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]
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.[4] 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.[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, concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.[7]
Number |
Name |
Service |
Rank |
Role and unit[Notes 1] |
Date of award |
Notes |
Image |
8 |
Harlinghausen, MartinMartin Harlinghausen |
Luftwaffe |
Oberstleutnant[18] |
Chief of the general staff of the X. Fliegerkorps[19][18] |
01941-01-30 30 January 1941[18] |
—
|
|
9 |
Oesau, WalterWalter Oesau |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[20] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3[19][20] |
01941-02-06 6 February 1941[20] |
Awarded 3rd Swords 15 July 1941[Notes 2] |
|
10 |
Rommel, ErwinErwin Rommel |
Heer |
Generalleutnant[19][Notes 3] |
Commander of the 7. Panzer-Division[19][21] |
01941-03-20 20 March 1941[21] |
Awarded 6th Swords 20 January 1942
6th Diamonds 11 March 1943[21] |
|
11 |
Joppien, Hermann-FriedrichHermann-Friedrich Joppien |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[22] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 51[22][19] |
01941-04-23 23 April 1941[22] |
—
|
|
12 |
Muncheberg, JoachimJoachim Müncheberg |
Luftwaffe |
Oberleutnant[23] |
Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[19][23] |
01941-05-07 7 May 1941[23] |
Awarded 19th Swords 9 September 1942[23] |
|
13 |
Liebe, HeinrichHeinrich Liebe |
Kriegsmarine |
Kapitänleutnant[24] |
Commander of U-38[19][24] |
01941-06-10 10 June 1941[24] |
At the same time promoted to Korvettenkapitän[19] |
|
14 |
Endrass, EngelbertEngelbert Endrass |
Kriegsmarine |
Oberleutnant zur See[19][Notes 4] |
Commander of U-46[19][25] |
01941-06-10 10 June 1941[25] |
—
|
|
15 |
Schultze, HerbertHerbert Schultze |
Kriegsmarine |
Kapitänleutnant[26] |
Commander of U-48[19][26] |
01941-06-12 12 June 1941[26] |
—
|
|
16 |
Ihlefeld, HerbertHerbert Ihlefeld |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[27] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 77[19][27] |
01941-06-27 27 June 1941[27] |
Awarded 9th Swords 24 April 1942[27] |
|
17 |
Balthasar, WilhelmWilhelm Balthasar |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[28] |
Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[19][28] |
01941-07-02 2 July 1941[28] |
—
|
|
18 |
Schnell, SiegfriedSiegfried Schnell |
Luftwaffe |
Leutnant of the Reserves[29] |
Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[19][Notes 5] |
01941-07-09 9 July 1941[29] |
—
|
|
19 |
Schmidt, RudolfRudolf Schmidt |
Heer |
General der Panzertruppe[30] |
Commanding general of the XXXIX. Armeekorps (motorized)[19][30] |
01941-07-10 10 July 1941[30] |
—
|
|
20 |
Baumbach, WernerWerner Baumbach |
Luftwaffe |
Oberleutnant[31] |
Pilot in the 4./Kampfgeschwader 30[19][31] |
01941-07-14 14 July 1941[31] |
Awarded 16th Swords 17 August 1942[19][Notes 6] |
|
21 |
Dinort, OskarOskar Dinort |
Luftwaffe |
Oberstleutnant[32] |
Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[19][32] |
01941-07-14 14 July 1941[32] |
—
|
|
22 |
Storp, WalterWalter Storp |
Luftwaffe |
Major[33] |
Geschwaderkommodore of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210[33][34] |
01941-07-14 14 July 1941[33] |
—
|
|
23 |
Schutze, ViktorViktor Schütze |
Kriegsmarine |
Korvettenkapitän[35] |
Commander of U-103[34][35] |
01941-07-14 14 July 1941[35] |
—
|
—
|
24 |
Guderian, HeinzHeinz Guderian |
Heer |
Generaloberst[36] |
Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 2[34][36] |
01941-07-17 17 July 1941[36] |
—
|
|
25 |
Hoth, HermannHermann Hoth |
Heer |
Generaloberst[37] |
Commander-in-chief of Panzergruppe 3[34][37] |
01941-07-17 17 July 1941[37] |
Awarded 35th Swords 15 September 1943[37] |
|
26 |
Richthofen, Dipl.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr vonDipl.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen |
Luftwaffe |
General der Flieger[38] |
Commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps[34][38] |
01941-07-17 17 July 1941[38] |
—
|
|
27 |
Lutzow, GüntherGünther Lützow |
Luftwaffe |
Major[39] |
Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3[34][39] |
01941-07-20 20 July 1941[39] |
Awarded 4th Swords 11 October 1941[39] |
|
28 |
Priller, JosefJosef Priller |
Luftwaffe |
Oberleutnant[40] |
Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[34][40] |
01941-07-20 20 July 1941[40] |
Awarded 73rd Swords 2 July 1944[40] |
—
|
29 |
Maltzahn, Günther Freiherr vonGünther Freiherr von Maltzahn |
Luftwaffe |
Major[41] |
Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 53[34][41] |
01941-07-24 24 July 1941[41] |
—
|
|
30 |
Niemack, HorstHorst Niemack |
Heer |
Rittmeister[42] |
Commander of Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5[34][42] |
01941-08-10 10 August 1941[42] |
Awarded 69th Swords 4 June 1944[42] |
—
|
31 |
Bar, HeinrichHeinrich Bär |
Luftwaffe |
Leutnant[43] |
Pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51[34][43] |
01941-08-14 14 August 1941[43] |
Awarded 7th Swords 16 February 1942[43] |
—
|
32 |
Hahn, HansHans Hahn |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[44] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[34][44] |
01941-08-14 14 August 1941[44] |
—
|
|
33 |
Philipp, HansHans Philipp |
Luftwaffe |
Oberleutnant[45] |
Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 54[34][45] |
01941-08-24 24 August 1941[45] |
Awarded 8th Swords 12 March 1942[45] |
—
|
34 |
Cruwell, LudwigLudwig Crüwell |
Heer |
Generalleutnant[46] |
Commander of the 11. Panzer-Division[34][46] |
01941-09-01 1 September 1941[46] |
—
|
|
35 |
Nordmann, Karl-GottfriedKarl-Gottfried Nordmann |
Luftwaffe |
Oberleutnant[47] |
Staffelkapitän of the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51[34][47] |
01941-09-16 16 September 1941[47] |
—
|
|
36 |
Hoffmann, HeinrichHeinrich Hoffmann |
Luftwaffe |
Oberfeldwebel[48] |
Pilot in the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51[34][48] |
01941-10-19 19 October 1941*[48] |
Killed in action 3 October 1941[34] |
—
|
37 |
Lutzow, Kurt-Jürgen Freiherr vonKurt-Jürgen Freiherr von Lützow |
Heer |
Oberst[39] |
Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 89[34][39] |
01941-10-21 21 October 1941[39] |
—
|
—
|
38 |
Gollob, GordonGordon Gollob |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[49] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 3[34][49] |
01941-10-26 26 October 1941[49] |
Awarded 13th Swords 23 June 1942
3rd Diamonds 30 August 1942[49] |
|
39 |
Kageneck, Erbo Graf vonErbo Graf von Kageneck |
Luftwaffe |
Oberleutnant[50] |
Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 27[34][50] |
01941-10-26 26 October 1941[50] |
—
|
—
|
40 |
Kruder, Ernst-FelixErnst-Felix Krüder |
Kriegsmarine |
Kapitän zur See[51] |
Commander of Hilfskreuzer Pinguin (HSK-5)[51][52] |
01941-11-15 15 November 1941*[51] |
Killed in action 8 May 1941[52] |
—
|
41 |
Dietrich, JosefJosef Dietrich |
Waffen-SS |
SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS[9] |
Commander of SS-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (motorized)[52][9] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[9] |
Awarded 26th Swords 14 March 1943
16th Diamonds 6 August 1944[9] |
|
42 |
Eberbach, HeinrichHeinrich Eberbach |
Heer |
Oberst[53] |
Commander of the 5. Panzer-Brigade[52][53] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[53] |
—
|
|
43 |
Scheidies, FranzFranz Scheidies |
Heer |
Oberst[54] |
Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 22[52][54] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[54] |
—
|
—
|
44 |
Buchterkirch, Ernst-GeorgErnst-Georg Buchterkirch |
Heer |
Oberleutnant[55] |
Chief of the 2./Panzer-Regiment 6[52][55] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[55] |
—
|
—
|
45 |
Rogge, BernhardBernhard Rogge |
Kriegsmarine |
Kapitän zur See[56] |
Commander of Hilfskreuzer Atlantis (HSK-2)[52][56] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[56] |
—
|
—
|
46 |
Peltz, DietrichDietrich Peltz |
Luftwaffe |
Hauptmann[57] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 77[52][57] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[57] |
Awarded 31st Swords 23 July 1943[57] |
|
47 |
Schulz, AdelbertAdelbert Schulz |
Heer |
Hauptmann[26] |
Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 25[52][26] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[26] |
Awarded 33rd Swords 6 August 1943
9th Diamonds 14 December 1943[26] |
|
48 |
Eckinger, Dr. Josef-FranzDr. Josef-Franz Eckinger |
Heer |
Major[58] |
Commander of the I./Schützen-Regiment 113[52][58] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941*[58] |
Killed in action 17 October 1941[52] |
—
|
49 |
Hoffmann-Schönborn, GüntherGünther Hoffmann-Schönborn |
Heer |
Major[59] |
Commander of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 191[52][59] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[59] |
—
|
—
|
50 |
Eibl, KarlKarl Eibl |
Heer |
Oberst[60] |
Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 132[52][60] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[60] |
Awarded 21st Swords 19 December 1942[60] |
|
51 |
Lehmann-Willenbrock, HeinrichHeinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock |
Kriegsmarine |
Kapitänleutnant[61] |
Commander of U-96[52][61] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[61] |
—
|
—
|
52 |
Weiß, OttoOtto Weiß |
Luftwaffe |
Major[62] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Schlacht)/Lehrgeschwader 2[52][62] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[62] |
—
|
|
53 |
Boeselager, Georg Freiherr vonGeorg Freiherr von Boeselager |
Heer |
Rittmeister[63] |
Chief of the 1./Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 6[52][63] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[63] |
Awarded 114th Swords 28 November 1944[63] |
|
54 |
Seydlitz-Kurzbach, Walther vonWalther von Seydlitz-Kurzbach |
Heer |
Generalmajor[64] |
Commander of the 12. Infanterie-Division[52][64] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[64] |
—
|
—
|
55 |
Harpe, JosefJosef Harpe |
Heer |
Generalmajor[65] |
Commander of the 12. Panzer-Division[65][66] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[65] |
Awarded 36th Swords 15 September 1943[65] |
|
56 |
Suhren, ReinhardReinhard Suhren |
Kriegsmarine |
Oberleutnant zur See[67] |
Commander of U-564[66][67] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[67] |
Awarded 18th Swords 1 September 1942[67] |
|
57 |
Hitschhold, HubertusHubertus Hitschhold |
Luftwaffe |
Major[68] |
Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[66][68] |
01941-12-31 31 December 1941[68] |
—
|
|