List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients


The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its variants were the highest awards in the military of the Third Reich. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. Within each grade the recipients are ordered chronologically. An exception is the lowest grade, here 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. Broken out into sub lists are the recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, one list for every year between 1940 and 1945 the award was presented. Also listed separately are the alphabetical lists of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients. The foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross and the foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves are listed separately as well.
The last legal presentation of the Knight's Cross, in any of its grades, had to be made before 23:01 Central European Time 8 May 1945, the time when the German surrender became effective. A number of presentations were made after this date, the last on 17 June 1945. These late presentations are considered de facto but not de jure awards. In 1986, the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients acknowledged 7,321 presentations made to the members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe —as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst and the Volkssturm. There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich for a total of 7,364 recipients. Analysis of the German Federal Archives revealed evidence for 7,161 officially—de facto and de jure—bestowed recipients, including one additional presentation previously unidentified by the AKCR. The AKCR names 890 recipients of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, including the eight recipients who served in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich. The German Federal Archives do not substantiate 27 of these Oak Leaves recipients. The Swords to the Knight's Cross were awarded 160 times according to the AKCR, among them the posthumous presentation to the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, 13 of which cannot be supported by the German Federal Archives. The Diamonds to the Knight's Cross were awarded 27 times, all of which are verifiable in the German Federal Archives. The final grade, the Golden Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross was verifiably awarded once to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944.



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, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes. 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. 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. At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944, became the final variant of the Knight's Cross authorized.

Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of September 1, 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes. This grade was awarded only once. The sole recipient was Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring, who at the same time was promoted to Reichsmarschall.
NumberNameServiceRankRole and unitDate of awardNotes
1Hermann GöringLuftwaffeGeneralfeldmarschallReich Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe19 July 1940at the same time promoted to Reichsmarschall

Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

The "Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds" is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944. This grade of the award was to be awarded twelve times only. The sole recipient was Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel.
NumberNameServiceRankRole and unitDate of awardNotes
1Hans-Ulrich RudelLuftwaffeOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"29 December 1944at the same time promoted to Oberst

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 only twenty-seven German soldiers, sailors and airmen, ranging from young fighter pilots to field marshals.
NumberNameServiceRankRole and unitDate of awardNotes
1Luftwaffe17-LOberstGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 5115 July 1941First pilot to 100 kills.
Killed in plane crash November 22, 1941
2Luftwaffe17-LOberstGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"28 January 1942—
3Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 7729 August 1942—First pilot to 150 kills, Aug42.
4Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 273 September 1942KIA September 30, 1942
5Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnant of the ReservesStaffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 5216 September 1942First pilot to 200 kills, end of Sept 42.—
6Heer22-HGeneralfeldmarschallCommander-in-chief of Deutsches Afrika Korps11 March 1943Committed suicide October 14, 1944
7Kriegsmarine15-MFregattenkapitänCommander of 9 August 1943Killed May 14, 1945
8Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 5419 October 1943KIA November 8, 1944
9Heer17-HOberstCommander of Panzer-Regiment 2514 December 1943KIA January 28, 1944
10+Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"29 March 1944Awarded 1st Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944
11Heer17-HOberstCommander of a Panzer Group in the Heeresgruppe Nord15 April 1944Promoted to Generalmajor with the Diamonds
12Waffen-SS19-WSS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SSCommander of 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking"19 April 1944—
13Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommander of 1. Panzerarmee20 April 1944Promoted to Generaloberst with the Diamonds, killed in a plane crash April 21, 1944
14Luftwaffe22-LGeneralfeldmarschallOB Süd 19 July 1944—
15Luftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 331 July 1944KIA October 7, 1944
16Waffen-SS21-WSS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst of the Waffen-SSCommanding general of I. SS-Panzerkorps "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"6 August 1944—
17Heer22-HGeneralfeldmarschallCommander in chief of Heeresgruppe Mitte17 August 1944Committed suicide April 21, 1945
18Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 5225 August 1944—
19Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeActing commander of 4. Panzerarmee31 August 1944—
20Luftwaffe19-LGeneralleutnantCommander of Fortress Brest19 September 1944Awarded the Swords simultaneously with the Diamonds.
21Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 116 October 1944—
22Kriegsmarine15-MFregattenkapitänCommander of 24 November 1944—
23Heer21-HGeneralfeldmarschallCommander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Nord1 January 1945—
24Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommander-in-chief of 5. Panzerarmee18 February 1945—
25Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 340. Volks-Grenadier-Division18 March 1945—
26Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 7. Panzer-Division15 April 1945—
27Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommander-in-chief of Armeeoberkommando East Prussia8 May 1945—


Rank on day of awardHeerWaffen-SSKriegsmarineLuftwaffeForeignersTotals
Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral213
Generaloberst / Generaladmiral112
General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral44
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral1113
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral11
Oberst / Kapitän zur See224
Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän11
Major / Korvettenkapitän224
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant22
Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See33
Totals11221227

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 sequential numbers greater than 143 are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients and therefore denoted in brackets. The number of the 160 Sword recipients is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the. Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 13 of these listings. The majority—12 recipients—of these disputed recipients have received the award in 1945. The deteriorating situation of the Third Reich during the final days of World War II has left the nominations unfinished in various stages of the approval process. Hermann Fegelein had received the Oak Leaves in 1942 but was sentenced to death by Adolf Hitler and executed by SS-Gruppenführer Johann Rattenhuber's Reichssicherheitsdienst 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.
No.NameServiceRankRole and unitDate of awardNotes
1+Luftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"21 June 1941Awarded 2nd Diamonds 28 January 1942
2+Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 5122 June 1941Awarded 1st Diamonds 15 July 1941
3Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 315 July 1941KIA May 11, 1944
4Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 311 October 1941—
5Kriegsmarine15-MKorvettenkapitänCommander of 26 December 1941—
6+Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommander of Panzergruppe Afrika20 January 1942Awarded 6th Diamonds 11 March 1943
7Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannStaffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"16 February 1942—
8Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 5412 March 1942KIA October 8, 1943
9Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 7724 April 1942—
10Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 5417 May 1942KIA August 9, 1942
11+Luftwaffe12-LLeutnant of the ReservesStaffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 5219 May 1942Awarded 5th Diamonds 16 September 1942
12+Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 2718 June 1942Awarded 4th Diamonds 3 September 1942
13+Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 7723 June 1942Awarded 3rd Diamonds 30 August 1942
14Luftwaffe10-LOberfeldwebelPilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 5223 June 1942*KIA 15 June 1942
15+Luftwaffe22-LGeneralfeldmarschallOB Süd18 July 1942Awarded 14th Diamonds 19 July 1944
16Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 3017 August 1942—
17Kriegsmarine14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of 17 August 1942—
18Kriegsmarine14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of 1 September 1942—
19Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannDeputy Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"9 September 1942KIA March 23, 1943
20Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the I. /Lehrgeschwader 128 September 1942—
21Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 385. Infanterie-Division19 December 1942KIA January 21, 1943
22+Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommanding general of the XIV. Panzerkorps21 December 1942Awarded 13th Diamonds 20 April 1944
23Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"23 December 1942— KIA March 23, 1944
24Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannDeputy Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 119 February 1943—
25+Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 11. Panzer-Division4 March 1943Awarded 19th Diamonds 31 August 1944
26+Waffen-SS20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SSCommander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"14 March 1943Awarded 16th Diamonds 6 August 1944
27+Heer17-HOberst of the ReservesCommander of Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland"28 March 1943Awarded 11th Diamonds 15 April 1944
28+Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of 9. Armee2 April 1943Awarded 17th Diamonds 17 August 1944 Committed suicide April 21, 1945
29+Kriegsmarine14-MKorvettenkapitänCommander of 15 April 1943Awarded 7th Diamonds 9 August 1943
30Heer17-HOberstCommander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108 June 1943—
31Luftwaffe17-LOberst im GeneralstabAngriffsführer England23 July 1943—
32+Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 12 August 1943Awarded 15th Diamonds 31 July 1944
33+Heer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Panzer-Regiment 256 August 1943Awarded 9th Diamonds 14 December 1943; KIA January 28, 1944
34Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 5212 September 1943—
35Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of 4. Panzerarmee15 September 1943—
36Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of XXXXI Panzerkorps15 September 1943—
37+Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 5422 September 1943Awarded 8th Diamonds 19 October 1943; KIA November 8, 1944
38Heer15-HMajorLeader of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 663 October 1943—
39Waffen-SS16-WSS-ObersturmbannführerCommander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 "Westland"10 October 1943*KIA 10 October 1943
40Heer22-HGeneralfeldmarschallCommander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Mitte29 October 1943Committed suicide August 19, 1944
41Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 16. Panzergrenadier-Division4 November 1943—
42+Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"25 October 1943Awarded 10th Diamonds 29 March 1944; 1st Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944
43Luftwaffe17-LOberstInspekteur der deutschen Luftverteidigung23 January 1944—
44Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 223 January 1944*KIA 21 January 1944
45Heer15-HMajorCommander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment. 12323 January 1944Committed suicide May 2, 1945
46+Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 4. Panzer-Division31 January 1944Awarded 27th Diamonds 8 May 1945
47+Waffen-SS19-WSS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SSCommander of SS-Panzergrenadier Division "Wiking"20 February 1944Awarded 12th Diamonds 19 April 1944
48Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of III. Panzerkorps21 February 1944—
49Heer16-HOberstleutnant of the ReservesCommander of Panzer-Regiment 1121 February 1944—
50+Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 7. Panzer-Division22 February 1944'Awarded 24th Diamonds 18 February 1945
51Luftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"2 March 1944*KIA 2 March 1944
52Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 522 March 1944—
53Heer17-HOberstCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 3996 March 1944—
54Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 111 March 1944—
55Luftwaffe19-LGeneralleutnantCommander of 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division25 March 1944—
56Waffen-SS17-WSS-OberführerCommander of 2. lett. SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade25 March 1944*KIA 15 March 1944
57Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 320. Infanterie-Division26 March 1944—
58Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 11. Panzer-Division26 March 1944—
59Heer22-HGeneralfeldmarschallCommander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Süd30 March 1944—
60Heer22-HGeneralfeldmarschallCommander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe A30 March 1944—
61Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"6 April 1944*KIA 30 March 1944
62Luftwaffe17-LOberstFormer Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 211 April 1944*Killed in flying accident 6 November 1943
63Heer20-HGeneral der GebirgstruppeCommanding general of XVII. Armeekorps13 April 1944—
64Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of VI. Armeekorps20 April 1944—
65Waffen-SS18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SSCommander of 3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf"24 April 1944—
66+Kriegsmarine14-MFregattenkapitänCommander of 9 May 1944Awarded 22nd Diamonds 24 November 1944
67Luftwaffe17-LOberstCommander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 315 May 1944—
68Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of 3. Panzerarmee26 May 1944—
69Heer17-HOberstCommander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"4 June 1944—
70Heer16-HOberstleutnant of the ReservesCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 199 "List"9 June 1944— KIA July 8, 1944
71Waffen-SS14-WSS-HauptsturmführerChief of the 2./schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 50122 June 1944KIA 8 August 1944
72Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of 20. Gebirgsarmee1 July 1944*Killed in flying accident 23 June 1944
73Luftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"2 July 1944—
74Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 12 July 1944—
75+Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 524 July 1944Awarded 18th Diamonds 25 August 1944
76Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 26. Panzer-Division4 July 1944—
77Waffen-SS15-WSS-SturmbannführerCommander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"9 July 1944Died of wounds 17 April 1945
78Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 119 July 1944—
79Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of Fester Platz Wilna18 July 1944—
80+Heer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 1067 and leader of a Kampfgruppe18 July 1944Awarded 25th Diamonds 18 March 1945
81Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of Panzer-Lehr-Division20 July 1944—
82Luftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 7728 July 1944—
83?Waffen-SS19-WSS-GruppenführerCommander of 8. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer"30 July 1944Executed April 28, 1945
84+Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 130 July 1944Awarded 21st Diamonds 16 October 1944
85Waffen-SS19-WSS-GruppenführerCommander of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"8 August 1944*KIA 28 July 1944
86Waffen-SS20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SSCommanding general of III. germanische SS-Panzerkorps10 August 1944—
87Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 29. Panzergrenadier Division11 August 1944—
88Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"14 August 1944—
89Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 329. Infanterie-Division23 August 1944—
90Waffen-SS21-WSS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst of the Waffen-SSCommander-in-chief of 7. Armee28 August 1944—
91Waffen-SS17-WSS-StandartenführerCommander of 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend"27 August 1944—
92Luftwaffe21-LGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of Luftflotte 628 August 1944—
93+Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Nord28 August 1944Awarded 23rd Diamonds 1 January 1945
94Waffen-SS18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SSCommander of 1. SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"30 August 1944—
95Waffen-SS17-WSS-StandartenführerCommander of 2. SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich"2 September 1944—
96Luftwaffe17-LOberstLeader of 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division12 September 1944—
97Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of L. Armeekorps17 September 1944KIA September 24, 1944
98Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the II./Schlachtgeschwader 117 September 1944—
99+Luftwaffe19-LGeneralleutnantCommander of fortress Brest19 September 1944Awarded 20th Diamonds simultaneously with the Swords 19 September 1944
100Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of XXXX. Panzerkorps21 September 1944—
101+Heer18-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 7. Panzer-Division23 October 1944Awarded 26th Diamonds 15 April 1945
102Heer15-HMajorLeader of Grenadier-Regiment 18623 October 1944—
103Heer14-HHauptmann of the ReservesCommander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 523 October 1944*KIA 11 October 1944
104Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of XXXXII. Armeekorps23 October 1944KIA January 23, 1945
105Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 24. Panzer-Division23 October 1944—
106Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 19. Panzer-Division23 October 1944KIA April 18, 1945
107Heer17-HOberst of the ReservesCommander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10323 October 1944—
108Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"24 October 1944*KIA 22 June 1944
109Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 72. Infanterie-Division31 October 1944—
110Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of LXXXVI. Armeekorps5 November 1944—
111Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 90. Panzergrenadier Division16 November 1944KIA May 8, 1945
112Luftwaffe17-LOberstLeader of 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division18 November 1944—
113Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 2./Jagdgeschwader 5425 November 1944KIA February 14/16 1945
114Heer16-HOberstleutnantLeader of 3. Kavallerie-Brigade28 November 1944*KIA 26 August 1944
115Heer20-HGeneral der ArtillerieCommanding general of XXXXI. Panzerkorps28 November 1944—
116Waffen-SS18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SSCommander of 10. SS-Panzer Division "Frundsberg"15 December 1944—
117Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of LXXVI. Panzerkorps18 December 1944—
118Heer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of 98. Infanterie-Division24 December 1944—
119Waffen-SS16-WSS-ObersturmbannführerCommander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"11 January 1945—
120Waffen-SS20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SSCommanding general of VI. Waffen-Armeekorps der SS11 January 1945Committed suicide May 22, 1945
121Heer17-HOberstCommander of Jäger-Regiment 24 12 January 1945*KIA 27 December 1944
122Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of 20. Gebirgs-Armee18 January 1945—
123Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 227. Infanterie-Division21 January 1945KIA April 25, 1945
124Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of XXIV. Panzerkorps22 January 1945—
125Luftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantGeschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 626 January 1945—
126Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 5426 January 1945—
127Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of LVII. Panzerkorps26 January 1945—
128Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of LXVIII. Armeekorps27 January 1945—
129Waffen-SS17-WSS-OberführerLeader of a Kampfgruppe in the 4. SS-Polizei Panzergrenadier Division1 February 1945KIA February 11, 1945
130Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 14./Jagdgeschwader 271 February 1945—
131Luftwaffe17-LOberstLeader of Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring"1 February 1945—
132Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 17. Infanterie-Division6 February 1945—
133Heer22-HGeneralfeldmarschallOB West18 February 1945—
134Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 16. Panzer-Division20 February 1945—
135Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommander-in-chief of 17. Armee26 February 1945—
136Heer21-HGeneraloberstCommander-in-chief of 1. Panzerarmee3 March 1945—
137Heer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Füsilier-Regiment 2715 March 1945—
138Waffen-SS18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SSCommander of 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen"17 Mar 1945—
139Heer20-HGeneral der ArtillerieCommanding general of VIII. Armeekorps18 March 1945—
140Waffen-SS17-WSS-OberführerLeader of 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"30 March 1945—
141Heer17-HOberstCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 1645 April 1945—
142Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 20. Panzer-Division17 April 1945—
143Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of Führer-Grenadier Division18 April 1945—
Luftwaffe15-LMajorGeschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"19 April 1945—
Luftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 5221 April 1945—
Heer21-HGeneraloberstOB Niederlande24 April 1945—
?Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommander of fortress Breslau26 April 1945—
Heer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of 490. Infanterie-Division26 April 1945—
?Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of XXXIX. Panzerkorps26 April 1945*Committed suicide 21 April 1945
?Waffen-SS16-WSS-ObersturmbannführerCommander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 "Der Führer"6 May 1945—
?Waffen-SS16-WSS-ObersturmbannführerCommander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland"6 May 1945—
?Waffen-SS17-WSS-OberführerCommander of 9. SS-Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"6 May 1945—
?Waffen-SS20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SSCommanding general of II. SS-Panzerkorps6 May 1945—
?Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommander-in-chief of 4. Panzerarmee8 May 1945—
?Luftwaffe20-LGeneral der FallschirmtruppeCommanding general of II. Fallschirm-Korps8 May 1945—
?Heer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1119 May 1945—
?Heer20-HGeneral der PanzertruppeCommanding general of XXXXVII. Panzerkorps9 May 1945—
?Heer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of LXVII. Armeekorps9 May 1945—
?Heer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 9909 May 1945—
Imperial Japanese Navy22-MFleet AdmiralCommander-in-chief of the IJN Combined Fleet27 May 1943*KIA 18 April 1943


Rank on day of awardHeerWaffen-SSKriegsmarineLuftwaffeForeignersTotals
Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral4116
Generaloberst / Generaladmiral81110
General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral214126
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral133218
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral12416
Oberst / Kapitän zur See76720
Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän84618
Major / Korvettenkapitän3111318
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant141520
Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See156
Leutnant / Leutnant zur See11
Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister11
Totals77245531160

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. 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 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
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. Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 27 of these listings. 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 the nominations unfinished in various stages of the approval process.

Rank on day of awardHeerWaffen-SSKriegsmarineLuftwaffeForeignersTotals
Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral611311
Generaloberst / Generaladmiral113115
General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral5082464
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral77615291
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral43915159
Oberst / Kapitän zur See781258103
Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän471931988
Major / Korvettenkapitän73911531147
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant6862476174
Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See19454068
Leutnant / Leutnant zur See1112133
Stabsfeldwebel / Stabswachtmeister11
Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister17724
Feldwebel / Wachtmeister549
Unteroffizier / Oberjäger33
Totals50974532468890

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 September 1, 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes.
Beginning letterRecipients
According to AKCR		Additional recipients
According to Veit Scherzer		Delisted
According to AKCR		Disputed
According to Veit Scherzer
A118—13
Ba–Bm, Bn–Bz368 + 357 = 725—113 + 8 = 21
C82———
D238——6
E188——3
F280—112
G380—111
Ha–Hm, Hn–Hz437 + 224 = 661—115 + 14 = 29
I26———
J142—14
Ka–Km, Kn–Kz289 + 428 = 717—14 + 8 = 12
L386——16
M457—17
N145—22
O82——2
P324—15
Q7———
R4471—11
Sa–Schr, Schu–Sz457 + 603 = 1,060——11 + 14 = 25
T182——5
U32——1
V92——5
W446——11
X1———
Z103——2
Totals7,321111193

Non-existent recipients

Since the end of World War II, numerous people have claimed to be unrecognised recipients of the Knight's Cross. The majority of these "recipients" are lacking any evidence to sustain their claims and are thus denied the right to consider themselves "legal recipients". There are two cases where the legal proof of the award exists even though the recipients do not. These two "legally correct" recipients are Günther Nowak and Heinrich Scherhorn.
Günther Nowak, Hitlerjugend, was awarded the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1945 for the destruction of eleven tanks in Hindenburg, Oberschlesien. It was always assumed that he was the youngest recipient of the Knight's Cross; however, Günther Nowak never really existed — a deserting Commander of the Volkssturm named Sachs was caught and claimed that, after the retreat of the Wehrmacht, he had destroyed five tanks single-handedly. Because of this, he was taken to a Gauleiter. Fearing that his lie would be unveiled, he created the story of Günther Nowak in order to lessen his own "feat". This report was then sent to Reichsleiter Martin Bormann. Bormann immediately awarded the German Cross in Gold to the Volkssturm-Commander Sachs and the Knight's Cross to Nowak.

Foreign recipients

Foreign servicemen who did not serve in the German Wehrmacht or the Waffen-SS during World War II and were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross or its higher grade the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves are listed in the List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Citations