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The Second World War saw something of a proliferation of awards for gallantry in Germany. The Iron Cross had emerged in Prussia, where it was first awarded in 1813. After German unification it continued to be awarded during wars until 1945. The Iron Cross existed in two main grades (2nd Class and 1st Class). In order to win the Iron Cross 1st Class, the recipient already had to have the Iron Cross 2nd Class. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded during the Second World War. To qualify for it one had to hold the Iron Cross 1st Class already. The Knight’s Cross was awarded 7,313 times.
As the war went on, extra grades were added to the Knight’s Cross. First came the Oak Leaves, awarded 883 times, then the Oak Leaves and Swords, awarded 159 times. Finally the Knight’s Cross with Oak-Leaves, Swords and Diamonds was created. This was only awarded 27 times.
Recipients of the Knight’s Cross with Oak-Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Date, |
Name, |
Branch |
15 July 1941 |
Werner Mölders |
Air |
28 January 1942 |
Air |
|
August 1942 |
Gordon Gollob |
Air |
2 September 1942 |
Hans Joachim Marseille |
Air |
16 September 1942 |
Hermann Graf |
Air |
March 1943 |
Army |
|
9 August 1943 |
Wolfgang Luth |
U boats |
19 October 1943 |
Walter Nowotny |
Air |
14 December 1943 |
Adalbert Schulz |
Army |
29 March 1944 |
Hans Ulrich Rudel |
Air |
15 April 1944 |
Army |
|
19 April 1944 |
Herbert Otto Gille |
SS |
April 1944 |
Army |
|
19 July 1944 |
Albert Kesselring |
Army* |
31 July 1944 |
Helmut Lent |
Air |
6 August 1944 |
SS |
|
17 August 1944 |
Walter Model |
Army |
25 August 1944 |
Erich Hartmann |
Air |
31 August 1944 |
Army |
|
19 September 1944 |
Army |
|
9 October 1944 |
Hauptmann Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer |
Air |
24 November 1944 |
Albrecht Brandi |
U boats |
1 January 1945 |
Army |
|
18 February 1945 |
Army |
|
18 March 1945 |
Army |
|
15 April 1945 |
Dr Karl Mauss |
Army |
8 May 1945 |
Dietrich von Saucken |
Army |
By Service
Luftwaffe | 11 |
Army |
12 |
U Boats |
2 |
SS |
2 |
By Year
1941 | 1 |
1942 |
4 |
1943 |
4 |
1944 |
13 |
1945 |
5 |
The high number of recipients of the Diamonds in 1944 reflects the long period of time needed to earn the previous three grades of the Knight’s Cross.
* Kesselring was still officially in the Luftwaffe, but won his award for his service as an Army commander in Italy.