119] 5 April 1945
—
142 Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 20. Panzer-Division[119] 17 April 1945
—
143 Hellmuth Mäder Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[108] Commander of Führer-Grenadier Division[119] 18 April 1945[122]
—
(144) Werner Schröer Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[119] 19 April 1945[Note 15]
—
(145) Wilhelm Batz Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 52[119] 21 April 1945
—
(146) Johannes Blaskowitz Heer 21-HGeneraloberst OB Niederlande[119] 24 April 1945
—
(147) Hermann Niehoff?[Note 16] Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commander of fortress Breslau[119] 26 April 1945
—
(148) Hermann-Heinrich Behrend Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of 490. Infanterie-Division[119] 26 April 1945
—
(149) Karl Decker?[Note 17] Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of XXXIX. Panzerkorps[119] 26 April 1945* Committed suicide 21 April 1945[127]
(150) Otto Weidinger?[Note 18] Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer[122] Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 "Der Führer"[119] 6 May 1945[129]
—
(151) Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny?[Note 19] Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland"[119] 6 May 1945
—
(152) Sylvester Stadler?[Note 20] Waffen-SS 17-WSS-Oberführer Commander of 9. SS-Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"[119] 6 May 1945
—
(153) Wilhelm Bittrich?[Note 21] Waffen-SS 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS Commanding general of II. SS-Panzerkorps[119] 6 May 1945
—
(154) Fritz-Hubert Gräser?[Note 22] Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commander-in-chief of 4. Panzerarmee[119] 8 May 1945
—
(155) Eugen Meindl?[Note 23] Luftwaffe 20-LGeneral der Fallschirmtruppe Commanding general of II. Fallschirm-Korps[135] 8 May 1945
—
(156) Karl Alfred Thieme?[Note 24] Heer 16-HOberstleutnant Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111[135] 9 May 1945
—
(157) Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz?[Note 25] Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of XXXXVII. Panzerkorps[135] 9 May 1945
—
(158) Otto Hitzfeld?[Note 26] Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie Commanding general of LXVII. Armeekorps[135] 9 May 1945
—
(159) Josef Bremm?[Note 27] Heer 16-HOberstleutnant Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 990[135] 9 May 1945
—
Isoroku Yamamoto Imperial Japanese Navy 22-MFleet Admiral Commander-in-chief of the IJN Combined Fleet[135] 27 May 1943* KIA 18 April 1943[140]
Rank on day of award Heer Waffen-SS Kriegsmarine Luftwaffe Foreigners Totals
Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral 4 1 1 6
Generaloberst / Generaladmiral 8 1 1 10
General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral 21 4 1 26
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral 13 3 2 18
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral 12 4 16
Oberst / Kapitän zur See 7 6 7 20
Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän 8 4 6 18
Major / Korvettenkapitän 3 1 1 13 18
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant 1 4 15 20
Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See 1 5 6
Leutnant / Leutnant zur See 1 1
Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister 1 1
Totals 77 24 5 53 1 160

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves[edit]

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Year Number of presentations Posthumous presentations
1940
7
0
1941
50
3
1942
111
7
1943
192
17
1944
328
46
1945
194
19

The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940. A total of 7 awards were made in 1940; 50 in 1941; 111 in 1942; 192 in 1943; 328 in 1944, and 194 in 1945, giving a total of 882 recipients—excluding the 8 foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

The number of 882 Oak Leaves recipients is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[52] Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 27 of these listings.[2] With the exception of Hermann Fegelein, all of the disputed recipients had received the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of the Third Reich during the final days of World War II left the nominations unfinished in various stages of the approval process.[53]

Rank on day of award Heer Waffen-SS Kriegsmarine Luftwaffe Foreigners Totals
Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral 6 1 1 3 11
Generaloberst / Generaladmiral 11 3 1 15
General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral 50 8 2 4 64
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral 77 6 1 5 2 91
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral 43 9 1 5 1 59
Oberst / Kapitän zur See 78 12 5 8 103
Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän 47 19 3 19 88
Major / Korvettenkapitän 73 9 11 53 1 147
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant 68 6 24 76 174
Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See 19 4 5 40 68
Leutnant / Leutnant zur See 11 1 21 33
Stabsfeldwebel / Stabswachtmeister 1 1
Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister 17 7 24
Feldwebel / Wachtmeister 5 4 9
Unteroffizier / Oberjäger 3 3
Totals 509 74 53 246 8 890

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross[edit]

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Year Number of presentations Posthumous presentations
1939
26
0
1940
448
9
1941
787
34
1942
975
68
1943
1,422
136
1944
2,468
240
1945
1,195
94

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of September 1, 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross).

Beginning letter Recipients
According to AKCR 		Additional recipients
According to Veit Scherzer 		Delisted
According to AKCR 		Disputed
According to Veit Scherzer
A 118[141]
—
 1[142] 3[143]
Ba–Bm, Bn–Bz 368[144] + 357[145] = 725
—
 1[146] 13[147] + 8[148] = 21
C 82[149]
—
—
—
D 238[150]
—
—
 6[151]
E 188[152]
—
—
 3[153]
F 280[154]
—
 1[155] 12[156]
G 380[157]
—
 1[158] 11[159]
Ha–Hm, Hn–Hz 437[160] + 224[161] = 661
—
 1[162] 15[163] + 14[164] = 29
I 26[165]
—
—
—
J 142[166]
—
 1[155] 4
Ka–Km, Kn–Kz 289[167] + 428[168] = 717
—
 1[169] 4[170] + 8[171] = 12
L 386[172]
—
—
 16[173]
M 457[174]
—
 1 7
N 145[175]
—
 2[176] 2[124]
O 82[177]
—
—
 2[178]
P 324[179]
—
 1 5[180]
Q 7[181]
—
—
—
R 447[182] 1[183]
—
 11
Sa–Schr, Schu–Sz 457[184] + 603[185] = 1,060
—
—
 11[186] + 14[187] = 25
T 182[188]
—
—
 5
U 32[189]
—
—
 1[190]
V 92[191]
—
—
 5
W 446[192]
—
—
 11
X 1
—
—
—
Z 103[193]
—
—
 2[194]
Totals 7,321 1 11 193

Non-existent recipients[edit]

Since the end of World War II, numerous people have claimed to be unrecognised recipients of the Knight's Cross. The majority of these "recipients" are lacking any evidence to sustain their claims and are thus denied the right to consider themselves "legal recipients". There are two cases where the legal proof of the award exists even though the recipients do not. These two "legally correct" recipients are Günther Nowak and Heinrich Scherhorn.[195]

Günther Nowak, Hitlerjugend, was awarded the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1945 for the destruction of eleven tanks in Hindenburg, Oberschlesien. It was always assumed that he was the youngest recipient of the Knight's Cross; however, Günther Nowak never really existed — a deserting Commander of the Volkssturm named Sachs was caught and claimed that, after the retreat of the Wehrmacht, he had destroyed five tanks single-handedly. Because of this, he was taken to a Gauleiter. Fearing that his lie would be unveiled, he created the story of Günther Nowak in order to lessen his own "feat". This report was then sent to Reichsleiter Martin Bormann. Bormann immediately awarded the German Cross in Gold to the Volkssturm-Commander Sachs and the Knight's Cross to Nowak.[195]

Foreign recipients[edit]

Foreign servicemen who did not serve in the German Wehrmacht or the Waffen-SS during World War II and were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross or its higher grade the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves are listed in the List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[14]
  2. ^ According to Scherzer as commanding general of the I. SS-Panzerkorps.[36]
  3. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[55]
  4. ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.[57]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer on 18 May 1942.[63]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 August 1942.[66]
  7. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann".[78]
  8. ^ According to Scherzer as Inspekteur der Nachtjagd in the Reichsluftfahrtministerium and commander of the 30. Jagd-Division[80]
  9. ^ According to Scherzer as chief of the 2./schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101.[96]
  10. ^ According to Scherzer on 12 July 1944.[99]
  11. ^ Hermann Fegelein was sentenced to death by Hitler and executed by SS General Johann Rattenhuber's Reichssicherheitsdienst on 28 April 1945 after a court-martial led by SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Wilhelm Mohnke. The sentence was carried out the same day.[100] The death sentence resulted in the loss of all orders and honorary signs.[101]
  12. ^ According to Scherzer on 3 August 1944.[104]
  13. ^ According to Scherzer on 27 August 1944.[107]
  14. ^ According to Scherzer as commanding general of the VI. SS-Freiwilligen Armeekorps[114]
  15. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 April 1945.[123]
  16. ^ The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Hermann Niehoff. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) only assumes that the Swords were awarded. According to Niehoff's testimony he was nominated by Gauleiter Karl Hanke. The date and sequential number "147" were assigned by the AKCR. Niehoff was a member of the AKCR.[124]
  17. ^ The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Karl Decker. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) assumes that the presentation fell into the timeframe 20 April 1945 to 29 April 1945. It is assumed that the nomination was approved on 26 April 1945.[125] Scherzer states that the assumption is based on a statement from Decker's widow. She claimed that she had been informed that her husband had received the award. The date and sequential number "149" were assigned by the AKCR.[126]
  18. ^ The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Otto Weidinger. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "150" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR), who counted Weidinger in their number.[128]
  19. ^ The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "151" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Wisliceny was a member of the AKCR.[130]
  20. ^ The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Sylvester Stadler, also not mentioned by the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). According to Fellgiebel, the award was presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich, which would make it an unlawful presentation. Fellgiebel is referring to Hermann Buch, the former IIa (personnel administration) of the 2. SS-Division "Das Reich", and Wilhelm Kment, the adjutant of Heinrich Himmler and liaison officer to the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office), as sources. Buch reported on 25 June 2004 that he hadn't to do anything with this case. Stadler himself claimed that Dietrich proposed him on 22 March 1945, even though the 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen" was not subordinated to the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "152" was assigned by the AKCR. The date might have been taken from Ernst-Günther Krätschmer.[131]
  21. ^ The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Wilhelm Bittrich. The award was unlawfully presented SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "153" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Bittrich was a member of the AKCR.[132]
  22. ^ Fritz-Hubert Gräser's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Personnel Office) on 29 April 1945. General Ernst Maisel noted: "I approve the nomination! 30 April". The nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross only notes the nomination entry date as 29 April 1945. There is no indication that the award was granted. The paperwork was not finalized by the end of the war. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "154" and presentation date were assigned by the AKCR.[133]
  23. ^ Eugen Meindl's nomination by the troop was approved by each of his commanding officers. However the nomination contains no final remark on the proceedings. Oberst Nicolaus von Below, Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant, had sent a teleprinter message to the commanding general of the Fallschirmarmee Generaloberst Kurt Student, requesting a statement for this nomination. The copy of the teleprinter message contains a note: resubmission "23 April 1945". It seems that the statement was never returned. The paperwork was not finalized by the end of the war. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "155" was assigned by the AKCR. Fellgiebel assigned the presentation date. Meindl is mentioned on a list of the Oberbefehlshaber Nordwest for "Nominations and Bestowal of War Awards" from May 1945. This list, which was intended to be presented to Karl Dönitz, contained twelve names of pending nominations which had been submitted via the chain of command. Dönitz has never signed this list, most likely he has never even seen this list. The responsible personnel offices awarded or declined eight nominations from this list by the end of the war by, two remained unprocessed by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Personnel Office) and Luftwaffenpersonalamt (LPA — Luftwaffe Personnel Office) and two further were left ready for signing at the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht/Wehrmacht-Führungsstab (OKW/WFSt—Oberkommando der Wehrmacht/Wehrmacht-Führungsstab—leadership staff of the Army High Command).[134]
  24. ^ Karl Thieme's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Personnel Office) on 10 April 1945 via teleprinter. Major Joachim Domaschk noted "By no means sufficient! Requesting statement from OB West", which was requested on 13 April. OB West responded on 24 April (entry date at the Heerespersonalamt on 28 April): "Statement from OB West not possible, since nomination was not made via OB West". Major Joachim Domaschk then decided on 28 April: "Heeresgruppe B, postpone!" In this instance the nomination was not processed due to AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office) but also because statements from his commanding officers could not be obtained anymore due to the capitulation. The nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross also contains a note from 10 April 1945: postponed. A bestowal thus didn't occur. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "156" was assigned by the AKCR. Fellgiebel assigned the presentation date.[136]
  25. ^ Heinrich von Lüttwitz's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Personnel Office) on 28 April 1945. Major Joachim Domaschk decided on 30 April: "Heeresgruppe B, postpone!" General Von Lüttwiz together with the remaining forces of the Heeresgruppe B was either taken prisoner of war or missing in action in the Ruhr Pocket on 15 April. The nomination was thus not further processed in accordance with AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office). The nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross also contains a note from 28 April 1945: "postponed". A bestowal thus didn't occur. The sequential number "157" and presentation date were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[137]
  26. ^ Otto Hitzfeld's nomination was rejected by Major Joachim Domaschk on 30 April 1945 and commented: "This is not a nomination!" (Only leadership and organisational achievements, no personal bravery) he additionally noted: "missing in cauldron AOK 11". The nomination was thus assessed as insufficient as well as postponed according to AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office). The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The approval cannot be proven. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) handled the case in 1981 and decided: Swords yes, 9 May 1945. The AKCR claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "158" and presentation date was assigned by the AKCR. Hitzfeld was a member of the AKCR.[138]
  27. ^ Josef Bremm's nomination by the troop was rejected by Major Joachim Domaschk on 30 April 1945 and instead recommended for the German Cross in Gold. Just like all other nominations, which at this point in time were related to members of the 11. Armee, the nomination was not further processed since the 11. Armee had capitulated on 21 April 1945 and presentations to prisoners of war or missing in action were prohibited. In all other instances of similar circumstances a note on the nomination can be found stating: "postpone AOK 11" or "postpone according to AHA 44 Ziff. 572 (Allgemeines Heeresamt — General Army Office)". The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "159" was assigned by the AKCR. The presentation date was assigned by Fellgiebel. Bremm was a member of the AKCR.[139]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509.
  2. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
  3. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
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  124. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 161.
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  126. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 125.
  127. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 267.
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  131. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 176.
  132. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 121.
  133. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 134.
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References[edit]

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • O'Donnell, James Preston (1978). The Bunker: The History of the Reich Chancellery Group. Boston, United States: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-25719-7.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2005). Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves and Swords Recipients 1941–45. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publisher. ISBN 1-84176-643-7.
  • Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2006). Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients 1941–45. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publisher. ISBN 1-84176-644-5.

External links[edit]

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