List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (O)

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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 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.[1] A total of 7,323 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945.[Note 1] This number is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) and the Volkssturm. There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich.[3]

These 7,323 recipients are listed in the 1986 edition of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller WehrmachtsteileThe Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War. In 1996 a second edition of this book was published with an addendum delisting 11 of these original 7,323 recipients. Author and historian Veit Scherzer has cast doubt on a further 192 of these listings. The majority 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.[4] Listed here are the 82 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "O".[5] Author and historian Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of two of these listings.[6] The recipients are ordered alphabetically by last name. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded.

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) and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[7] As the war progressed, some of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to 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.[8] 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).[9] 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.[10]

Recipients

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists for the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air force) and 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.[11] Of the 82 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "O", seven were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and four the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords; seven presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 52 of the medals, six went to the Kriegsmarine, 21 to the Luftwaffe, and three to the Waffen-SS.[5] The sequential numbers greater than 843 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.[12]

      This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
      This indicates that historian Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.

Name Service Rank Role and unit[Note 2] Date of award Notes Image
Obergethmann, EduardEduard Obergethmann Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant[13] Commander of Flak-Regiment 99 (motorized)[14][Note 3] 01943-01-24 24 January 1943[13]
Oberhofer, HansHans Oberhofer Heer 14-HHauptmann[13] Company chief in the II./Jäger-Regiment 25 (L)[13][14] 01945-03-23 23 March 1945*[13] Died of wounds 20 February 1945[14]
Oberkircher, KarlKarl Oberkircher Heer 06-HOberjäger[13] Group leader in the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 218[13][14] 01943-10-12 12 October 1943[13]
Oberlaender, WernerWerner Oberländer Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[13] Pilot in the 2./Kampfgeschwader 55[13][15] 01943-03-24 24 March 1943[13]
Oberloskamp, WaltherWalther Oberloskamp Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[13] Platoon leader in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 667[13][15] 01943-05-10 10 May 1943[13]
Oberndorff, Fritz Graf vonDr. jur. Fritz Graf von Oberndorff Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[13] Commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 34[13][15] 01941-08-25 25 August 1941[13]
Oberweg, HerbertHerbert Oberweg Luftwaffe 10-LOberfähnrich[13] Observer in the 11.(H)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 13[15][Note 4] 01944-08-08 8 August 1944[13]
Oberwöhrmann, ErichErich Oberwöhrmann Heer 14-HHauptmann[13] Leader of Panzer-Abteilung "Feldherrnhalle"[13][15] 01944-02-07 7 February 1944[13]
Obleser, FriedrichFriedrich Obleser Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[13] Staffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52[13][15] 01944-03-23 23 March 1944[Note 5]
Obschil, AloisAlois Obschil Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[Note 6] Leader of the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 1126[13][15] 01945-03-28 28 March 1945[13]
Obst, WalterWalter Obst Heer 12-HLeutnant[13] Leader of the 4./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66[13][15] 01943-11-30 30 November 1943*[13] Died of wounds 10 October 1943[15]
Obstfelder, Hans vonHans von Obstfelder Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie[16] Commanding general of the XXIX. Armeekorps[15][16] 01941-07-27 27 July 1941[16] Awarded 251st Oak Leaves 01943-06-07 7 June 1943
110th Swords 01944-11-05 5 November 1944[16]
Obstfelder, Wolfgang vonWolfgang von Obstfelder Heer 14-HHauptmann[16] Commander of schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 346[15][Note 7] 01944-09-10 10 September 1944[16] Awarded (858th) Oak Leaves 01945-04-30 30 April 1945[16]
Ochs, HeinrichHeinrich Ochs Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[16] Platoon leader in the 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 101[15][16] 01943-06-02 2 June 1943[16] Awarded 360th Oak Leaves 01943-12-30 30 December 1943[16]
Ochsner, WillifrankWillifrank Ochsner[Note 8] Heer 17-HOberst[16] Commander of the 31. Infanterie-Division[15][16] 01944-01-18 18 January 1944[16]
Ochßner, HeinrichHeinrich Ochßner Heer 15-HMajor[16] Commander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 132[15][16] 01944-08-19 19 August 1944[16]
Odebrecht, JobJob Odebrecht Luftwaffe 20-LGeneral der Flakartillerie[16] Commanding general of the II. Flakkorps (motorized)[15][Note 9] 01944-09-05 5 September 1944[16]
Odenhardt, WilhelmWilhelm Odenhardt Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[16] Observer in the 4./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"[15][16] 01944-10-29 29 October 1944[Note 10]
Oeckel, ErichErich Oeckel Heer 13-HOberleutnant[16] Chief of the 5./Schützen-Regiment 4[15][16] 01940-06-24 24 June 1940[16]
Oehl, HeinzHeinz Oehl Heer 12-HLeutnant[16] Leader of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 62[15][16] 01943-07-25 25 July 1943*[16] Killed in action 5 July 1943[16]
Oehmichen, Dr. HermannDr. Hermann Oehmichen Heer 16-HOberstleutnant Leader of Kampfgruppe "Oehmichen"[15][Note 11] 01942-12-27 27 December 1942[16]
Oehrn, VictorVictor Oehrn Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[16] Commander of U-37[15][16] 01940-10-21 21 October 1940[16]
Oekenpöhler, Johann-PeterJohann-Peter Oekenpöhler Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[17] Pilot in the 8./Kampfgeschwader 27 "Boelcke"[15][17] 01943-06-02 2 June 1943[17]
Oelker, HeinrichHeinrich Oelker Heer 14-HHauptmann[17] Leader of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 21 (L)[15][17] 01944-03-26 26 March 1944[17]
Oepke, KarlKarl Oepke Heer 14-HHauptmann[17] Chief of the 6./Artillerie-Regiment 12[17][18] 01944-04-16 16 April 1944[17]
Oesau, WalterWalter Oesau Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[17] Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 51[17][18] 01940-08-20 20 August 1940[17] Awarded 9th Oak Leaves 01941-02-06 6 February 1941
3rd Swords 01941-07-15 15 July 1941[Note 12]
Oesten, JürgenJürgen Oesten Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[17] Commander of U-106[17][18] 01941-03-26 26 March 1941[17]
Oesterlin, AlbertAlbert Oesterlin Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant of the Reserves[17] Chief of the Küstenschutzflottille "Attika"[18][Note 13] 01944-06-09 9 June 1944*[17] Killed in aerial bombardment 22 January 1944[18]
Oesterreicher, KarlKarl Österreicher Heer 03-HGefreiter[17] Machine gunner in the 11./Grenadier-Regiment 186[17][18] 01942-12-18 18 December 1942[17]
Oesterwitz, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Oesterwitz Heer 13-HOberleutnant[17] Chief of the 7./Bau-Lehr-Regiment z.b.V. 800 "Brandenburg"[17][18] 01943-04-30 30 April 1943[17] Awarded 734th Oak Leaves 01945-02-10 10 February 1945[17]
Ofenloch, HeinrichHeinrich Ofenloch Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[Note 14] Group leader in the 1./Pionier-Bataillon 323[17][18] 01943-07-12 12 July 1943[17]
Offschany, KarlKarl Offschany Heer 09-HFeldwebel[17] Platoon leader in the 9./Infanterie-Regiment 191[17][18] 01941-03-07 7 March 1941[17]
Ohlrogge, WalterWalter Ohlrogge Luftwaffe 09-LFeldwebel[17] Pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 3[17][18] 01941-11-04 4 November 1941[17]
Ohmsen, WalterWalter Ohmsen Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant (M.A.)[19] Chief of the Marinebatterie "Marcouf" (Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260)[18][Note 15] 01944-06-14 14 June 1944[19]
Ohrloff, HorstHorst Ohrloff Heer 13-HOberleutnant[19] Chief of the 11./Panzer-Regiment 25[18][19] 01941-07-27 27 July 1941[19]
Okrent, WilhelmWilhelm Okrent Heer 04-HObergefreiter[19] Richtkanonier (gunner) in the 4./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 116[18][19] 01943-04-02 2 April 1943[19]
Olboeter, ErichErich Olboeter Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[19] Commander of the III.(gepanzert)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 "Hitlerjugend"[18][19] 01944-07-28 28 July 1944[19]
Olbricht, FriedrichFriedrich Olbricht[Note 16] Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of the 24. Infanterie-Division[18] 01943-10-27 27 October 1943
Olejnik, RobertRobert Olejnik Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[19] Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 1[18][Note 17] 01941-07-27 27 July 1941[Note 17]
Oll, HerbertHerbert Oll Heer 14-HHauptmann[19] Commander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 78[18][19] 01941-08-23 23 August 1941[19]
Olschewski, GeorgGeorg Olschewski Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)[19] Chief engineer on U-66[18][19] 01944-04-23 23 April 1944[19]
Omert, EmilEmil Omert Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[19] Pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 77[18][Note 18] 01942-03-19 19 March 1942[19]
Ondarza, Leon vonLeon von Ondarza Heer 17-HOberst[19] Commander of Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2[18][19] 01944-09-02 2 September 1944[19]
Opdenhoff, HermannHermann Opdenhoff Kriegsmarine 13-MOberleutnant zur See[19] Commander Schnellboot S-31 in the 2. Schnellbootflottille[21][Note 19] 01940-05-16 16 May 1940[19]
Opitz, Heinz-EberhardHeinz-Eberhard Opitz Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[19] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 911[19][21] 01945-03-11 11 March 1945[19]
Oppeln-Bronikowski, Hermann vonHermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski Heer 17-HOberst[22] Commander of Panzer-Regiment 204[21][22] 01943-01-01 1 January 1943[22] Awarded 536th Oak Leaves 01944-07-28 28 July 1944
142nd Swords 01945-04-17 17 April 1945[22]
Oppenländer, KurtKurt Oppenländer Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[22] Commander of the 305. Infanterie-Division[21][22] 01942-07-25 25 July 1942[22]
Oppermann, WalterWalter Oppermann Heer 09-HFeldwebel[22] Platoon leader in the 7./Jäger-Regiment 38[21][22] 01943-05-05 5 May 1943*[22] Died of wounds 20 March 1943[22]
Orinschnig, EgonEgon Orinschnig Heer 13-HOberleutnant[22] Chief of the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 266[21][22] 01941-06-13 13 June 1941[22]
Oriola, Ralph Graf vonRalph Graf von Oriola Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[22] Commander of the 299. Infanterie-Division[21][22] 01943-12-23 23 December 1943[22]
Orlowski, HelmuthHelmuth Orlowski Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[22] Gruppenkommandeur of the Fernaufklärungs-Gruppe 122[21][22] 01943-09-19 19 September 1943[22]
Orth, HeinrichHeinrich Orth Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[22] Platoon leader in the 4./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment[21][Note 20] 01942-03-18 18 March 1942*[22] Killed in action 10 March 1942[21]
Orth, KarlKarl Orth Heer 01-HGrenadier[22] In the 13./Grenadier-Regiment 453[21][22] 01944-03-03 3 March 1944[22]
Orthofer, AlfonsAlfons Orthofer Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[22] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[21][22] 01941-11-23 23 November 1941[22]
Ortlieb, KarlKarl Ortlieb Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[22] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 754[21][22] 01944-09-10 10 September 1944[22]
Orzegowski, ErnstErnst Orzegowski Luftwaffe 09-LFahnenjunker-Feldwebel[22] Pilot in the 7./Schlachtgeschwader 10[21][22] 01945-01-14 14 January 1945[22]
Ossege, TheodorTheodor Ossege Heer 06-HOberjäger[22] Group leader in the 1./Jäger-Regiment 56[21][22] 01944-09-05 5 September 1944*[22] Killed in action 29 July 1944[21]
Ostendorff, WernerWerner Ostendorff Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer[23] Ia (operational officer) of SS-Division "Das Reich"[21][23] 01941-09-13 13 September 1941[23] Awarded (861st) Oak Leaves 01945-05-06 6 May 1945[Note 21]
Oster, DieterDieter Oster Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[23] Chief of the 2./Flak-Regiment 8 (motorized)[21][Note 22] 01942-12-09 9 December 1942[23]
Osterhold, WilhelmWilhelm Osterhold Heer 15-HMajor[23] Commander of the III./Füsilier-Regiment 27[21][23] 01944-03-26 26 March 1944[23] Awarded 732nd Oak Leaves 01945-02-10 10 February 1945[23]
Osterkamp, TheodorTheodor Osterkamp Luftwaffe 18-LGeneralmajor[23] Jagdfliegerführer of Luftflotte 2[21][Note 23] 01940-08-22 22 August 1940[23]
Ostermann, FelixFelix Ostermann Heer 14-HHauptmann[23] Leader of Divisions-Bataillon 260[21][23] 01943-08-26 26 August 1943[23]
Ostermann, Max-HellmuthMax-Hellmuth Ostermann Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[23] Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54[23][25] 01941-09-04 4 September 1941[23] Awarded 81st Oak Leaves 01942-03-12 12 March 1942
10th Swords 01942-05-17 17 May 1942[23]
Ostermeier, Hans-ArnoHans-Arno Ostermeier Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[23] Leader of a Kampfgruppe in the Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrenhalle"[26][Note 24] 01944-08-23 23 August 1944[23] Awarded 834th Oak Leaves 01945-04-15 15 April 1945[23]
Oswald, FranzFranz Oswald Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[23] Staffelkapitän of the 13.(Panzer)/Schlachtgeschwader 9[23][25] 01944-10-24 24 October 1944[23]
Otolski, OskarOskar Otolski Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[23] Gruppenkommandeur of (Fern)Aufklärungs-Gruppe 2[23][25] 01944-09-30 30 September 1944[23]
Ott, EugenEugen Ott Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie[23] Commanding general of the LII. Armeekorps[23][25] 01942-12-25 25 December 1942[23]
Ott, HeinzHeinz Ott[Note 25] Heer 10-HOberwachtmeister Platoon leader in the 12./Panzer-Regiment 24[25] 01945-05-09 9 May 1945
Ott, HelmuthHelmuth Ott Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[23] Chief of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 97[23][25] 01943-11-16 16 November 1943[23]
Ott, JoachimJoachim Ott Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[28] Leader of the I./Jäger-Regiment 28[25][28] 01944-10-28 28 October 1944[28]
Ott, RudolfRudolf Ott Heer 17-HOberst[28] Commander of Jäger-Regiment 56[25][28] 01945-02-28 28 February 1945[28]
Ottawa, NorbertNorbert Ottawa Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[Note 26] Chief of the 1./Füsilier-Regiment 22[25][28] 01943-09-07 7 September 1943[28]
Otte, AlbrechtAlbrecht Otte Heer 13-HOberleutnant[28] Chief of the 2./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 32[25][28] 01945-04-28 28 April 1945[28]
Otte, Friedrich-WilhelmFriedrich-Wilhelm Otte Heer 17-HOberst[28] Commander of Jäger-Regiment 207[25][28] 01942-11-13 13 November 1942[28]
Otte, Dr. jur. MaximilianDr. jur. Maximilian Otte Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[28] Pilot in the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[25][28] 01942-04-05 5 April 1942[28] Awarded 433rd Oak Leaves 01944-03-24 24 March 1944[28]
Ottenbacher, Otto-ErnstOtto-Ernst Ottenbacher Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[28] Commander of the 36. Infanterie-Division (motorized)[25][28] 01941-08-13 13 August 1941[28]
Otto, ErnstErnst Otto Heer 14-HHauptmann[28] Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 454[25][28] 01943-02-10 10 February 1943[28]
Otto, RudolfRudolf Otto Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[28] Group leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 529[25][28] 01944-05-15 15 May 1944[28]
Otto, WernerWerner Otto Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[28] Group leader in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 529[25][28] 01944-04-06 6 April 1944[28]
Oven, Karl vonKarl von Oven Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[28] Commander of the 56. Infanterie-Division[25][28] 01942-01-09 9 January 1942[28]
Overhagen, TheoTheo Overhagen Heer 09-HFeldwebel[28] Platoon leader in the 9./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9[25][28] 01944-01-01 1 January 1944[28]
Overhoff, GeroldGerold Overhoff Heer 13-HOberleutnant[29] Chief of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 11 (motorized)[25][29] 01942-12-10 10 December 1942[29]

Notes

  1. ^ Großadmiral and President of Germany Karl Dönitz, Hitler's successor as Head of State (Staatsoberhaupt) and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, had ordered the cessation of all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945 (Dönitz-decree). Consequently the last Knight's Cross awarded to Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves Georg-Wolfgang Feller on 17 June 1945 must therefore be considered a de facto but not de jure hand-out.[2]
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of Flak-Regiment 99.[13]
  4. ^ According to Scherzer as observer in the Nahaufklärungsstaffel 11.(H)/13.[13]
  5. ^ According to Scherzer on 26 March 1944.[13]
  6. ^ According to Scherzer as SS-Untersturmführer.[13]
  7. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 346.[16]
  8. ^ According to Scherzer his name is spelled Wilhelm-Francis Ochsner.[16]
  9. ^ According to Scherzer as commanding general of II. Flakkorps.[16]
  10. ^ According to Scherzer on 24 October 1944.[16]
  11. ^ According to Scherzer in the Stab of General der Schnellen Truppe (general of rapid troops) in the OKH for his employment as commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 187 in the winter of 1941.[16]
  12. ^ According to Scherzer the 3rd Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded on 16 July 1941.[17]
  13. ^ According to Scherzer as group leader in the Küstenschutzflottille "Attika".[17]
  14. ^ According to Scherzer as Gefreiter.[17]
  15. ^ According to Scherzer as chief of sea-target battery Marinebatterie "Marcouf" (Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 260).[19]
  16. ^ Friedrich Olbricht was sentenced to death by an impromptu court-martial in conjunction with the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to kill Adolf Hitler. The execution was carried out immediately by firing squad at the Bendlerblock in Berlin. Olbricht was interred in full uniform with all orders and decorations. He was dishonorably discharged from the Heer with the loss of all honors and military decorations on 4 August 1944. Heinrich Himmler ordered his earthly remains to be exhumed, burned and the ashes were dispersed.[20]
  17. ^ a b According to Scherzer on 30 July 1941 as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 3.[19]
  18. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 77.[19]
  19. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of S-31.[19]
  20. ^ According to Scherzer as platoon leader in the 4./Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1.[22]
  21. ^ No evidence of the award to Werner Ostendorff can be found in the German National Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. The sequential number "861" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). [24]
  22. ^ According to Scherzer as chief of the 2./Flak-Regiment 8.[23]
  23. ^ According to Scherzer as Jagdfliegerführer 1 for his achievements as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51.[23]
  24. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of a Kampfgruppe in the Panzergrenadier-Ersatz- and Ausbildungs-Regiment 84 (Gleiwitz) attached to the Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrenhalle".[23]
  25. ^ Heinz Ott's nomination by the troop of the corps was not forwarded or was lost due to the military situation. A 2nd nomination was made after the evacuation of East Prussia, after the unconditional surrender. This nomination was not processed. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) handled this case in 1982 and decided: "Knight's Cross yes, 9 May 1945". The presentation date was later changed by Fellgiebel.[27]
  26. ^ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann.[28]

References

Citations
  1. ^ Williamson and Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.
  3. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509.
  4. ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
  5. ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 327–331.
  6. ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 161–162.
  7. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" (in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19390007&zoom=2&seite=00001573&ues=on&x=21&y=6. Retrieved 21 February 2008. 
  8. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940" (in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19400007&zoom=2&seite=00000849&ues=on&x=22&y=10. Retrieved 21 February 2008. 
  9. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" (in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19410007&zoom=2&seite=00000613&ues=on&x=14&y=9. Retrieved 21 February 2008. 
  10. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" (in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19450007&zoom=2&seite=00000011&ues=on&x=14&y=10. Retrieved 21 February 2008. 
  11. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
  12. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 102–111.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Scherzer 2007, p. 574.
  14. ^ a b c d Fellgiebel 2000, p. 327.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Fellgiebel 2000, p. 328.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Scherzer 2007, p. 575.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Scherzer 2007, p. 576.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Fellgiebel 2000, p. 329.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Scherzer 2007, p. 577.
  20. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 161.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Fellgiebel 2000, p. 330.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Scherzer 2007, p. 578.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 579.
  24. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 162.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Fellgiebel 2000, p. 331.
  26. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 331, 499.
  27. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 162.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Scherzer 2007, p. 580.
  29. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 581.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Williamson, Gordon and Bujeiro, Ramiro (2004). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1939-40. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84176-641-0.
Further reading
  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5.
  • Fraschka, Günther (1994). Knights of the Reich. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military/Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-580-0.

External links