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List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1940–1941)

(Redirected from List of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipients: 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

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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

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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 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

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Number Name Service Rank Role and unit[Note 1] Date of award Notes Image
1 Eduard Dietl+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[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 15-LMajor[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 15-LMajor[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 14-LHauptmann[14] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[10][14] 6 October 1940[Note 3]
—
  
5 Günther Prien Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[15] Commander of U-47[10][15] 20 October 1940[15]
—
  
6 Otto Kretschmer+ Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[16] Commander of U-99[10][16] 4 November 1940[16] Awarded 5th Swords 26 December 1941[16]  
7 Joachim Schepke Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[17] Commander of U-100[10][17] 1 December 1940[17]
—
  

Recipients of 1941

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Number Name Service Rank Role and unit[Note 1] Date of award Notes Image
8 Martin Harlinghausen Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant[18] Chief of the general staff of the X. Fliegerkorps[18][19] 30 January 1941[18]
—
—
9 Walter Oesau+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[20] Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3[19][20] 6 February 1941[20] Awarded 3rd Swords 15 July 1941[Note 4]
—
10 Erwin Rommel+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[19][Note 5] Commander of the 7. Panzer-Division[19][21] 20 March 1941[21] Awarded 6th Swords 20 January 1942
6th Diamonds 11 March 1943[21] 		 
11 Hermann-Friedrich Joppien Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[22] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 51[19][22] 23 April 1941[22]
—
  
12 Joachim Müncheberg+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[23] Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[19][23] 7 May 1941[23] Awarded 19th Swords 9 September 1942[23]  
13 Heinrich Liebe Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[24] Commander of U-38[19][24] 10 June 1941[24] At the same time promoted to Korvettenkapitän[19]  
14 Engelbert Endrass Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant zur See[19][Note 6] Commander of U-46[19][25] 10 June 1941[25]
—
  
15 Herbert Schultze Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[26] Commander of U-48[19][26] 12 June 1941[26]
—
  
16 Herbert Ihlefeld+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[27] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 77[19][27] 27 June 1941[27] Awarded 9th Swords 24 April 1942[27]
—
17 Wilhelm Balthasar Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[28] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[19][28] 2 July 1941[28]
—
—
18 Siegfried Schnell Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[Note 7] Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[19][Note 7] 9 July 1941[29]
—
—
19 Rudolf Schmidt Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe[30] Commanding general of the XXXIX. Armeekorps (motorized)[19][30] 10 July 1941[30]
—
  
20 Werner Baumbach+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[31] Pilot in the 4./Kampfgeschwader 30[19][31] 14 July 1941[31] Awarded 16th Swords 17 August 1942[19][Note 8]  
21 Oskar Dinort Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant[32] Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[19][32] 14 July 1941[32]
—
—
22 Walter Storp Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[33] Geschwaderkommodore of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210[33][34] 14 July 1941[33]
—
—
23 Viktor Schütze Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän[35] Commander of U-103[34][35] 14 July 1941[35]
—
  
24 Heinz Guderian Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[36] Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 2[34][36] 17 July 1941[36]
—
  
25 Hermann Hoth+ Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[37] Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 3[34][37] 17 July 1941[37] Awarded 35th Swords 15 September 1943[37]  
26 Dipl.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen Luftwaffe 20-LGeneral der Flieger[38] Commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps[34][38] 17 July 1941[38]
—
  
27 Günther Lützow+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[39] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3[34][39] 20 July 1941[39] Awarded 4th Swords 11 October 1941[39]  
28 Josef Priller+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[40] Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[34][40] 20 July 1941[40] Awarded 73rd Swords 2 July 1944[40]
—
29 Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[41] Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53[34][41] 24 July 1941[41]
—
  
30 Horst Niemack+ Heer 14-HRittmeister[42] Commander of Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5[34][42] 10 August 1941[42] Awarded 69th Swords 4 June 1944[42]  
31 Heinrich Bär+ Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[Note 9] Pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51[34][43] 14 August 1941[43] Awarded 7th Swords 16 February 1942[43]  
32 Hans Hahn Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[44] Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[34][44] 14 August 1941[44]
—
—
33 Hans Philipp+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[45] Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 54[34][45] 24 August 1941[45] Awarded 8th Swords 12 March 1942[45]
—
34 Ludwig Crüwell Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[46] Commander of the 11. Panzer-Division[34][46] 1 September 1941[46]
—
  
35 Karl-Gottfried Nordmann Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[47] Staffelkapitän of the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51[34][47] 16 September 1941[47]
—
  
36 Heinrich Hoffmann Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[48] Pilot in the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51[34][48] 19 October 1941*[48] Killed in action 3 October 1941[34]
—
37 Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow Heer 17-HOberst[39] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 89[34][39] 21 October 1941[39]
—
—
38 Gordon Gollob+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[49] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 3[34][49] 26 October 1941[34][Note 10] Awarded 13th Swords 23 June 1942
3rd Diamonds 30 August 1942[49] 		 
39 Erbo Graf von Kageneck Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[50] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 27[34][50] 26 October 1941[50]
—
  
40 Ernst-Felix Krüder Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See[51] Commander of Hilfskreuzer Pinguin (HSK-5)[51][52] 15 November 1941*[51] Killed in action 8 May 1941[52]
—
41 Josef Dietrich+ Waffen-SS 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS[9] Commander of SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (motorized)[9][52] 31 December 1941[9] Awarded 26th Swords 14 March 1943
16th Diamonds 6 August 1944[9] 		 
42 Heinrich Eberbach Heer 17-HOberst[53] Commander of the 5. Panzer-Brigade[52][53] 31 December 1941[53]
—
  
43 Franz Scheidies Heer 17-HOberst[54] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 22[52][54] 31 December 1941[54]
—
—
44 Ernst-Georg Buchterkirch Heer 13-HOberleutnant[55] Chief of the 2./Panzer-Regiment 6[52][55] 31 December 1941[55]
—
  
45 Bernhard Rogge Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See[56] Commander of Hilfskreuzer Atlantis (HSK-2)[52][56] 31 December 1941[56]
—
  
46 Dietrich Peltz+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[57] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 77[52][57] 31 December 1941[57] Awarded 31st Swords 23 July 1943[57]
—
47 Adelbert Schulz+ Heer 14-HHauptmann[26] Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 25[26][52] 31 December 1941[26] Awarded 33rd Swords 6 August 1943
9th Diamonds 14 December 1943[26] 		 
48 Dr. Josef-Franz Eckinger Heer 15-HMajor[58] Commander of the I./Schützen-Regiment 113[52][58] 31 December 1941*[58] Killed in action 17 October 1941[52]
—
49 Günther Hoffmann-Schönborn Heer 15-HMajor[59] Commander of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 191[52][59] 31 December 1941[59]
—
—
50 Karl Eibl+ Heer 17-HOberst[60] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 132[52][60] 31 December 1941[60] Awarded 21st Swords 19 December 1942[60]
—
51 Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[61] Commander of U-96[52][61] 31 December 1941[61]
—
  
52 Otto Weiß Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[62] Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Schlacht)/Lehrgeschwader 2[52][62] 31 December 1941[62]
—
  
53 Georg Freiherr von Boeselager+ Heer 14-HRittmeister[63] Chief of the 1./Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 6[52][63] 31 December 1941[63] Awarded 114th Swords 28 November 1944[63]
—
54 Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[64] Commander of the 12. Infanterie-Division[52][64] 31 December 1941[64]
—
  
55 Josef Harpe+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[65] Commander of the 12. Panzer-Division[65][66] 31 December 1941[65] Awarded 36th Swords 15 September 1943[65]  
56 Reinhard Suhren+ Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant zur See[67] Commander of U-564[66][67] 31 December 1941[67] Awarded 18th Swords 1 September 1942[67]
—
57 Hubertus Hitschhold Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[68] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[66][68] 31 December 1941[68]
—
—

Notes

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ According to Scherzer 1st Diamonds on 16 July 1941.[12]
  3. ^ According to Scherzer on 25 October 1940.[14]
  4. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[20]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer as Generalmajor.[21]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as Kapitänleutnant.[25]
  7. ^ a b According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[29]
  8. ^ According to Scherzer on 16 August 1942.[31]
  9. ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[43]
  10. ^ According to Scherzer on 25 October 1941.[49]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 53–104.
  2. ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
  3. ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 110–116, 128.
  4. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  7. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  8. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Scherzer 2007, p. 272.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Fellgiebel 2000, p. 53.
  11. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 53, 476.
  12. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 548.
  13. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 325.
  14. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 783.
  15. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 604.
  16. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 474.
  17. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 659.
  18. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 366.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
  20. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 576.
  21. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 638.
  22. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 423.
  23. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
  24. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 504.
  25. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 294.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 690.
  27. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 413.
  28. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 201.
  29. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 678.
  30. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 671.
  31. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
  32. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 274.
  33. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 727.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.
  35. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 688.
  36. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 354.
  37. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 406.
  38. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 628.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 519.
  40. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 605.
  41. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
  42. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 569.
  43. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 199.
  44. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 361.
  45. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 593.
  46. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
  47. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 572.
  48. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 398.
  49. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 341.
  50. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 428.
  51. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 477.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Fellgiebel 2000, p. 56.
  53. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 285.
  54. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 658.
  55. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 249.
  56. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 636.
  57. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 586.
  58. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
  59. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 399.
  60. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 290.
  61. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 499.
  62. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 775.
  63. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 231.
  64. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 703.
  65. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 367.
  66. ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 57.
  67. ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 735.
  68. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 393.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
  • 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.
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