Knights Cross of the Iron Cross

For the similarly named decoration of the Freikorps, see 1945. These late presentations are considered de facto
German Knights Cross.
but not de jure awards. In post-World War II Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany prohibited the
The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross (German lan- wearing of Nazi insignia. In 1957 the German government authorized a replacement Knights Cross of the Iron
guage: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the
Knights Cross (Ritterkreuz), was a grade of the 1939 Cross, with an oak leaf cluster in place of the swastika,
which could be worn by World War II Knights Cross
version of the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz), which had
been created in 1813. The Knights Cross was the high- recipients. In 1986, the Association of Knights Cross
est award made by Nazi Germany to recognise extreme Recipients (AKCR) acknowledged 7,321 presentations
battleeld bravery or outstanding military leadership dur- made to the members of the three military branches of
ing World War II. Among the military decorations of the Wehrmachtthe Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy)
Nazi Germany, it was second only to the Grand Cross and Luftwae (Air Force)as well as the Waen-SS, the
of the Iron Cross, an award that was given only once, to Reichsarbeitsdienst (RADReich Labour Service) and
Nazi leader and Hitler's second-in-command Hermann the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were
Gring. He was granted it as a result of his services in also 43 recipients in the military forces of[2]allies of the
building up the Luftwae (the German air force), and for Third Reich for a total of 7,364 recipients.
serving as its commander-in-chief. The Knights Cross Analysis of the German Federal Archives revealed evwas therefore functionally the highest order that German idence for 7,161 ociallyde facto and de jure
soldiers of all rank could obtain.
bestowed recipients, including one additional presenta[3]
The Knights Cross grade of the Iron Cross was worn at tion previously unidentied by the AKCR. The AKCR
the neck and was slightly larger but similar in appearance names 890 recipients of the Oak Leaves to the Knights
Cross, including the eight recipients who served in the
to the 1813 Iron Cross. It was legally based on the 1
September 1939 renewal of the Iron Cross. The order military forces of other Axis countries. The German
Federal Archives do not substantiate 27 of these Oak
could be presented to German soldiers of all ranks and
to soldiers from other Axis countries. Its rst presenta- Leaves recipients. The Swords to the Knights Cross
were awarded 160 times according to the AKCR, among
tion was made on 30 September 1939, following the German Invasion of Poland, which marked the beginning of them the posthumous presentation to the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, 13 of which cannot be supported
World War II in Europe. As the war progressed, some
of the recipients distinguished themselves further, and a by the German Federal Archives. The Diamonds to the
higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross of Knights Cross were awarded 27 times, all of which are
the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Ei- veriable in the German Federal Archives.
chenlaub), was instituted in 1940. In 1941, two higher
grades of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves were instituted. These were the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) and the Knights Cross with Oak
Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen
Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten). At
the end of 1944 the nal grade, the Knights Cross with
Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz
des Eisernen Kreuzes mit goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), was created. The Golden Oak Leaves
to the Knights Cross was veriably awarded only once, to
Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944.

1 Historic background
The Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III established
the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) at the beginning of
the Befreiungskrieg (War of Liberation) as part of the
Napoleonic Wars. Karl Friedrich Schinkel received the
contract to design a silver-framed cast iron cross on 13
March 1813. The decree was then backdated to 10 March
1813, the birthday of the Kings wife, Louise of Prussia,
who had died in 1810.[4] Iron was a material which symbolised deance and reected the spirit of the age. The
Prussian state had mounted a campaign steeped in patriotic rhetoric to rally their citizens to repulse the French
occupation. To nance the military opposition against
Napoleon I the king implored wealthy Prussians to turn
in their jewels in exchange for a mens cast-iron ring or a

The last legal presentation of the Knights 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 eective. A number of presentations were made after this date, the last on 17 June
1

HISTORIC BACKGROUND

relating to the year of re-institution, therefore appears on

the lower obverse arm of the Iron Cross. The Iron Cross
was renewed twice after the Napoleonic Wars and prior
to World War II. Its rst renewal on 19 July 1870 was related to the Franco-Prussian War and its second renewal
came on 5 August 1914, with the outbreak of World War
I. The 1914 Iron Cross remained a Prussian decoration
but could be awarded in the name of the Kaiser (as the
King of Prussia) to members of all the German states
armies and of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy).
The regulation was extended and from 16 March 1915
the award could also be presented to individuals in the
military forces of allies of the German state. During this
period the Iron Cross was only awarded in three grades;
the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse), Iron
Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) and the Grand
Cross of the Iron Cross (Grokreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes)
leaving a large gap between grades. There was no nationwide decoration placed between the Iron Cross 2nd
and 1st Class, which could be awarded to soldiers of all
ranks, and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, which was
awarded only to senior commanders for winning a major
battle or campaign. This gap was partly lled by awards
Friedrich Wilhelm III
given from the Empires member states. Among the best
known of these awards are the Prussian Order Pour le
Mrite and House Order of Hohenzollern, which could
ladies brooch, each bearing the legend Gold I gave for
only be awarded to ocers. For non-commissioned ofiron (Gold gab ich fr Eisen) or alternatively, Gold for
cers and soldiers the Prussian Golden Military Merit
defence, Iron for honour (Gold zur Wehr, Eisen zur Ehr).
Cross (Goldenes Militr-Verdienstkreuz) was the highest
achievable decoration. With the abdication of Kaiser
Wilhelm II at the end of World War I the awards granted
by the various royal households became obsolete.[6]
With the outbreak of World War II on 1 September
1939, Adolf Hitler in his role as commander in chief
of the German armed forces (Oberster Befehlshaber der
deutschen Wehrmacht) decreed the renewal of the Iron
Cross of 1939. The decree was also signed by the Chief
of the Armed Forces High Command, Wilhelm Keitel,
the Minister of the Interior, Wilhelm Frick and by the
State-Minister and Chief of the Presidential Chancellery
of the Fhrer and Reich Chancellor, Otto Meiner.[7]
The renewal of 1939 also lled the gap between the Iron
Cross 1st Class and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross.
Rather than using an unrelated award to bridge this gap,
a new grade of the Iron Cross series was introduced, the
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen
Kreuzes).[6] The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, without distinction, was awarded to ocers and soldiers alike,
conforming with the National Socialist political slogan:
One people, one nation, one leader (Ein Volk, ein Reich,
ein Fhrer).[8]
1813 Iron Cross

Initially, the Iron Cross award was of a temporary nature

and could only be made when the country was in a state
of war. A formal renewal procedure was required every
time the award was to be presented.[5] The renewal date,

2.2

Knights Cross with Oak Leaves

The Knights Cross grades of the

Iron Cross

3
The most common Knights Crosses were produced by
the manufacturer Steinhauer & Lck in Ldenscheid.
The Steinhauer & Lck crosses are stamped with the digits 800, indicating 800 grade silver, on the reverse side.
These digits can also be found on the band clip. The
Steinhauer & Lck Knights Cross are 48.19 millimetres
(1.897 in) wide and 54.12 millimetres (2.131 in) high. Its
weight, without band clip, is 28.79 grams (1.016 oz).[12]

Adolf Hitler decreed on the rst day of hostilities of

World War II the renewal of the Iron Cross. The legal grounds for this decree had been established in 1937.
Paragraph 3 of the German law of Titles, Orders and
Honorary Signs (Gesetz ber Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen) from 1 July 1937 (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 725[9] )
Ribbon bar
made the Fhrer and Reichskanzler the only person who
was allowed to award orders or honorary signs. The re Ribbon bar (version)
institution of the Iron Cross was therefore a Fhrer decree
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
based on the enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573[10] )
of 1 September 1939 Verordnung ber die Erneuerung
Brevet (certicate of award)
des Eisernen Kreuzes (Ordinance re-establishing the Iron
Cross). This had certain political implication since the
Treaty of Versailles had explicitly denied Germany the Wording of Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573
creation of a military decoration, order or medal. The
re-institution was more than just a symbolic act. While
the renewals of the Iron Cross of 1870 and 1914 had renewed a Prussian honorary sign, the renewal of 1 Septem- 2.2 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
ber 1939 in contrast for the rst time had created an honThe Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
orary sign of the entire German state.[7]
(Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) was
The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades
based on enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849[13] ) of 3
was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all
June 1940 which augmented article 1 and 4 of the 1939
ranks, including to a senior commander for skilled leadOrdinance re-establishing the Iron Cross. Before the
ership of his troops in battle, or to a low-ranking soldier
introduction of the Oak Leaves only 124 members of
[6]
for a single act of extreme gallantry. As the war prothe Wehrmacht had received the Knights Cross. Prior
gressed four additional grades were introduced to further
to Case Yellow (Fall Gelb), the attack on the Netherdistinguish those who had already won the Knights Cross
lands, Belgium and France, just 52 Knights Crosses had
of the Iron Cross or one of the higher grades and who
been awarded. In May 1940 the number of presentacontinued to show merit in combat bravery or military
tions peaked. The timing for the introduction of the Oak
success and the Knights Cross was eventually awarded in
Leaves is closely linked to Case Red (Fall Rot), the secve grades:
ond and decisive phase of the Battle of France.[14]
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
and Swords
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves,
Swords and Diamonds
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak
Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.

2.1

Knights Cross

The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the

enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573[10] ) of 1 September 1939 Verordnung ber die Erneuerung des Eisernen
Kreuzes (Ordinance re-establishing the Iron Cross). Its
appearance was very similar to the Iron Cross. Its shape
was that of a cross patte, a cross that has arms which are
narrow at the center and broader at the perimeter.[11]

Like the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross to which it was

added, the Oak Leaves clasp could be awarded for leadership, distinguished service or personal gallantry.[15] The
Oak Leaves, just like the 1813 Iron Cross and Grand
Cross of the Iron Cross, was not a National Socialist invention. The Oak Leaves originally appeared in conjunction with the Golden Oak Leaves of the Red Eagle
Order (Roter Adlerorden), which was the second highest
Prussian order after the Black Eagle Order (Schwarzer
Adlerorden). The 1705 established Red Eagle Order had
received the Oak Leaves with a cabinet of the king decree
on 18 January 1811. Friedrich Wilhelm III had also ordered the Oak Leaves to be part of the Iron Cross design
in commemoration of his 1810 deceased wife, Queen
Louise of Prussia. The king also awarded the Oak Leaves
together with the Pour le Mrite since 9 October 1813 to
honour the soldierly merit before the enemy.[16]
The decoration consisted of a cluster of three oak-leaves
with the centre leaf superimposed on the two lower
leaves. The middle of the Oak Leaves were decorated by
a stylized letter L in memoriam of Louise of Prussia.
The original clasp was die-struck from 900 grade silver

THE KNIGHTS CROSS GRADES OF THE IRON CROSS

2.3 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and

Swords

Prussian Pour le Mrite with Oak Leaves

and 2 centimetres (0.79 in) in diameter. The clasp had

a pebbled matt nish, with the edges and central ribs of
the leaves burnished.[17] The ocial manufacturer of the
Oak Leaves was exclusively the rm Gebrder Godet &
Co. (Godet Brothers & Co.) in Berlin.[Note 4] Godet &
Co manufactured two variants of the Oak Leaves which
mainly distinguished itself in the appearance of the Oak
Leaves on the front right side. Additionally the second
variant had a more massive appearance. The rst variant
was produced until mid 1943.[18]

The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) was based on enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613[19] ) of 28 September 1941 which again
augmented articles 1 and 4. The Oak Leaves with Swords
clasp was similar in appearance to the Oak Leaves clasp
with the exception that a pair of crossed swords were
soldered to the base of the Oak Leaves. The reverse side
mounted band clip was slightly larger than the one attached to the Oak Leaves without swords. For added stability the swords were soldered to both the Oak Leaves
and the clip. The swords are 24 millimetres (0.94 in)
long. The entire Oak Leaves with Swords clasp was 24.83
millimetres (0.978 in) wide, 27.58 millimetres (1.086 in)
high and had a weight of 9.03 grams (0.319 oz).[20]
Ribbon bar
Ribbon bar (version)
With Oak Leaves and Swords

Ribbon bar

Wording of Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613

Ribbon bar (version)

2.4 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves,

Swords and Diamonds

With Oak Leaves

Detail

Wording of Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849

The Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub,
Schwertern und Brillianten) is like the Knights Cross of
the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords based on
enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613[19] ) of 28 September 1941. The rst version was based on the design of
the Oak Leaves with Swords clasp manufactured by the
rm Gebrder Godet & Co. in Berlin and had the same
size. The clasp was drilled out to accept the Diamonds.
This rst version was awarded to the rst two recipients,
Werner Mlders and Adolf Galland, before production

5
was transferred to the rm of Otto Klein in Hanau.[21]
The rst soldier to receive the Otto Klein variant of the
Diamonds was Gordon Gollob on 30 August 1942. Presentation of the Otto Klein Diamonds came as a set and
included the more elaborate A-piece and the quiet gift of
a second clasp with rhinestones for everyday wear, the Bpiece.[22] The Diamonds were awarded 27 times during
World War II. However three individuals never received
a set of Diamonds. Hans-Joachim Marseille, the fourth
recipient, was killed in an aircraft crash prior to its presentation. The deteriorating situation and the end of the
war prevented its presentation to Karl Mauss, the 26th
recipient and Dietrich von Saucken, the 27th and nal
recipient.[23]
Ribbon bar
Ribbon bar (version)
With Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Helmut Lent's Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
on display at the Bundeswehr Military History Museum in Dresden.

2.5

Knights Cross with Golden Oak

Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

The Knights Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords

and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten) is based
on enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11[24] ) of 29
December 1944 which augmented articles 1, 2 and 4.
The rm Otto Klein from Hanau manufactured six sets
of Golden Oak Leaves and delivered them to the Prsidialkanzlei (Presidential Chancellery). Each set consisted
of an A-piece, made of 740 gold (18 Carat) with 58
real diamonds and a B-piece, made of 585 gold (14
Carat) with 68 real sapphires. One of these sets was presented to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 1 January 1945, the remaining ve sets were taken to Schloss Klessheim, where
they were captured by the US 3rd Infantry Division.[25]
The A-piece has a weight of 13.2 grams (0.47 oz), thus it
is slightly lighter than the platinum made A-piece of the
silver Diamonds.[26]

Award Document (Ritterkreuzurkunde)

3 Award documentation
At rst, the recipient of the Knights Cross, or one of its
higher grades, received a brief telegram informing him of
the award of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. Thereafter he received a Vorluges Besitzzeugnis (Preliminary Testimonial of Ownership). The wording was standardized reading The Fhrer and commander in chief
of the Armed Forces has awarded the Knights Cross
of the Iron Cross <recipients name>" and pre-printed
format.[27] The award was also noted in the recipients Soldbuch (Soldiers Pay Book), his Wehrpass (Military Identication) and personnel records.[28]

The preliminary testimonial of ownership was followed

by a more elaborate and formal award document, the Ritterkreuzurkunde (Knights Cross Certicate). The ocial award document that came with the Knights Cross
Ribbon bar
was hand-lettered on vellum and placed inside a large red
leather binder embossed with a gold Reichsadler. SomeRibbon bar (version)
times, Hitlers signature was a facsimile, but when time
allowed, he did sign them. These documents for the
With Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Knights Cross were used between 1939 and 1942, when
Rear side of the Oak Leaves of the Knights Cross the number of recipients made it possible only for documents of this type to be made for the higher grades of the
of the Iron Cross
order.

Wording of Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11

The document folder itself was designed by Frieda Thiersch.

4 NOMINATION AND APPROVAL PROCEDURE

Nomination and approval procedure

Every presentation of the Knights Cross of the Iron

Cross, or one of its higher grades, was preceded by
one or multiple deeds, but also by a nomination (Verleihungsvorschlag). Nominations for the Knights Cross
could be made at company level or higher. Commanders could not nominate themselves.[29] In this instance
the division adjutant made the recommendation. In the
Luftwae the lowest level was the Geschwader and in
the Kriegsmarine the respective otilla was authorized to
make the nomination. It was also possible to nominate
subordinated foreign units. The nomination by the troop
had to be submitted in writing and in double copy. The
format and the content were predened. Every nomination contained the personal data, the rank and unit at
the time of the bravery-act, since when the soldier held
this position, the employment status (for example of
the Reserves"), the occupation (if Reserves), the peacetime unit (if professional soldier), the military service
entry date, previous military decorations awarded and
date of presentation, and the profession of the father.
For enlisted soldiers and noncommissioned ocers the
rsum had to be submitted as well.[30]
The nomination had to be forwarded in writing by a
courier up the ocial command chain. Every intermittent administrative oce or commander between
the nominating unit and the commander-in-chief of
the respective Wehrmacht branch (commander-in-chief
of the Heer, commander-in-chief of the Luftwae and
commander-in-chief of the Kriegsmarine with their respective sta oces) had to give their approval along with
a short comment. In exceptional cases, such as the nominated individual had sustained severe injuries or that the
command chain had been interrupted, a nomination could
be submitted via teleprinter communication.[30]

4.1
4.1.1

Approval authority
1 September 1939 to 20 April 1945

Administration/Berlin (preliminary decision) Chief

of the Heerespersonalamt/Berlin (preliminary decision)
Oberkommando der Wehrmacht-Department/Berlin
(presenting) Hitler (decision)[31]
The Army Personnel Branch Oce was split due
to the deteriorating war situation and was moved to
Marktschellenberg in the time frame 21 to 24 April
1945.[31]
4.1.2

25 April 1945 to 30 April 1945 (Hitlers death)

Administration/Marktschellenberg
(preliminary
decision) deputy Chief of the Heeresperson-

alamt/Marktschellenberg (preliminary decision)

Chief of the HPA/Berlin (preliminary decision)
OKW-Department/Berlin (presenting) Hitler
(decision)[32]
4.1.3 30 April 1945 onwards
The approval authority of the Knights Cross of the Iron
Cross became confusing after Hitlers death on 30 April
1945. General Ernst Maisel, deputy chief of Army Personnel Oce, was authorized by the Presidential Chancellery to approve presentations of the Knights Cross
eective as of 28 April 1945. Maisel, on 30 April,
legally approved and conferred 33 Knights Crosses, 29
nominations were rejected and four were deferred.[33]
Hitlers death ended Maisels authority to approve nominations. The authority to approve and make presentations was passed on to Hitlers successor as Staatsoberhaupt (Head of State) Karl Dnitz, who held the title of
Reichsprsident (President) and Supreme Commander of
the Armed Forces.[34]
4.1.4 3 May 1945
A teleprinter message dated 3 May 1945 was sent to
the Commanders-in-Chief of those units still engaged in
combat, empowering them to make autonomous presentations of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross themselves.
The following decision making chains of command were
possible at this time:[34]
Northern sector
Administration (preliminary decision)
Chief of the Heerespersonalamt/Flensburg
(preliminary decision) Chief of
the
OKW/Flensburg
(presenting)

Dnitz/Flensburg (decision)
Commander-in-Chief North: Ernst Busch
Commander-in-Chief Army Group Courland:
Carl Hilpert
Commander-in-Chief East Prussia: Dietrich
von Saucken
Commander-in-Chief Norway: Franz Bhme
Commander-in-Chief Denmark: Georg Lindemann
Commander-in-Chief Army Group Vistula:
Kurt von Tippelskirch (the army group was annihilated on 3 May 1945 and removed from
the distribution list)
Southern sector
Commander-in-Chief Army Group G: Albert
Kesselring

5.1

Award ceremony
Commander-in-Chief
Alexander Lhr

4.2

7
Army

Group

E: Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwae (Air

force), the Waen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) and
[35]
The AKCR also lists 43 individuals
Commander-in-Chief Army Group Ostmark: the Volkssturm.
from
non-German
Axis
forces for a total of 7,364 recipiLothar Rendulic
ents of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.[36] Of these
Commander-in-Chief Army Group Centre: 890 individuals received Oak Leaves (882 members of
Ferdinand Schrner
the Wehrmacht and 8 non-Germans); 160 received Oak
Commander-in-Chief Army Group C: Leaves and Swords (159 members of the Wehrmacht and
Heinrich von Vietingho (the army group was one honorary recipient, the Japanese admiral Isoroku Yaannihilated on 2 May 1945 and removed from mamoto). Only 27 men were awarded the Diamonds
grade of the Knights Cross (3 eld marshals, 10 generthe distribution list)
als, 3 colonels, 9 ace pilots and 2 U-boat captains); HansUlrich Rudel was the only recipient of the Knights Cross
Prerequisites
with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.

To qualify for the Knights Cross, a soldier had to already hold the 1939 Iron Cross First Class, though the
Iron Cross First Class was awarded concurrently with
the Knights Cross in some rare cases. Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for the exemplary
conduct of the unit as a whole. Also, U-boat commanders could qualify for sinking 100,000 tons of shipping
and Luftwae pilots could qualify for accumulating 20
points (with one point being awarded for shooting down
a single-engine plane, two points for a twin-engine plane
and three for a four-engine plane, with all points being
doubled at night). It was issued from 1939 to 1945, with
the requirements being gradually raised as the war went
on.

Among those generally accepted 159 German recipients of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak
Leaves and Swords are 13 recipients, whose Swords to
the Knights Cross do not meet the formal awarding criteria of the Knights Cross. Twenty-four recipients of the
Knights Cross with Oak Leaves are also lacking sustainable evidence that their listing is justiable. Otto Weidinger, Gnther-Eberhardt Wisliceny, Sylvester Stadler
and Wilhelm Bittrich received the Swords from SS Obergruppenfhrer Josef Dietrich, who was not legally authorized to present the award.

Further, Hermann Fegelein was executed in the last days

of the war for desertion, a charge which upon conviction
would have legally deprived him of all rank and awards,
including his Knights Cross. However, his might have
been an extralegal execution. According to the recollections of Wilhelm Mohnke, he and the three other
5 Recipients
general ocers tasked with holding a court martial for
Fegelein found him to be of such unsound mind that
Main article: List of Knights Cross of the Iron Cross re- he was not competent to stand trial under military law.
cipients
Fegelein subsequently disappeared in the hands of Gruppenfhrer Johann Rattenhuber, who had been one of the
empaneled court-martial judges and the Fhrerbunker's
Reichssicherheitsdienst security squad. Fegelein was executed by ring squad.[37]

Distribution by service
Heer, 4786 (65.4%)
Kriegsmarine, 318 (4.3%)
Luftwae, 1759 (24.0%)
Waen-SS, 458 (6.3%)
The Association of Knights Cross Recipients (AKCR)
names 7,321 recipients of the Knights Cross in the three
military branches of the Wehrmacht, consisting of the

Author Veit Scherzer concluded that every presentation

of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, or one of its
higher grades, made until 20 April 1945 is veriable in
the German Federal Archives. The rst echelon of the
Heerespersonalamt Abteilung P 5/Registratur (Army Personnel Oce Department P 5/Registry) was relocated
from Zossen in Brandenburg to Traunstein in Bavaria on
this day and the confusion regarding who can be considered a legitimate Knights Cross recipient began.[38]
Among the ocers who participated in the plot to assassinate Hitler on 20 July 1944 were thirteen recipients of the
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. In addition, 711 recipients of the Knights Cross later served in the Bundeswehr,
with 114 of them reaching the rank of general.[39]

DNITZ-DECREE

Oak Leaves ceremony on 15 September 1943 at the Fhrerhauptquartier Wolfschanze, from left to right: Adolf Hitler, Paul
Schultz (hidden), Oberst Walter Lange, Major Theodor Tolsdor, Oberst Gnther Pape, Major Franz Bke

5.1

Award ceremony

Hitler quite frequently made the presentations of the Oak

Leaves and higher grades to the bestowed himself in order to express his gratitude personally. The rst presentations in 1940 and 1941 were made in the Reich
Chancellery in Berlin or on the Berghof in Obersalzberg
near Berchtesgaden. Beginning with Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, in
the summer of 1941 the presentations were made at the
Fhrerhauptquartier "Wolfs Lair" (Wolfschanze) near
Rastenburg in East Prussia, from the summer 1942 until October 1942 in the Fhrerhauptquartier "Wehrwolf"
near Vinnytsia in Ukraine and then again in the Wolfschanze. From early 1944 until mid July 1944 the
ceremony was again held on the Obersalzberg. This
was continued until about August 1944, shortly after the
July 20 plot, the failed assassination attempt of Oberst
Claus Schenk Graf von Stauenberg. Later onwards
the presentation were only made sporadically by Hitler
himself. The last presentations by Hitler were made
early in 1945 in the Fhrerbunker in Berlin. After
the July 20 plot senior commanders like the commander in chief of the Kriegsmarine (Oberbefehlshaber der
Kriegsmarine) or the commander in chief of the Luftwae (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwae) and from the fall
of 1944 also by the Reichsfhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler,
made the presentations.[40]

5.2

Association of Knights Cross Recipients

The Association of Knights Cross Recipients (AKCR)

(German language:
Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuztrger des Eisernen Kreuzes e.V. (OdR)) is an
association of highly decorated front-line soldiers of
both world wars. The association was founded in 1955
in Kln-Wahn. Generaloberst Alfred Keller, Knight of

Presentation of the Knights Cross in the eld to JohannesMatthias Hnscheid.

the Order Pour le Mrite and Recipient of the Knights

Cross of the Iron Cross, called upon the recipients of
the highest combat decorations for bravery to organize
an association for tradition. Later, the Recipients of
the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross, or the Pour
le Mrite for enlisted personnel, were included. The
memorandum of the AKCR incorporates the awarding
of 7318 Knights Crosses, as well as 882 Oakleaves,
159 Swords, 27 Diamonds, 1 Golden Oak Leaves and 1
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross for all ranks in the three
branches of the Wehrmacht and the Waen-SS.[95]
In 1999, German Minister of Defense Rudolf Scharping
banned all kinds of ocial contacts between the Bundeswehr and the Association of Knights Cross Recipients, stating that the Association and many of its members shared neo-Nazi and revanchistic ideas which were
not in conformity with the German constitution and Germanys postwar policies.[96]

6 Dnitz-decree
Groadmiral and President of Germany Karl Dnitz,
Hitlers successor as Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, had declared that All nominations for the bestowal of the Knights Cross of the Iron

1957 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

reason for this is that German law prohibits wearing a

swastika, so on 26 July 1957 the West German government authorized replacement Knights Crosses with an
Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika, similar to the
Iron Crosses of 1813, 1870 and 1914, which could be
worn by World War II Knights Cross recipients.
Michael Wittmann receiving the Swords to his Knights Cross of
the Iron Cross.

8 Military slang
Cross and their higher grades which have been received
by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht sta of the
Wehrmacht high command until the capitulation becomes eective are approved, under the premise that all
nominations are formally and correctly approved by the
nominating authorities of the Wehrmacht, Heer including
the Waen-SS, Kriegsmarine and Luftwae all the way to
the level of the army and army group leadership.[97] This
Dnitz-decree (German: Dnitz-Erla) is most likely
dated from 7 May 1945. Manfred Drr, author of various publications related to the Knights Cross of the Iron
Cross, requested legal counsel on this decree in 1988.
The Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) came to the conclusion that this decree is unlawful and bears no legal justication. This blanket decree is not in line with the law
governing the bestowal of the Knights Cross of the Iron
Cross which requires a case by case decision.[98]

In the military slang of the German soldiers the Knights

Cross is often referred to as the Blechkrawatte (tinnecktie). Glory-hungry soldiers seeking this medal
(which was worn conspicuously around the neck or
throat) were seen as suering from Halsschmerzen: a cynical slang-term play on the word meaning aicted with
throat trouble, having a neck rash, itching neck or
sore throat. (Navy slang: Draufgnger: a U-boat commander who was viewed as a daredevil seeking to earn
the Knights Cross by being too aggressive in endangering
his own submarine and crew in pursuit of enemy ships.
Dierent degrees of the Iron Cross were awarded based
upon the number and/or tonnage of enemy ships sunk.)
The term Ritterkreuz-Auftrag (Knights Cross Mission)
referred to a mission that was extremely dangerous, or a
no-win situation.

Law about Titles, Orders and 9 Footnotes

Honorary Signs

The German Law about Titles, Orders and Honorary

Signs (German language: Gesetz ber Titel, Orden und
Ehrenzeichen) (BGBl. I S. 334)[99] regulates the wearing
of the Knights Cross in post World War II Germany. The

[1] Groadmiral Karl Dnitz had ordered the cessation of

all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945 (Dnitz
decree). Consequently the last Knights 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 award.[1]

10

10

[2] PKZ stands for PrsidialkanzleiPresidential Chancellery

[3] LDO is the abbreviation of Leistungsgemeinschaft der
Deutschen OrdensherstellerPerformance or service
community of German order manufacturers
[4] The company Gebrder Godet & Co (brothers Godet &
Co.) was founded 1761 by the goldsmith Jean Godet. The
company Godet was one of the rst German manufactures
of orders and honorary signs in Germany. Godet became
the prime royal warrant for orders under the leadership of
Jean Fredric Godet. The company was known as J. Godet
& Shne between 1864 and 1924. The company name
then changed to Eugen Godet & Co. The name changed
again in the late 1920s or early 1930s to Gebrder Godet
& Co.

REFERENCES

[20] Schaulen 2004, p. 12.

[21] Williamson 2006, p. 3.
[22] Maerz 2007, p. 300.
[23] Maerz 2007, p. 293.
[24] Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944
(PDF). ALEX sterreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2010.
[25] Maerz 2007, pp. 310311.
[26] Maerz 2007, p. 314.
[27] Williamson 2004, p. 5.
[28] Williamson 2004, pp. 67.
[29] Scherzer 2007, p. 30.

10

References

Citations

[30] Scherzer 2007, p. 31.

[31] Scherzer 2007, p. 50.
[32] Scherzer 2007, p. 52.

[1] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.

[33] Scherzer 2007, p. 62.

[2] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113460, 483, 485487, 492, 494,

498499, 501, 503, 509.

[34] Scherzer 2007, p. 63.

[3] Scherzer 2007, pp. 117186.

[35] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113460, 485488, 499, 501, 503,

509

[4] Potempa 2003, p. 9.

[5] Schaulen 2003, p. 5.
[6] Williamson 2004, p. 3.
[7] Schaulen 2003, p. 6.
[8] Maerz 2007, p. 29.
[9] Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 725; 1 July 1937 (PDF).
ALEX sterreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German).
Retrieved 20 January 2010.
[10] Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939
(PDF). ALEX sterreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2010.
[11] Williamson 2004, p. 4.
[12] Schaulen 2004, p. 10.
[13] Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940 (PDF).
ALEX sterreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German).
Retrieved 20 January 2010.

[36] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 461463, 510

[37] O'Donnell, James P. (2001) [1978]. The Bunker. New
York: Da Capo Press. pp. 182183. ISBN 0-306-809583.
[38] Scherzer 2007, p. 15.
[39] German Ministry of Defence (BMVg) on the Iron Cross.
[40] Schaulen 2003, p. 11.
[41] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113118.
[42] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 483.
[43] Scherzer 2007, p. 117.
[44] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 119135, 485486.
[45] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 135152, 487.
[46] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 150.
[47] Scherzer 2007, pp. 117122.

[14] Maerz 2007, p. 238

[48] Scherzer 2007, pp. 122125.

[15] Williamson 2005, p. 7.

[49] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 152156, 488.

[16] Schaulen 2003, p. 9.

[50] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 156167.

[17] Williamson 2005, p. 3.

[51] Scherzer 2007, pp. 126127.

[18] Schaulen 2004, p. 11.

[52] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 167176.

[19] Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941

(PDF). ALEX sterreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Retrieved 20 January 2010.

[53] Scherzer 2007, pp. 127128.

[54] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 176189.

11

[55] Scherzer 2007, pp. 128131.

[93] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 455460.

[56] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 154, 190208, 488.

[94] Scherzer 2007, p. 186.

[57] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 2526.

[95] Association of Knights Cross Recipients

[58] Scherzer 2007, pp. 131135.

[59] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 208228.

[96] Ocial Note of the German Parliament about contacts between the Bundeswehr and Nazi traditionalist associations

[60] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 229239.

[97] Fellgiebel 2000, last page of the addendum

[61] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 492.

[98] Scherzer 2007, pp. 69-74.

[62] Scherzer 2007, pp. 136141.

[99] BGBl. I S. 334 @ Bundesministerium der Justiz

[63] Scherzer 2007, pp. 141145.

[64] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 239240.
[65] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 241247.
[66] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 248261.
[67] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 261281.
[68] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 494.

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[69] Scherzer 2007, pp. 147149.

[70] Scherzer 2007, pp. 149151.
[71] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 282299.
[72] Scherzer 2007, pp. 151157.
[73] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 300320, 498.
[74] Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 321327.
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Eschbaumer, Writtenright, Wizardman, Esrever, John, Harryurz, Darz Mol~enwiki, Norm mit, Richard75, FairuseBot, LessHeard vanU,
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Shopbags, Flyer22 Reborn, Dhateld, DaddyWarlock, ImageRemovalBot, Martarius, Binksternet, Jusdafax, PixelBot, Arjayay, Zomno,
Londonclanger, Airplaneman, Jim Sweeney, Addbot, Magus732, Fabiano Tatsch, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Floquenbeam, Rubinbot, Xqbot,
Fdutil, Tiller54, Auntieruth55, Kurlandlegionar, Kierzek, Omaemona1982, MGA73bot, Jake V, Apdency, Fat&Happy, RedBot, Dinamikbot, Alnafet, Mean as custard, RjwilmsiBot, FREEDOM94, EmausBot, John of Reading, Mrfreddysmith, Dewritech, ZroBot, Africai,
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11.3

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