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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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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). However, author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 27 of these listings. 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.

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. 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. 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). 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.

Recipients

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. 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

Number Name Service Rank Role and unit Date of award Notes Image
1 Eduard Dietl+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commanding general of Gebirgskorps Norwegen 19 July 1940 Awarded 72nd Swords 1 July 1944.
At the same time promoted to General der Infanterie, later General der Gebirgstruppen 		The head and shoulders of an elderly man, shown from the front. He wears a field cap and a military uniform displaying various military decorations on breast pockets, right upper sleeve, and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His facial expression is a determined and confident smile; his eyes look into the camera.
2 Werner Mölders+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 21 September 1940 Awarded 2nd Swords 22 June 1941
1st Diamonds 15 July 1941 		The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a field cap and a pilot's leather jacket with a fur collar, with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is dark and short, his nose is long and straight, and his facial expression is a determined and confident smile; his eyes gaze into the distance.
3 Adolf Galland+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" 24 September 1940 Awarded 1st Swords 21 June 1941
2nd Diamonds 28 January 1942 		The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with various military above his left breast pocket and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. On his upper lip is a moustache, his hair is dark and short and combed back, his facial expression is a determined and confident smile; his eyes gaze into the distance.
4 Helmut Wick Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" 6 October 1940
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 The head and shoulders of a young man. He wears a military uniform, an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar and breast pocket.
5 Günther Prien Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-47 20 October 1940
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 A smiling Prien is seen on deck, wearing his navy uniform.
6 Otto Kretschmer+ Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-99 4 November 1940 Awarded 5th Swords 26 December 1941 The head and shoulders of a smiling young man. He wears casual army fatigues and is unshaven.
7 Joachim Schepke Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-100 1 December 1940
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Recipients of 1941

Number Name Service Rank Role and unit Date of award Notes Image
8 Martin Harlinghausen Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Chief of the general staff of the X. Fliegerkorps 30 January 1941
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9 Walter Oesau+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 6 February 1941 Awarded 3rd Swords 15 July 1941
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10 Erwin Rommel+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of the 7. Panzer-Division 20 March 1941 Awarded 6th Swords 20 January 1942
6th Diamonds 11 March 1943 		The head and shoulders of an elderly man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and a military uniform with an Eagle above his right and various military decorations above left breast pocket, and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His facial expression is a determined; his eyes are looking into the distance to the left of the camera.
11 Hermann-Friedrich Joppien Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 51 23 April 1941
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12 Joachim Müncheberg+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" 7 May 1941 Awarded 19th Swords 9 September 1942
13 Heinrich Liebe Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-38 10 June 1941 At the same time promoted to Korvettenkapitän
14 Engelbert Endrass Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant zur See Commander of U-46 10 June 1941
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15 Herbert Schultze Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-48 12 June 1941
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 The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a greatcoat and his Iron Cross is visible at the front of his shirt collar. He wears a determined expression.
16 Herbert Ihlefeld+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 77 27 June 1941 Awarded 9th Swords 24 April 1942
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17 Wilhelm Balthasar Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" 2 July 1941
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18 Siegfried Schnell Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" 9 July 1941
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19 Rudolf Schmidt Heer 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe Commanding general of the XXXIX. Armeekorps (motorized) 10 July 1941
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 The head and shoulders of an elderly man, shown from the front. He wears a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his collar. His hair is parted, combed back and appears either dark or grey, his facial expression is a determined and grim; his eyes are looking into the camera.
20 Werner Baumbach+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Pilot in the 4./Kampfgeschwader 30 14 July 1941 Awarded 16th Swords 17 August 1942
21 Oskar Dinort Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" 14 July 1941
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22 Walter Storp Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210 14 July 1941
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23 Viktor Schütze Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän Commander of U-103 14 July 1941
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24 Heinz Guderian Heer 21-HGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 2 17 July 1941
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 Guderian is seen in the field. He wears a military uniform and an Iron Cross displayed at the front. He is wearing a greatcoat and has binoculars around his neck.
25 Hermann Hoth+ Heer 21-HGeneraloberst Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 3 17 July 1941 Awarded 35th Swords 15 September 1943 A man in military uniform wearing an Iron Cross at his neck.
26 Dipl.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen Luftwaffe 20-LGeneral der Flieger Commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps 17 July 1941
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 The head and shoulders of a man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and a military uniform with an Eagle above his right breast pocket, and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his white shirt collar.
27 Günther Lützow+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 20 July 1941 Awarded 4th Swords 11 October 1941 The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair isshort and combed to his right, his nose is short, and his facial expression is determined; looking into the camera.
28 Josef Priller+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" 20 July 1941 Awarded 73rd Swords 2 July 1944
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29 Günther Freiherr von Maltzahn Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53 24 July 1941
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30 Horst Niemack+ Heer 14-HRittmeister Commander of Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 10 August 1941 Awarded 69th Swords 4 June 1944
31 Heinrich Bär+ Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant Pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 14 August 1941 Awarded 7th Swords 16 February 1942
32 Hans Hahn Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" 14 August 1941
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33 Hans Philipp+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 54 24 August 1941 Awarded 8th Swords 12 March 1942
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34 Ludwig Crüwell Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of the 11. Panzer-Division 1 September 1941
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 Crüwell is seen in profile. He wears a military uniform, along with a cap for desert warfare. His Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar.
35 Karl-Gottfried Nordmann Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51 16 September 1941
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 The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and a military uniform with an Eagle above his right and a military decorations above left breast pocket, and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His facial expression is a determined; his eyes are looking into the distance to the left of the camera.
36 Heinrich Hoffmann Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel Pilot in the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51 19 October 1941* Killed in action 3 October 1941
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37 Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 89 21 October 1941
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38 Gordon Gollob+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 3 26 October 1941 Awarded 13th Swords 23 June 1942
3rd Diamonds 30 August 1942 		The head a man, shown from the front. He wears a military uniform, a white shirt with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair appears dark and is combed back, his facial expression is a determined; his eyes are looking into the camera.
39 Erbo Graf von Kageneck Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 27 26 October 1941
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40 Ernst-Felix Krüder Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See Commander of Hilfskreuzer Pinguin (HSK-5) 15 November 1941* Killed in action 8 May 1941
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41 Josef Dietrich+ Waffen-SS 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS Commander of SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (motorized) 31 December 1941 Awarded 26th Swords 14 March 1943
16th Diamonds 6 August 1944 		A black and white photograph of a man in semi profile wearing a military uniform and neck order, in shape of an Iron Cross. He has short, thinning hair and a determined facial expression.
42 Heinrich Eberbach Heer 17-HOberst Commander of the 5. Panzer-Brigade 31 December 1941
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 The head a man, shown from the front looking slightly to his left. He wears a black military uniform, a dark shirt with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. On the collar of his uniform are two skull insignias. His hair appears dark and is combed back, his nose is scared, his facial expression is a determined.
43 Franz Scheidies Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 22 31 December 1941
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44 Ernst-Georg Buchterkirch Heer 13-HOberleutnant Chief of the 2./Panzer-Regiment 6 31 December 1941
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45 Bernhard Rogge Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See Commander of Hilfskreuzer Atlantis (HSK-2) 31 December 1941
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46 Dietrich Peltz+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 77 31 December 1941 Awarded 31st Swords 23 July 1943
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47 Adelbert Schulz+ Heer 14-HHauptmann Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 25 31 December 1941 Awarded 33rd Swords 6 August 1943
9th Diamonds 14 December 1943 		The head and shoulders of an elderly man, shown in partial profile. He wears a field cap and a military uniform and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his camouflage shirt collar.
48 Dr. Josef-Franz Eckinger Heer 15-HMajor Commander of the I./Schützen-Regiment 113 31 December 1941* Killed in action 17 October 1941
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49 Günther Hoffmann-Schönborn Heer 15-HMajor Commander of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 191 31 December 1941
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50 Karl Eibl+ Heer 17-HOberst Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 132 31 December 1941 Awarded 21st Swords 19 December 1942
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51 Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant Commander of U-96 31 December 1941
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52 Otto Weiß Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Schlacht)/Lehrgeschwader 2 31 December 1941
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 The head and shoulders of a young man, shown from the front. He wears a military uniform, with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his white shirt collar. His facial expression is a determined and a grim smile; his eyes are looking to the left of the camera.
53 Georg Freiherr von Boeselager+ Heer 14-HRittmeister Chief of the 1./Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 6 31 December 1941 Awarded 114th Swords 28 November 1944
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54 Walther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of the 12. Infanterie-Division 31 December 1941
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55 Josef Harpe+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor Commander of the 12. Panzer-Division 31 December 1941 Awarded 36th Swords 15 September 1943 The head of an elderly man, shown from the front. He wears a peaked cap and a military uniform. His facial expression is a determined and confident smile; his eyes looks to the right of the camera.
56 Reinhard Suhren+ Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant zur See Commander of U-564 31 December 1941 Awarded 18th Swords 1 September 1942
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57 Hubertus Hitschhold Luftwaffe 15-LMajor Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" 31 December 1941
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