List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords or Diamonds recipients of the Luftwaffe fighter force
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest military award in Nazi Germany. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. During World War II, 453 German day and bomber destroyer (Zerstörer) pilots, 85 night fighter pilots, including 14 crew members, were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[1] Among them, 130 pilots received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), 34 the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), and nine won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten).
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.[2] As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.[3] 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).[4] 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.[5]
Recipients
[edit]The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht 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.[6]
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
[edit]The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Ultimately, it would be awarded to twenty-seven German soldiers, sailors and airmen, ranging from young fighter pilots to field marshals. Nine recipients were fighter pilots.[7]
Number | Name | Rank | Unit | Date of award | Notes | Picture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Werner Mölders | Oberst[8] | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51[9] | 15 July 1941[10][Note 1] | —
|
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2 | Adolf Galland | Oberst | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[9] | 28 January 1942 | —
|
|
3 | Gordon Gollob | Major | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77[9] | 30 August 1942 | —
|
|
4 | Hans-Joachim Marseille | Oberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 27[9] | 3 September 1942 | —
|
|
5 | Hermann Graf | Oberleutnant of the Reserves | Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[9] | 16 September 1942 | —
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|
8 | Walter Nowotny | Hauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54[12] | 19 October 1943 | —
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15 | Helmut Lent | Oberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3[12] | 31 July 1944 | —
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18 | Erich Hartmann | Oberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[12] | 25 August 1944 | —
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21 | Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer | Hauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[13] | 16 October 1944 | —
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Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
[edit]The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords is also based on the enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613) of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The list is initially sorted by the chronological number assigned to the recipient.
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
[edit]The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940. The last officially announced number for the Oak Leaves was 843.[31]
Notes
[edit]- ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[11]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941[16]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 18 May 1942.[17]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 12 July 1944.[26]
- ^ According to Scherzer 1st Diamonds on 16 July 1941.[11]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 25 October 1940.[34]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 16 July 1941.[16]
- ^ a b According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen".[40]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[45]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 25 October 1941.[50]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 18 May 1942 and not 19 May 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel.[56][63]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 77.[67]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 7 August 1942 and not 9 August 1944 as stated by Fellgiebel.[65][26]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 12 July 1944 and not 9 July 1944 as stated by Fellgiebel.[26][25]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 15 September 1942.[76]
- ^ 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.[77][73][78]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant (war officer) and not Leutnant as stated by Fellgiebel.[81][82]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 5 October 1942 and not 7 October 1942 as stated by Fellgiebel.[83][82]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 5 February 1943.[91]
- ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.[93]
- ^ a b According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 6./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.[96]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5[22]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[115]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52.[127]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Major and not Oberstleutnant.[131]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann and not as Major.[134]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Major of the Reserves.[138]
- ^ According to Scherzer on 25 April 1944.[142]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[37]
- ^ According to Scherzer the Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves were awarded on 3 August 1944.[144]
- ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52.[148]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann (war officer).[151]
- ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.[96]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 14.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 36–38.
- ^ Williamson & Bujeiro 2006, p. 5.
- ^ a b c d e Fellgiebel 2000, p. 36.
- ^ a b c Williamson & Bujeiro 2006, p. 6.
- ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 548.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 37.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 38.
- ^ a b c Williamson & Bujeiro 2006, p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fellgiebel 2000, p. 39.
- ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 576.
- ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 344.
- ^ a b c d Fellgiebel 2000, p. 40.
- ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 720.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 41.
- ^ a b c d e Fellgiebel 2000, p. 42.
- ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 652.
- ^ a b c d e Scherzer 2007, p. 531.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 43.
- ^ a b c d e Fellgiebel 2000, p. 44.
- ^ a b c d e f Scherzer 2007, p. 358.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 46.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 800.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 47.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 48.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fellgiebel 2000, p. 102.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 53.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 325.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 783.
- ^ a b c d e f Fellgiebel 2000, p. 54.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 423.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 559.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 413.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 201.
- ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 678.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 519.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Fellgiebel 2000, p. 55.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 605.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 525.
- ^ 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. 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. 429.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 58.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 460.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 753.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Fellgiebel 2000, p. 59.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 579.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 287.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 412.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 731.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 713.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 711.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 271.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 528.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fellgiebel 2000, p. 60.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 502.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 330.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 702.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 260.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 206.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 210.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 238.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fellgiebel 2000, p. 61.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 721.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 786.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 670.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 555.
- ^ Prien 1998, p. 429.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 263.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 748.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 213.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fellgiebel 2000, p. 62.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 620.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 612.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 62, 476.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 728.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 659.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 810.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 202.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 65.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 452.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fellgiebel 2000, p. 66.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 335.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 66, 477.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 730.
- ^ a b c d e f Scherzer 2007, p. 209.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 68.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 634.
- ^ a b c d e f Fellgiebel 2000, p. 70.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 510.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 540.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 290.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 776.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 443.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 685.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 71.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scherzer 2007, p. 385.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 345.
- ^ a b c d Fellgiebel 2000, p. 72.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 299.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 573.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 72, 478.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 406.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 75.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 501.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 365.
- ^ a b c d Fellgiebel 2000, p. 76.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 716.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 250.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fellgiebel 2000, p. 79.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 188.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 479.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 329.
- ^ a b c d e f Scherzer 2007, p. 315.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 785.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 700.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 368.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 415.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 80.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 749.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 610.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 349.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 643.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 491.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 444.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 680.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 384.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 360.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 653.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fellgiebel 2000, p. 82.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 794.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 759.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 675.
- ^ a b c d Fellgiebel 2000, p. 84.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 337.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 411.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 204.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fellgiebel 2000, p. 85.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 440.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 732.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 770.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 781.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 809.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 88.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 686.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 90.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 544.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 92.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 288.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 543.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 93.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 242.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 94.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 637.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 95.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 264.
- ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, p. 96.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 366.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 683.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 97.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 777.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 98.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 635.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 99.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 100.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 424.
- ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 101.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 745.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 611.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 518.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 509.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 469.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 280.
- ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 347.
Bibliography
[edit]- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000). 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.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2006). Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients 1941–45. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publisher. ISBN 1-84176-644-5.
External links
[edit]- "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.