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 of the Third Reich during World War II. This military 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 and historian 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 a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process. Hermann 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]
Contents
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
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 historian Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.
Notes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 18 May 1942 and not 19 May 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel.[37][51]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 77.[59]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 7 August 1942 and not 9 August 1944 as stated by Fellgiebel.[55][67]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 12 July 1944 and not 9 July 1944 as stated by Fellgiebel.[67][68]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant and not Hauptmann as stated by Fellgiebel.[73][79]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 15 September 1942.[85]
- ↑ 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][73][87]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and not Leutnant as stated by Fellgiebel.[90][91]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 5 October 1942 and not 7 October 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel.[29][91]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as pilot and not Staffelkapitän as stated by Fellgiebel.[91][97]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 14 November 1942 and not on 13 November 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel.[104]
- ↑ According to Scherzer on 28 November 1942 and not on 21 November 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel.[106]
- ↑ According to Scherzer as Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 30 and not III. as stated by Fellgiebel.[103][111]
- ↑ 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.[113]
- ↑ 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.[120]
References
Citations
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 53–104.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, pp. 110–116, 128.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 49–51.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 227.
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 57.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 424.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 712.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Scherzer 2007, p. 796.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 407.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Scherzer 2007, p. 571.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Scherzer 2007, p. 378.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Scherzer 2007, p. 393.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 49.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 141.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 771.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 749.
- ↑ 23.00 23.01 23.02 23.03 23.04 23.05 23.06 23.07 23.08 23.09 23.10 23.11 23.12 23.13 23.14 23.15 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 58.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 336.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 242.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 26.8 26.9 Scherzer 2007, p. 235.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 429.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 447.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 Scherzer 2007, p. 620.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 547.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 493.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 781.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 360.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 438.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 460.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 753.
- ↑ 37.00 37.01 37.02 37.03 37.04 37.05 37.06 37.07 37.08 37.09 37.10 37.11 37.12 37.13 37.14 37.15 37.16 37.17 37.18 37.19 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 579.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 412.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 731.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 713.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 43.6 Scherzer 2007, p. 555.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.6 44.7 44.8 44.9 Scherzer 2007, p. 748.
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 291.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 366.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 711.
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 798.
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 660.
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 344.
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 271.
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 522.
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 720.
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 528.
- ↑ 55.00 55.01 55.02 55.03 55.04 55.05 55.06 55.07 55.08 55.09 55.10 55.11 55.12 55.13 55.14 55.15 55.16 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
- ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 56.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 502.
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
- ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 330.
- ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 702.
- ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 245.
- ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
- ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 675.
- ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 260.
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 66.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 210.
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 67.3 67.4 Scherzer 2007, p. 358.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 44.
- ↑ 69.0 69.1 69.2 69.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 385.
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 70.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 436.
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 71.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 464.
- ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 342.
- ↑ 73.00 73.01 73.02 73.03 73.04 73.05 73.06 73.07 73.08 73.09 73.10 73.11 73.12 73.13 73.14 73.15 73.16 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.
- ↑ 74.0 74.1 74.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 238.
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 75.3 75.4 75.5 75.6 75.7 Scherzer 2007, p. 721.
- ↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 706.
- ↑ 77.0 77.1 77.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 804.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.
- ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 79.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 282.
- ↑ 80.0 80.1 80.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 375.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 61, 476.
- ↑ 82.0 82.1 82.2 82.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 805.
- ↑ 83.0 83.1 83.2 83.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 786.
- ↑ 84.0 84.1 84.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 681.
- ↑ 85.0 85.1 85.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 670.
- ↑ 86.0 86.1 86.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 225.
- ↑ Prien 1998, p. 429.
- ↑ 88.0 88.1 88.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
- ↑ 89.0 89.1 89.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 370.
- ↑ 90.0 90.1 90.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 213.
- ↑ 91.00 91.01 91.02 91.03 91.04 91.05 91.06 91.07 91.08 91.09 91.10 91.11 91.12 91.13 91.14 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 62.
- ↑ 92.0 92.1 92.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 481.
- ↑ 93.0 93.1 93.2 93.3 93.4 93.5 93.6 93.7 Scherzer 2007, p. 612
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 62, 476.
- ↑ 95.0 95.1 95.2 95.3 95.4 95.5 95.6 95.7 95.8 95.9 Scherzer 2007, p. 728.
- ↑ 96.0 96.1 96.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 411.
- ↑ 97.0 97.1 97.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 696.
- ↑ 98.0 98.1 98.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 659.
- ↑ 99.0 99.1 99.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 700.
- ↑ 100.0 100.1 100.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 810.
- ↑ 101.0 101.1 101.2 101.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 518.
- ↑ 102.0 102.1 102.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 747.
- ↑ 103.00 103.01 103.02 103.03 103.04 103.05 103.06 103.07 103.08 103.09 103.10 103.11 103.12 103.13 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 63.
- ↑ 104.0 104.1 104.2 104.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 800.
- ↑ 105.0 105.1 105.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 538.
- ↑ 106.0 106.1 106.2 106.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 491.
- ↑ 107.0 107.1 107.2 107.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 231.
- ↑ 108.0 108.1 108.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 488.
- ↑ 109.0 109.1 109.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 310.
- ↑ 110.0 110.1 110.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 190.
- ↑ 111.0 111.1 111.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 581.
- ↑ 112.0 112.1 112.2 112.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 200.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 128.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 63, 477.
- ↑ 115.0 115.1 115.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 643.
- ↑ 116.00 116.01 116.02 116.03 116.04 116.05 116.06 116.07 116.08 116.09 116.10 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 64.
- ↑ 117.0 117.1 117.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 494.
- ↑ 118.0 118.1 118.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 665.
- ↑ 119.0 119.1 119.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 517.
- ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 123.
- ↑ 121.0 121.1 121.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 744.
- ↑ 122.0 122.1 122.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 582.
- ↑ 123.0 123.1 123.2 Scherzer 2007, p. 306.
Bibliography
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Further reading
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External links
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de:Liste der Träger des Eichenlaubs zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes