List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1940–1941)
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The decoration was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of extreme gallantry. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) was introduced on 3 June 1940 to further distinguish those who had already received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and who continued to show merit in combat bravery or military success. 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 award.
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).[1] However, 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 during the final days of World War II in Germany left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process. Fegelein 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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5] 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).[6] 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.[7]
Recipients[edit]
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 Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW—Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists, one for each of the three military branches, Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air force) and for the Waffen-SS. Within each of these lists a unique sequential number was assigned to each recipient. The same numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades of the Knight's Cross, one list per grade.[8] The recipients are ordered chronologically and numbered by the official sequential number assigned by the OKW. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was awarded.
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 with Oak Leaves was awarded posthumously.
Recipients of 1940[edit]
Number | Name | Service | Rank | Role and unit[Note 1] | Date of award | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eduard Dietl+ | Heer | Generalleutnant[9] | Commanding general of Gebirgskorps Norwegen[9][10] | 19 July 1940[9] | Awarded 72nd Swords 1 July 1944.[9] At the same time promoted to General der Infanterie, later General der Gebirgstruppen[11] |
![]() |
2 | Werner Mölders+ | Luftwaffe | Major[12] | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51[10][12] | 21 September 1940[12] | Awarded 2nd Swords 22 June 1941 1st Diamonds 15 July 1941[Note 2] |
![]() |
3 | Adolf Galland+ | Luftwaffe | Major[13] | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[10][13] | 24 September 1940[13] | Awarded 1st Swords 21 June 1941 2nd Diamonds 28 January 1942[13] |
![]() |
4 | Helmut Wick | Luftwaffe | Hauptmann[14] | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[10][14] | 6 October 1940[Note 3] | — |
![]() |
5 | Günther Prien | Kriegsmarine | Kapitänleutnant[15] | Commander of U-47[10][15] | 20 October 1940[15] | — |
![]() |
6 | Otto Kretschmer+ | Kriegsmarine | Kapitänleutnant[16] | Commander of U-99[10][16] | 4 November 1940[16] | Awarded 5th Swords 26 December 1941[16] | ![]() |
7 | Joachim Schepke | Kriegsmarine | Kapitänleutnant[17] | Commander of U-100[10][17] | 1 December 1940[17] | — |
![]() |
Recipients of 1941[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b For an explanation of the various naming schemes used by the Luftwaffe, Heer, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS refer to nomenclature used by the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS.
- ^ According to Scherzer 1st Diamonds on 16 July 1941.[12]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 25 October 1940.[14]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[20]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Generalmajor.[21]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Kapitänleutnant.[25]
- ^ a b According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[29]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 16 August 1942.[31]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[43]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 25 October 1941.[49]
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 53–104.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 110–116, 128.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Scherzer 2007, p. 272.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fellgiebel 2000, p. 53.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 53, 476.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 548.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 325.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 783.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 604.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 474.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 659.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 366.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 576.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 638.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 423.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 504.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 294.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 690.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 413.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 201.
- ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 678.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 671.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 274.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 727.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 688.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 354.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 406.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 628.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 519.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 605.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 569.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 199.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 361.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 593.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 572.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 398.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 341.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 428.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 477.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Fellgiebel 2000, p. 56.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 285.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 658.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 249.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 636.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 586.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 399.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 290.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 499.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 775.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 231.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 703.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 367.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 57.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 735.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 393.
Bibliography[edit]
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
- 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.
External links[edit]
- "Das Bundesarchiv". Military Archive - Freiburg im Breisgau. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.