List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1942)

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

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 of 1942

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 sequential numbers greater than 143 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses. ^[9] 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.

  This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that author Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.

Number	Name	Service	Rank	Role and unit [Note 1]	Date of award	Notes	Image
58	Oskar von Boddien	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant [10]	Commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 22 [10] [11]	8 January 1942* [10]	Killed in action 6 January 1942 [11]	—
59	Hans Jordan +	Heer	17-H Oberst [12]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 49 [11] [12]	16 January 1942 [12]	Awarded 64th Swords 20 April 1944 [12]	—
60	Karl-Wilhelm Specht	Heer	17-H Oberst [13]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 55 [11] [13]	16 January 1942 [13]	—	—
61	Hans Freiherr von Wolff	Heer	14-H Hauptmann [14]	Commander of the I./Schützen-Regiment 28 [11] [14]	16 January 1942 [14]	At the same time promoted to Major [11]	—
62	Hans-Valentin Hube +	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [15]	Commander of 16. Panzer-Division [11] [15]	16 January 1942 [15]	Awarded 22nd Swords 21 December 1942 13th Diamonds 20 April 1944 [15]
63	Karl-Heinz Noak	Heer	13-H Oberleutnant [16]	Commander of the 1./Panzer-Jagd-Abteilung 137 [11] [16]	16 January 1942 [16]	—	—
64	Joachim Helbig +	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [17]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I.(Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1 [11] [17]	16 January 1942 [17]	Awarded 20th Swords 28 September 1942 [17]	—
65	Otto Hitzfeld +	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant [18]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 213 [11] [18]	17 January 1942 [18]	Awarded (158th) Swords 9 May 1945? [19] [Note 2]
66	Wilhelm Wegener +	Heer	17-H Oberst [21]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 94 [11] [21]	19 January 1942 [21]	Awarded 97th Swords 17 September 1944 [21]	—
67	Hans Traut	Heer	17-H Oberst [22]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 41 (motorized) and leader of 10. Infanterie-Division (motorized) [22] [23]	23 January 1942 [22]	—	—
68	Werner-Albrecht von und zu Gilsa	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [24]	Commander of 216. Infanterie-Division [23] [24]	24 January 1942 [24]	—	—
69	Hermann Breith +	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [25]	Commander of 3. Panzer-Division [23] [25]	31 January 1942 [25]	Awarded 48th Swords 21 February 1944 [26]
70	Rolf Kaldrack	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [27]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 [23] [27]	9 February 1942* [27]	Killed in action 3 February 1942 [23]	—
71	Heinrich Borgmann	Heer	14-H Hauptmann [26]	Commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 46 [23] [26]	11 February 1942 [26]	Killed in action 6 April 1945 [23]	—
72	Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist +	Heer	21-H Generaloberst [28]	Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 1 [23] [28]	17 February 1942 [28]	Awarded 60th Swords 30 March 1944 [28]
73	Georg-Hans Reinhardt +	Heer	20-H General der Panzertruppe [29]	Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 3 [23] [29]	17 February 1942 [29]	Awarded 68th Swords 26 May 1944 [29]
74	Walter Model +	Heer	20-H General der Panzertruppe [30]	Commanding general of the XXXXI. Panzerkorps [23] [30]	17 February 1942 [30]	Awarded 28th Swords 2 April 1943 17th Diamonds 17 August 1944 [30]
75	Willibald Freiherr von Langermann und Erlencamp	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [31]	Commander of 4. Panzer-Division [23] [31]	17 February 1942 [31]	—
76	Walter Wessel	Heer	17-H Oberst [32]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 15 (motorized) [23] [32]	17 February 1942 [32]	at the same time promoted to Generalmajor [23]	—
77	Walter Hagen	Luftwaffe	16-L Oberstleutnant [33]	Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 [23] [33]	17 February 1942 [33]	—	—
78	Albert Kesselring +	Luftwaffe	22-L Generalfeldmarschall [34]	Chief of Luftflotte 2 and OB Süd [23] [34]	25 February 1942 [34]	Awarded 15th Swords 18 July 1942 14th Diamonds 19 July 1944 [34]
79	Gerhard Köppen	Luftwaffe	09-L Feldwebel [35]	Pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52 [23] [35]	27 February 1942 [35]	—	—
80	Kurt Ubben	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [36]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 77 [36] [37]	12 March 1942 [36]	—	—
81	Max-Hellmuth Ostermann +	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [38]	Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54 [37] [38]	12 March 1942 [38]	Awarded 10th Swords 17 May 1942 [38]	—
82	Franz Eckerle	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [39]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 [37] [39]	12 March 1942* [39]	Killed in action 14 February 1942 [37]	—
83	Wolf-Dietrich Huy	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [40]	Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 77 [37] [40]	17 March 1942 [40]	—	—
84	Hans Strelow	Luftwaffe	12-L Leutnant [41]	Staffelführer of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" [37] [41]	24 March 1942 [41]	—	—
85	Wilhelm Spies	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [42]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" [37] [42]	5 April 1942* [42]	Killed in action 27 January 1942 [37]	—
86	Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller +	Heer	17-H Oberst [43]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 105 [37] [43]	8 April 1942 [43]	Awarded 128th Swords 27 January 1945 [43]	—
87	Erich Topp +	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [44]	Commander of U-552 [37] [44]	11 April 1942 [44]	Awarded 17th Swords 17 August 1942 [44]
88	Theodor Eicke	Waffen-SS	20-WSS- Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS [45]	Commander of SS-Division "Totenkopf" [37] [45]	20 April 1942 [45]	—
89	Reinhard Hardegen	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [46]	Commander of U-123 [37] [46]	23 April 1942 [46]	—
90	Wolfgang Späte	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant of the Reserves [47]	Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 54 [37] [47]	23 April 1942 [47]	—	—
91	Alfred Wünnenberg	Waffen-SS	18-WSS- Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Police [48]	Commander of SS-Polizei-Division [37] [48]	23 April 1942 [48]	—
92	Theodor Scherer	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [49]	Commander of 281. Sicherungs-Division and defender of Cholm [37] [49]	5 May 1942 [49]	—
93	Hermann Graf +	Luftwaffe	12-L Leutnant of the Reserves [50]	Staffelführer of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 [37] [50]	17 May 1942 [50]	Awarded 11th Swords 19 May 1942 5th Diamonds 16 September 1942 [50]
94	Adolf Dickfeld	Luftwaffe	12-L Leutnant of the Reserves [51]	Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52 [37] [51]	19 May 1942 [Note 3]	—	—
95	Eberhard von Mackensen	Heer	20-H General der Kavallerie [52]	Commanding general of the III. Panzerkorps [37] [52]	26 May 1942 [52]	—
96	Leopold Steinbatz +	Luftwaffe	10-L Oberfeldwebel [53]	Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 [37] [53]	2 June 1942 [53]	Awarded 14th Swords 23 June 1942 [53]	—
97	Hans-Joachim Marseille +	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [54]	Pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 27 [54] [55]	6 June 1942 [54]	Awarded 12th Swords 18 June 1942 4th Diamonds 3 September 1942 [54]
98	Helmut Lent +	Luftwaffe	15-L Major [56]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 [55] [56]	6 June 1942 [56]	Awarded 32nd Swords 2 August 1943 15th Diamonds 31 July 1944 [56]
99	Robert-Georg Freiherr von Malapert	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [57]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 [55] [57]	8 June 1942* [57]	Killed in action 21 May 1942 [55]	—
100	Ludwig Wolff	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [14]	Commander of 22. Infanterie-Division (Luftlande) [14] [55]	22 June 1942 [14]	—
101	Friedrich Geißhardt	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [58]	Pilot and adjutant in the Stab of the I./Jagdgeschwader 77 [55] [Note 4]	23 June 1942 [58]	—
102	Heinrich Setz	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [59]	Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 77 [55] [59]	23 June 1942 [59]	—	—
103	Walter von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt	Heer	20-H General der Infanterie [60]	Commanding general of the II. Armeekorps [55] [60]	27 June 1942 [60]	—	—
104	Rolf Mützelburg	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [61]	Commander of U-203 [55] [61]	15 July 1942 [61]	—
105	Adalbert Schnee	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [62]	Commander of U-201 [55] [62]	15 July 1942 [62]	—	—
106	Erwin Clausen	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [63]	Staffelkapitän of the 6./Jagdgeschwader 77 [55] [63]	23 July 1942 [63]	—
107	Viktor Bauer	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [64]	Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" [55] [64]	26 July 1942 [64]	—	—
108	Franz-Josef Beerenbrock	Luftwaffe	10-L Oberfeldwebel [65]	Pilot in the 10./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" [55] [65]	3 August 1942 [65]	—	—
109	Anton Hackl +	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [66]	Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 77 [55] [66]	9 August 1942 [66] [Note 5]	Awarded 78th Swords 9 July 1944 [Note 6]	—
110	Traugott Herr +	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [68]	Commander of 13. Panzer-Division [55] [68]	9 August 1942 [68]	Awarded 117th Swords 18 December 1944 [68]
111	Werner Kempf	Heer	20-H General der Panzertruppe [69]	Commanding general of the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps [55] [69]	10 August 1942 [69]	—
112	Gerhard Kollewe	Luftwaffe	15-L Major [70]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1 [55] [70]	16 August 1942 [70]	—
113	Walter Gorn +	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant [71]	Commander of Kradschützen-Bataillon 59 [71] [72]	17 August 1942 [71]	Awarded 30th Swords 8 June 1943 [71]	—
114	Kurt Brändle	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [73]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" [72] [73]	27 August 1942 [73]	—	—
115	Johannes Steinhoff +	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [74]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 52 [72] [74]	2 September 1942 [74]	Awarded 82nd Swords 28 July 1944 [74]
116	Walter Sigel	Luftwaffe	16-L Oberstleutnant [75]	Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 [72] [75]	2 September 1942 [75]	—	—
117	Johann Zemsky	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [76]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 [72] [76]	3 September 1942* [76]	Killed in action 28 August 1942 [72]	—
118	Alfred Druschel +	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [Note 7]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 1 [72] [77]	3 September 1942 [77]	Awarded 24th Swords 19 February 1943 [77]
119	Dr. Ing. Ernst Bormann	Luftwaffe	17-L Oberst [26]	Commander of Gefechtsverband Bormann augmenting Kampfgeschwader 76 [26] [72]	3 September 1942 [26]	—	—
120	Gerhard Hein	Heer	12-H Leutnant of the Reserves [78]	Leader of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 209 [78] [79]	6 September 1942 [78]	—
121	Werner Ziegler +	Heer	13-H Oberleutnant [80]	Leader of the 2./Infanterie-Regiment 186 [72] [80]	8 September 1942 [80]	Awarded 102nd Swords 23 October 1944 [80]	—
122	Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke +	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [81]	Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" [72] [81]	9 September 1942 [81]	Awarded 23rd Swords 23 December 1942 [81]	—
123	Klaus Scholtz	Kriegsmarine	15-M Korvettenkapitän [82]	Commander of U-108 [72] [82]	10 September 1942 [82]	—	—
124	Heinz Schmidt	Luftwaffe	12-L Leutnant [83]	Pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 52 [72] [83]	16 September 1942 [Note 8]	—	—
125	Heinrich Bleichrodt	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [84]	Commander of U-109 [72] [84]	23 September 1942 [84]	—
126	Friedrich-Karl Müller	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [43]	Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 53 [Note 9]	23 September 1942 [43]	—	—
127	Wilhelm Crinius	Luftwaffe	10-L Feldwebel [86]	Pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 53 [72] [86]	23 September 1942 [86]	—	—
128	Wolfgang Tonne	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [44]	Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 53 [44] [72]	24 September 1942 [44]	—	—
129	Bruno Ritter von Hauenschild	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [87]	Commander of 24. Panzer-Division [72] [87]	27 September 1942 [87]	—	—
130	Hans Beißwenger	Luftwaffe	12-L Leutnant [Note 10]	Pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 54 [88] [89]	3 October 1942 [88]	—	—
131	Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert +	Luftwaffe	09-L Feldwebel [29]	Pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 77 [29] [89]	7 October 1942 [Note 11]	Awarded 130th Swords 1 February 1945 [29]
132	Karl Torley	Heer	14-H Hauptmann [44]	Commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 60 (motorized) [44] [89]	11 October 1942 [44]	—	—
133	Johannes Kümmel	Heer	14-H Hauptmann [90]	Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 8 [89] [90]	11 October 1942 [90]	—	—
134	Günther Rall +	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [91]	Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52 [91] [92]	26 October 1942 [91]	Awarded 34th Swords 12 September 1943 [91]
135	Ludwig Kirschner	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant [93]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 72 [89] [93]	28 October 1942 [93]	—	—
136	Konrad Hupfer	Heer	14-H Hauptmann [94]	Commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 72 [89] [94]	28 October 1942 [94]	—	—
137	Max Stotz	Luftwaffe	10-L Oberfeldwebel [93]	Pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 54 [89] [93]	30 October 1942 [93]	—	—
138	Heinrich Schweickhardt	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [95]	Staffelkapitän of the 8./Kampfgeschwader 76 [Note 12]	30 October 1942 [95]	—	—
139	Wolfgang Schenck	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [96]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Zerstörergeschwader 1 [89] [96]	30 October 1942 [96]	—
140	Hermann Seitz	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant [97]	Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 63 [89] [97]	31 October 1942 [97]	—	—
141	Josef Zwernemann	Luftwaffe	10-L Oberfeldwebel [98]	Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52 [89] [98]	31 October 1942 [98]	—
142	Wolfgang Lüth +	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [99]	Commander of U-181 [89] [99]	13 November 1942 [99]	Awarded 29th Swords 15 April 1943 7th Diamonds 9 August 1943 [99]	—
143	Werner Töniges	Kriegsmarine	14-M Kapitänleutnant [100]	Commander of Schnellboot S-102 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille [89] [100]	13 November 1942 [100]	—	—
144	Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz +	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant of the Reserves [93]	Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 2 [93] [101]	13 November 1942 [93]	Awarded 27th Swords 28 March 1943 11th Diamonds 15 April 1944 [93]
145	Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke +	Luftwaffe	18-L Generalmajor [91]	Commander of Fallschirmjäger-Brigade "Ramcke" [91] [101]	13 November 1942 [91]	Awarded 99th Swords 19 September 1944 20th Diamonds 19 September 1944 [91]
146	Josef Wurmheller +	Luftwaffe	12-L Leutnant [102]	Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" [101] [102]	13 November 1942 [Note 13]	Awarded 108th Swords 24 October 1944 [102]	—
147	Karl-Friedrich Merten	Kriegsmarine	15-M Korvettenkapitän [103]	Commander of U-68 [101] [103]	16 November 1942 [103]	—	—
148	Friedrich Lang +	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [104]	Staffelkapitän of the 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" [101] [104]	21 November 1942 [Note 14]	Awarded 74th Swords 2 July 1944 [104]	—
149	Alwin Boerst +	Luftwaffe	13-L Oberleutnant [105]	Staffelkapitän of the 3./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" [101] [105]	28 November 1942 [105]	Awarded 61st Swords 6 April 1944 [105]	—
150	Ekkehard Kylling-Schmidt	Heer	13-H Oberleutnant [106]	Chief of the 4./Füsilier-Regiment 26 [101] [106]	4 December 1942 [106]	—	—
151	Ernst Nobis	Heer	16-H Oberstleutnant [16]	Commander of Jäger-Regiment 204 [16] [101]	5 December 1942 [16]	—	—
152	Wolfgang Fischer	Heer	19-H Generalleutnant [107]	Commander of 10. Panzer-Division [101] [107]	9 December 1942 [107]	—	—
153	Karl Allmendinger	Heer	19-H Generalleutnant [108]	Commander of 5. Jäger-Division [101] [108]	13 December 1942 [108]	—	—
154	Heinrich Paepcke	Luftwaffe	14-L Hauptmann [109]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Kampfgeschwader 30 [Note 15]	19 December 1942* [109]	Killed in action 17 October 1942 [101]	—
155	Hermann Balck +	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [110]	Commander of 11. Panzer-Division [101] [110]	20 December 1942 [110]	Awarded 25th Swords 4 March 1943 19th Diamonds 31 August 1944 [110]
156	Walter Heitz	Heer	20-H General der Artillerie [17]	Commanding general of the VIII. Armeekorps [17] [101]	21 December 1942 [17]	—
157	Hermann Fegelein ? [Note 16]	Waffen-SS	17-WSS- Oberführer	Commander of SS-Kampfgruppe "Fegelein" [112]	22 December 1942	Awarded 83rd Swords 30 July 1944
158	Helmuth von Ruckteschell	Kriegsmarine	17-M Kapitän zur See of the reserves [113]	Commander of Hilfskreuzer "Michel" (HSK 9) [113] [114]	23 December 1942 [113]	—	—
159	Felix Steiner +	Waffen-SS	19-WSS- Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS [74]	Commander of 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking" [74] [114]	23 December 1942 [74]	Awarded 86th Swords 10 August 1944 [74]
160	Hubert Lanz	Heer	19-H Generalleutnant [115]	Commander of 1. Gebirgs-Division [114] [115]	23 December 1942 [115]	—
161	Helmuth Schlömer	Heer	18-H Generalmajor [116]	Commander of 3. Infanterie-Division (motorized) [114] [116]	23 December 1942 [116]	—	—
162	Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim +	Heer	17-H Oberst [39]	Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 [39] [114]	23 December 1942 [39]	Awarded 105th Swords 23 October 1944 [39]	—
163	Hartwig von Ludwiger	Heer	17-H Oberst [117]	Commander of Jäger-Regiment 83 [114] [117]	23 December 1942 [117]	—	—
164	Harald von Hirschfeld	Heer	14-H Hauptmann [18]	Leader of the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 [18] [114]	23 December 1942 [18]	—	—
165	Josef Bremm +	Heer	13-H Oberleutnant of the reserves [26]	Chief of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 426 [26] [114]	23 December 1942 [26]	Awarded (159th) Swords 9 May 1945? [19] [Note 17]
166	Helmut Thumm	Heer	17-H Oberst [119]	Commander of Jäger-Regiment 56 [114] [119]	23 December 1942 [119]	—	—
167	Helmuth von Pannwitz	Heer	17-H Oberst [120]	Leader of the Kampfgruppe "von Pannwitz" [114] [120]	23 December 1942 [120]	—
168	Martin Fiebig	Luftwaffe	19-L Generalleutnant [121]	Commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps [114] [121]	23 December 1942 [121]	—	—

Notes

1. 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. 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. 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 member of the AKCR. ^[20]
3. According to Scherzer on 18 May 1942 and not 19 May 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[37] [51]}
4. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 77. ^[58]
5. According to Scherzer on 7 August 1942 and not 9 August 1944 as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[55] [66]}
6. According to Scherzer on 12 July 1944 and not 9 July 1944 as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[66] [67]}
7. According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant and not Hauptmann as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[72] [77]}
8. According to Scherzer on 15 September 1942. ^[83]
9. Both Fellgiebel and Scherzer state that Friedrich-Karl Müller received the Oak Leaves while serving with 1./Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3) "Udet", while Prien states that he was serving with 1./Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53). 1./JG 53 seems to be correct based upon the chronicles of JG 53 which details the chain of events leading to the awarding of Oak Leaves just 4 days after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. ^{[43] [72] [85]}
10. According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant (war officer) and not Leutnant as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[88] [89]}
11. According to Scherzer on 5 October 1942 and not 7 October 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[29] [89]}
12. According to Scherzer as pilot and not Staffelkapitän as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[89] [95]}
13. According to Scherzer on 14 November 1942 and not on 13 November 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel. ^[102]
14. According to Scherzer on 28 November 1942 and not on 21 November 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel. ^[104]
15. According to Scherzer as Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 30 and not III. as stated by Fellgiebel. ^{[101] [109]}
16. Hermann Fegelein was court-martialed and sentenced to death on 28 April 1945 by a court led by SS- Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Wilhelm Mohnke. The sentence was carried out the same day. The death sentence resulted in the loss of all orders and honorary signs. ^[111]
17. 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". 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 Walther-Peer Fellgiebel. Bremm was member of the AKCR. ^[118]

References

Citations

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). 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). 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). 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). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
8. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
9. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 49–51.
10. Scherzer 2007, p. 227.
11. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 57.
12. Scherzer 2007, p. 424.
13. Scherzer 2007, p. 712.
14. Scherzer 2007, p. 796.
15. Scherzer 2007, p. 407.
16. Scherzer 2007, p. 571.
17. Scherzer 2007, p. 378.
18. Scherzer 2007, p. 393.
19. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 49.
20. Scherzer 2007, p. 141.
21. Scherzer 2007, p. 771.
22. Scherzer 2007, p. 749.
23. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 58.
24. Scherzer 2007, p. 336.
25. Scherzer 2007, p. 242.
26. Scherzer 2007, p. 235.
27. Scherzer 2007, p. 429.
28. Scherzer 2007, p. 447.
29. Scherzer 2007, p. 620.
30. Scherzer 2007, p. 547.
31. Scherzer 2007, p. 493.
32. Scherzer 2007, p. 781.
33. Scherzer 2007, p. 360.
34. Scherzer 2007, p. 438.
35. Scherzer 2007, p. 460.
36. Scherzer 2007, p. 753.
37. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.
38. Scherzer 2007, p. 579.
39. Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
40. Scherzer 2007, p. 412.
41. Scherzer 2007, p. 731.
42. Scherzer 2007, p. 713.
43. Scherzer 2007, p. 555.
44. Scherzer 2007, p. 748.
45. Scherzer 2007, p. 291.
46. Scherzer 2007, p. 366.
47. Scherzer 2007, p. 711.
48. Scherzer 2007, p. 798.
49. Scherzer 2007, p. 660.
50. Scherzer 2007, p. 344.
51. Scherzer 2007, p. 271.
52. Scherzer 2007, p. 522.
53. Scherzer 2007, p. 720.
54. Scherzer 2007, p. 528.
55. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
56. Scherzer 2007, p. 502.
57. Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
58. Scherzer 2007, p. 330.
59. Scherzer 2007, p. 702.
60. Scherzer 2007, p. 245.
61. Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
62. Scherzer 2007, p. 675.
63. Scherzer 2007, p. 260.
64. Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
65. Scherzer 2007, p. 210.
66. Scherzer 2007, p. 358.
67. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 44.
68. Scherzer 2007, p. 385.
69. Scherzer 2007, p. 436.
70. Scherzer 2007, p. 464.
71. Scherzer 2007, p. 342.
72. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.
73. Scherzer 2007, p. 238.
74. Scherzer 2007, p. 721.
75. Scherzer 2007, p. 706.
76. Scherzer 2007, p. 804.
77. Scherzer 2007, p. 282.
78. Scherzer 2007, p. 375.
79. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 61, 476.
80. Scherzer 2007, p. 805.
81. Scherzer 2007, p. 786.
82. Scherzer 2007, p. 681.
83. Scherzer 2007, p. 670.
84. Scherzer 2007, p. 225.
85. Prien 1998, p. 429.
86. Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
87. Scherzer 2007, p. 370.
88. Scherzer 2007, p. 213.
89. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 62.
90. Scherzer 2007, p. 481.
91. Scherzer 2007, p. 612.
92. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 62, 476.
93. Scherzer 2007, p. 728.
94. Scherzer 2007, p. 411.
95. Scherzer 2007, p. 696.
96. Scherzer 2007, p. 659.
97. Scherzer 2007, p. 700.
98. Scherzer 2007, p. 810.
99. Scherzer 2007, p. 518.
100. Scherzer 2007, p. 747.
101. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 63.
102. Scherzer 2007, p. 800.
103. Scherzer 2007, p. 538.
104. Scherzer 2007, p. 491.
105. Scherzer 2007, p. 231.
106. Scherzer 2007, p. 488.
107. Scherzer 2007, p. 310.
108. Scherzer 2007, p. 190.
109. Scherzer 2007, p. 581.
110. Scherzer 2007, p. 200.
111. Scherzer 2007, p. 128.
112. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 63, 477.
113. Scherzer 2007, p. 643.
114. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 64.
115. Scherzer 2007, p. 494.
116. Scherzer 2007, p. 665.
117. Scherzer 2007, p. 517.
118. Scherzer 2007, p. 123.
119. Scherzer 2007, p. 744.
120. Scherzer 2007, p. 582.
121. Scherzer 2007, p. 306.

Bibliography

• 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.
• Prien, Jochen (1998). Jagdgeschwader 53 A History of the "Pik As" Geschwader May 1942 – January 1944. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN   978-0-7643-0292-3.
• 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

• "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German). Retrieved 2 January 2011.
• "Das Bundesarchiv". Military Archive – Freiburg im Breisgau. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.