List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of the Fallschirmjäger

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest award in the military of the Third Reich. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. During World War II, 133 German soldiers and officers of the Fallschirmjäger (Paratrooper) service, which was a part of the Luftwaffe, received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Among them, 22 officers received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), seven the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), and one won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten).

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 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[1] 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.[2] 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 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.[3] At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's 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, concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.[4]

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.[5]

Contents

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

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. One recipient was a member of the Fallschirmjäger.[6]

Number Name Rank Unit Date of award Notes
20 Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke Generalleutnant commander of fortress Brest 01944-09-19 19 September 1944

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

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.

Number Name Rank Unit Date of award Notes
55 Heidrich, RichardRichard Heidrich Generalleutnant 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01944-03-25 25 March 1944
67 Heilmann, LudwigLudwig Heilmann Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-05-15 15 May 1944
96 Kroh, HansHans Kroh Oberst 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01944-09-12 12 September 1944
99 Ramcke, Hermann-BernhardHermann-Bernhard Ramcke Generalleutnant commander of fortress Brest 01944-09-19 19 September 1944 Awarded 20th Diamonds September 19, 1944
112 Schulz, Karl-LotharKarl-Lothar Schulz Oberst 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
131 Walther, ErichErich Walther Oberst Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring" 01945-02-01 1 February 1945
155 Meindl, EugenEugen Meindl[Notes 1] General der Fallschirmtruppe II. Fallschirmkorps 01945-05-08 8 May 1945

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves

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.[8]

Number Name Rank Unit Date of award Notes
145 Ramcke, Hermann-BernhardHermann-Bernhard Ramcke Generalmajor Fallschirmjäger-Brigade "Ramcke" 01942-11-13 13 November 1942 Awarded 99th Swords 19 September 1944
20th Diamonds 19 September 1944
305 Student, KurtKurt Student General der Flieger XI. Fliegerkorps 01943-09-27 27 September 1943
382 Heidrich, RichardRichard Heidrich Generalleutnant 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01944-02-05 5 February 1944 Awarded 55th Swords 25 March1944
411 Walther, ErichErich Walther Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01944-03-02 2 March 1944 Awarded 131st Swords 1 February 1945
412 Heilmann, LudwigLudwig Heilmann Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-03-02 2 March 1944 Awarded 67th Swords 15 May 1944
443 Kroh, HansHans Kroh Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01944-04-06 6 April 1944 Awarded 96th Swords 12 September 1944
459 Schulz, Karl-LotharKarl-Lothar Schulz Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-04-20 20 April 1944 Awarded 112th Swords 18 November 1944
510 Egger, ReinhardReinhard Egger Oberleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01944-06-24 24 June 1944
564 Meindl, EugenEugen Meindl General der Fallschirmtruppe II. Fallschirmkorps 01944-08-31 31 August 1944 Awarded 155th Swords 8 May 1945
584 Pietzonka, ErichErich Pietzonka Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-16 16 September 1944
585 Gericke, WalterWalter Gericke Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 11 01944-09-17 17 September 1944
586 Trettner, HeinrichHeinrich Trettner Generalmajor 4. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01944-09-17 17 September 1944
617 Heydte, Friedrich-August Freiherr von derDr. jur. Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich-August Freiherr von der Heydte Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 01944-09-30 30 September 1944
654 Meyer, HeinzHeinz Meyer Hauptmann of the Reserves III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
657 Schirmer, GerhartGerhart Schirmer Oberstleutnant of the Reserves Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
662 Witzig, RudolfRudolf Witzig Major I./Fallschirm-Pionier-Regiment 21 01944-11-25 25 November 1944
664 Rennecke, RudolfRudolf Rennecke Major Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-11-25 25 November 1944
693 Gröschke, KurtKurt Gröschke Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 01945-01-09 9 January 1945
780 Becker, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Becker Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5 01945-03-12 12 March 1945
(867) Plocher, HermannHermann Plocher[Notes 2] Generalleutnant 6. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01945-05-08 8 May 1945
(868) Graßmel, FranzFranz Graßmel[Notes 3] Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 20 01945-05-08 8 May 1945

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross).

Name Rank Unit Date of award Notes
Abratis, HerbertHerbert Abratis Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-10-24 24 October 1944 Killed in action 29 March 1945
Adolff, Heinz PaulHeinz Paul Adolff Hauptmann of the Reserves Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 1 01944-03-26 26 March 1944 Killed in action 17 July 1943
Altmann, GustavGustav Altmann Oberleutnant leader of Sturmgruppe "Stahl" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-12 12 May 1940
Arpke, HelmutHelmut Arpke Feldwebel member of Sturmgruppe "Stahl" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-13 13 May 1940 Killed in action 16 January 1942
Barmetler, JosefJosef Barmetler Oberleutnant of the Reserves 7./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-07-09 9 July 1941 Died of wounds 20 February 1945
Becker, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Becker Oberleutnant 11./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01941-07-09 9 July 1941 Awarded 780th Oak Leaves 12 March 1945
Beine, ErichErich Beine Hauptmann I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 12 01944-09-05 5 September 1944
Berger, KarlKarl Berger Leutnant of the Reserves company leader of the 10./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 01945-02-07 7 February 1945
Beyer, HerbertHerbert Beyer Hauptmann I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Blauensteiner, ErnstErnst Blauensteiner Oberstleutnant im Generalstab chief of the Generalstab II. Fallschirmkorps 01944-10-29 29 October 1944
Blucher, Wolfgang Graf vonWolfgang Graf von Blücher (-Fincken) Leutnant of the Reserves 2./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940 Killed in action 21 May 1941
Boehlein, RudolfRudolf Boehlein Oberleutnant 2./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01944-11-30 30 November 1944 Killed in action 19 April 1945
Böhmler, RudolfRudolf Böhmler Major I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-03-26 26 March 1944
Bräuer, BrunoBruno Bräuer Oberst Fallschjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940
Büttner, ManfredManfred Büttner[Notes 4] Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel 2./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 26 01945-04-29 29 April 1945
Coutre, Georg leGeorg le Coutre Leutnant 10./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 01945-02-07 7 February 1945
Delica, EgonEgon Delica Leutnant deputy leader of Sturmgruppe "Granit" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-12 12 May 1940
Donth, RudolfRudolf Donth Feldwebel 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01945-01-14 14 January 1945
Egger, ReinhardReinhard Egger Oberleutnant 10./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01941-07-09 9 July 1941 Awarded 510th Oak Leaves 24 June 1944
Engelhardt, JohannJohann Engelhardt Oberleutnant chief of 8./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 01944-02-29 29 February 1944
Erdmann, Dipl.Ing. WolfgangDipl.Ing. Wolfgang Erdmann Generalleutnant 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01945-02-08 8 February 1945
Ewald, WernerWerner Ewald Major II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01944-09-12 12 September 1944
Foltin, FerdinandFerdinand Foltin Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Fries, HerbertHerbert Fries Gefreiter 2./Fallschirm-Panzer-Jagd-Abteilung 1 01944-09-05 5 September 1944
Frömming, ErnstErnst Frömming Major Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 1 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
Fulda, WilhelmWilhelm Fulda Leutnant 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01941-06-14 14 June 1941
Gast, RobertRobert Gast Leutnant 9./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-10-06 6 October 1944
Genz, AlfredAlfred Genz Oberleutnant 1./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-06-14 14 June 1941
Gericke, WalterWalter Gericke Hauptmann IV./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-06-14 14 June 1941 Awarded 585th Oak Leaves 17 September 1944
Germer, ErnstErnst Germer Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel Stabskp./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-10-29 29 October 1944
Gerstner, SiegfriedSiegfried Gerstner Major II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-13 13 September 1944
Görtz, HelmutHelmut Görtz Feldwebel 3./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940
Graßmel, FranzFranz Graßmel Major III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01944-04-08 8 April 1944 Awarded 868th Oak Leaves 8 May 1945
Gröschke, KurtKurt Gröschke Major II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-06-09 9 June 1944 Awarded 693rd Oak Leaves 9 January 1945
Hagl, AndreasAndreas Hagl Oberleutnant 2./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01941-07-09 9 July 1941
Hamer, ReinoReino Hamer Hauptmann I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-05 5 September 1944
Hauber, FriedrichFriedrich Hauber Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 12 01944-09-05 5 September 1944
Heidrich, RichardRichard Heidrich Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01941-06-14 14 June 1941 Awarded 382nd Oak Leaves 5 February 1944
55th Swords 25 March 1944
Heilmann, LudwigLudwig Heilmann Major III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01941-06-14 14 June 1941 Awarded 412nd Oak Leaves 2 March 1944
67th Swords 15 May 1944
Hellmann, ErichErich Hellmann Leutnant 1./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-10-06 6 October 1944
Herrmann, HarryHarry Herrmann Oberleutnant 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01941-07-09 9 July 1941
Herzbach, MaxMax Herzbach Hauptmann 7./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-13 13 September 1944
Heydte, Dr. jur. Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich-August Freiherr von derDr. jur. Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich-August Freiherr von der Heydte Hauptmann I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01941-07-09 9 July 1941 Awarded 617th Oak Leaves 30 September 1944
Hönscheid, Johannes-MatthiasJohannes-Matthias Hönscheid Oberfeldwebel Kriegsberichterstatter der Fallschirmtruppe 01945-03-12 12 March 1945
Hübner, EduardEduard Hübner Hauptmann Sturm-Bataillon Fallschirm AOK 1 01945-05-09 9 May 1945
Jacob, Georg-RupertGeorg-Rupert Jacob Oberleutnant 1./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-13 13 September 1944
Jäger, Dr. med. RolfDr. med. Rolf Jäger Oberarzt Assault group "Beton" of the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-13 13 May 1940
Jamrowski, SiegfriedSiegfried Jamrowski Oberleutnant 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Kempke, WilhelmWilhelm Kempke Feldwebel 1./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-08-21 21 August 1941
Kerfin, HorstHorst Kerfin Oberleutnant 11./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940
Kerutt, HellmutHellmut Kerutt Major Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon "Kerutt" 01945-02-02 2 February 1945
Koch, KarlKarl Koch Oberfeldwebel III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 01944-10-24 24 October 1944
Koch, WalterWalter Koch Hauptmann Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-10 10 May 1940
Koch, WilliWilli Koch Oberfeldwebel 3./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Kratzert, RudolfRudolf Kratzert Hauptmann III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Krink, HeinzHeinz Krink Leutnant II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Kroh, HansHans Kroh Major I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01941-08-21 21 August 1941 Awarded 443rd Oak Leaves 6 April 1944
96th Swords 12 September 1944
Kühne, MartinMartin Kühne Hauptmann I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01944-02-29 29 February 1944
Kunkel, Kurt-ErnstKurt-Ernst Kunkel Leutnant 2./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01945-04-30 30 April 1945
Kurz, RudolfRudolf Kurz Oberfähnrich 2./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 12 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
Langemeyer, CarlDr. med. habil. Carl Langemeyer Stabsarzt of the Reserves Fallschirm-Sanitäter-Lehr-Abteilung 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
Lepkowski, ErichErich Lepkowski Leutnant 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01944-08-08 8 August 1944
Liebing, WalterWalter Liebing Major Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 23 01945-02-02 2 February 1945
Mager, RolfRolf Mager Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 01944-10-31 31 October 1944
Marscholek, HansHans Marscholek Oberleutnant Fallschirm-Flak-Abteilung 5 01944-10-31 31 October 1944
Meindl, EugenEugen Meindl Generalmajor Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-06-14 14 June 1941 Awarded 564th Oak Leaves 31 August 1944
155th Swords 8 May 1945
Meißner, JoachimJoachim Meißner Leutnant of the Reserves Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-12 12 May 1940
Menges, OttoOtto Menges Oberfeldwebel 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Mertins, GerhardGerhard Mertins Hauptmann Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 5 01944-12-06 6 December 1944
Meyer, HeinzHeinz Meyer Hauptmann of the Reserves 8./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01944-04-08 8 April 1944 Awarded 654th Oak Leaves 18 November 1944
Milch, WernerDr. jur. Werner Milch Hauptmann of the Reserves Fallschirm-Granatwerfer-Lehr- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 01945-01-09 9 January 1945
Mischke, GerdGerd Mischke Leutnant 2./Fallschirm-MG-Bataillon 1 01943-05-18 18 May 1943
Neuhoff, KarlKarl Neuhoff Oberfeldwebel 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Neumann, Dr. med. HeinrichDr. med. Heinrich Neumann Oberstabsarzt Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-08-21 21 August 1941
Orth, HeinrichHeinrich Orth Oberfeldwebel 4./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01942-03-18 18 March 1942
Pade, GerhardGerhard Pade Major I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01945-04-30 30 April 1945
Paul, HugoHugo Paul Hauptmann Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon Paul 01944-11-18 18 November 1944
Peitsch, HerbertHerbert Peitsch Gefreiter 7./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 01944-10-29 29 October 1944
Pietzonka, ErichErich Pietzonka Oberstleutnant Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-05 5 September 1944 Awarded 584th Oak Leaves 16 September 1944
Prager, FritzFritz Prager Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940
Ramcke, Hermann-BernhardHermann-Bernhard Ramcke Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-08-21 21 August 1941 Awarded 145th Oak Leaves 13 November 1942
99th Swords 19 September 1944
20th Diamonds 19 September 1944
Rammelt, SiegfriedSiegfried Rammelt Leutnant Stabskp./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Rapräger, Dr. jur. Ernst-WilhelmDr. jur. Ernst-Wilhelm Rapräger Oberleutnant Luftwaffen-Regiment "Barenthin" 01943-05-10 10 May 1943
Reininghaus, AdolfAdolf Reininghaus Oberfeldwebel 14./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 01944-09-13 13 September 1944
Renisch, Paul-ErnstPaul-Ernst Renisch Hauptmann III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-10-31 31 October 1944
Rennecke, RudolfRudolf Rennecke Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-06-09 9 June 1944 Awarded 664th Oak Leaves 25 November 1944
Ringler, HelmutHelmut Ringler Leutnant Fallschirm-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-15 15 May 1940
von Roon, ArnoldArnold von Roon Oberleutnant 3./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01941-07-09 9 July 1941
Sander, WalterWalter Sander Leutnant of the Reserves 1./Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 5 01945-02-28 28 February 1945
Sassen, BrunoBruno Sassen Feldwebel 10./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01942-02-22 22 February 1942
Schacht, GerhardGerhard Schacht Leutnant leader Sturmgruppe "Beton" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturmabteilung "Koch" 01940-05-12 12 May 1940
Schächter, MartinMartin Schächter Leutnant leader Sturmgruppe "Eisen" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturmabteilung "Koch" 01940-05-12 12 May 1940
Schimpf, Dipl.-Ing. RichardDipl.-Ing. Richard Schimpf Generalleutnant 3. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01944-10-06 6 October 1944
Schimpke, HorstHorst Schimpke Leutnant 1./Fallschirm-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 1 01944-09-05 5 September 1944
Schirmer, GerhartGerhart Schirmer Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01941-06-14 14 June 1941 Awarded 657th Oak Leaves 18 November 1944
Schlemm, AlfredAlfred Schlemm General der Fallschirmjäger I. Fallschirmkorps 01944-06-11 11 June 1944
Schmidt, HerbertHerbert Schmidt Oberleutnant 1./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940
Schmidt, LeonhardLeonhard Schmidt Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01945-04-30 30 April 1945
Schmidt, WernerWerner Schmidt Major Fallschirm-MG-Bataillon 1 01944-04-05 5 April 1944
Schulenburg, Wolf-Werner von derWolf-Werner Graf von der Schulenburg Major I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01943-06-20 20 June 1943
Schulz, Karl-LotharKarl-Lothar Schulz Hauptmann III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940 Awarded 459th Oak Leaves 20 April 1944
112th Swords 18 November 1944
Schuster, ErichErich Schuster Feldwebel 3./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-08-21 21 August 1941
Schwarzmann, AlfredAlfred Schwarzmann Oberleutnant 8./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-29 29 May 1940
Sempert, GüntherGünther Sempert Hauptmann 5./Fallschirm-Panzer-Jagd-Abteilung 1 01944-09-30 30 September 1944
Sniers, HubertHubert Sniers Leutnant 9./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 15 01944-10-24 24 October 1944
Stecken, AlbertAlbert Stecken Major im Generalstab 8. Fallschirmjäger-Division 01945-04-28 28 April 1945
Stentzler, EdgarEdgar Stentzler Major II./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-07-09 9 July 1941
Stephani, KurtKurt Stephani Major Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 9 01944-09-30 30 September 1944
Straehler-Pohl, GüntherGünther Straehler-Pohl Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01943-05-10 10 May 1943
Student, KurtKurt Student Generalleutnant 7. Flieger-Division 01940-05-12 12 May 1940 Awarded 305th Oak Leaves 27 September 1943
Sturm, AlfredAlfred Sturm Oberst Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01941-07-09 9 July 1941
Tannert, KarlKarl Tannert Hauptmann III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01944-04-05 5 April 1944
Teusen, HansHans Teusen Leutnant 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 01941-06-14 14 June 1941
Tietjen, CordCord Tietjen Leutnant 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940
Timm, ErichErich Timm Major Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 12 01944-10-03 3 October 1944
Toschka, RudolfRudolf Toschka Oberleutnant 1./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 1 01941-06-14 14 June 1941
Trebes, HorstHorst Trebes Oberleutnant III./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment 01941-07-09 9 July 1941
Trettner, HeinrichHeinrich Trettner Major 7. Fliegerdivision 01940-05-24 24 May 1940 Awarded 586th Oak Leaves 17 September 1944
Trotz, HerbertHerbert Trotz Hauptmann commander of the Festungs-Regiment "Trotz"/Festung Breslau (commander of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 26) 01945-04-30 30 April 1945
Uhlig, AlexanderAlexander Uhlig Oberfeldwebel of the Reserves 16./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 01944-10-29 29 October 1944
Veth, KurtKurt Veth Hauptmann II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01944-09-30 30 September 1944
Vitali, ViktorViktor Vitali Leutnant 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01945-04-30 30 April 1945
Wagner, HelmutHelmut Wagner Leutnant 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01942-01-24 24 January 1942
Walther, ErichErich Walther Major I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01940-05-24 24 May 1940 Awarded 411th Oak Leaves 2 March 1944
131st Swords 1 February 1945
Wangerin, Friedrich-WilhelmFriedrich-Wilhelm Wangerin Hauptmann III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 16 01944-10-24 24 October 1944
Weck, Hans-JoachimHans-Joachim Weck Leutnant 3./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4 01945-04-30 30 April 1945
Welskop, HeinrichHeinrich Welskop Oberfeldwebel 11./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 01941-08-21 21 August 1941
Werner, WalterWalter Werner Feldwebel 1./Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 1 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Wittig, Hans-KarlHans-Karl Wittig Feldwebel 11./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 01944-02-05 5 February 1944
Witzig, RudolfRudolf Witzig Oberleutnant leader of Sturmgruppe "Granit" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-10 10 May 1940 Awarded 662nd Oak Leaves 25 November 1944
Zahn, HilmarHilmar Zahn Oberleutnant 5./Fallschjäger-Regiment 1 01944-06-09 9 June 1944
Zierach, OttoOtto Zierach Oberleutnant Ia of the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch" 01940-05-15 15 May 1940 at the same time promoted to Hauptmann[13]

Notes

  1. ^ Eugen Meindl's nomination by the troop was approved by each of his commanding officers. However the nomination contains no final remark on the proceedings. Oberst Nicolaus von Below, Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant, had sent a teleprinter message to the commanding general of the Fallschirmarmee Generaloberst Kurt Student, requesting a statement for this nomination. The copy of the teleprinter message contains a note: resubmission "23 April 1945". It seems that the statement was never returned. The paperwork was not finalized by the end of the war. 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 "155" was assigned by the AKCR. Fellgiebel assigned the presentation date. Meindl is mentioned on a list of the Oberbefehlshaber Nordwest for "Nominations and Bestowal of War Awards" from May 1945. This list, which was intended to be presented to Karl Dönitz, contained twelve names of pending nominations which had been submitted via the chain of command. Dönitz has never signed this list, most likely he has never even seen this list. The responsible personnel offices awarded or declined eight nominations from this list by the end of the war by, two remained unprocessed by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA — Army Personnel Office) and Luftwaffenpersonalamt (LPA — Luftwaffe Personnel Office) and two further were left ready for signing at the OKW/WFSt.[7]
  2. ^ Hermann Plocher's nomination had been finalized by the Heeres Personalamt HPA (Army Staff Office) and was ready for signature by the end of the war. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was present in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Fellgiebel. Plocher was a member of the AKCR.[9]
  3. ^ The original nomination was not retained. The Oberbefehlshaber Nordwest (OB Nordwest) had sent the nomination to the OKL/AuD. The accompanying letter is presented by Franz Thomas. Franz Thomas is author of Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Teil II Die Ritterkreuzträger der Fallschirmjäger, Osnabrück 1986, page 88. No further information prevailed. A presentation cannot be verified. The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed this case in 1974 and decided: 868th Oak Leaves, 8 May 1945. According to the AKCR the award was present in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "868" and date were assigned by the AKCR. Franz Graßmel is listed by the OB Nordwest for the "Nomination for the presentation of war awards" in May 1945. This list, which was to be presented to Karl Dönitz, holds 12 names. These nominations had all been submitted by the OB Nordwest via the command chain and must be considered not finalized. Dönitz has never signed this list and most likely has never seen this list. Graßmel was a member of the AKCR.[10]
  4. ^ No evidence of the award can be found in the German National Archives. Gerhard von Seemen in his second edition of the Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939-1945 from 1976 quotes that Manfred Büttner is listed by Böhmler Fallschirmjäger, 1. Auflage. Walther-Peer Fellgiebel states about Büttner in his book: "Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients exist, who do not have official evidence in the National Archives, but are members of the Bundeswehr and claimed to be Knight's Cross recipients. This claim in some cases was investigated by the Militärischer Abschirmdienst (MAD—Military Counterintelligence Service ) and accepted." Büttner was a member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[11][12]

References

Specific
  1. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. 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 2008-02-21. 
  2. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. 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 2008-02-21. 
  3. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. 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 2008-02-21. 
  4. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek. 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 2008-02-21. 
  5. ^ Fellgiebel, p.112.
  6. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 36–38.
  7. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 159.
  8. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 102.
  9. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 163.
  10. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 134.
  11. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 27.
  12. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 125.
  13. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 457
General
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knights of the Wehrmacht Knight's Cross Holders of the Fallschirmjäger. Schiffer Military. ISBN 0-88740-749-8.
  • Thomas, Franz and Wegmann, Günter (1986). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939–1945 Teil II: Fallschirmjäger (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-1461-6.
  • 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. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

External links