[16] In this instance the division adjutant made the recommendation. [2] 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. This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously. The sentence was carried out the same day. The Diamonds to the Knight's Cross were awarded 27 times, all of which are verifiable in the German Federal Archives. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509. 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). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross or RK was instituted byAdolf Hitler at the outbreak of World War II on September 1st, 1939 (*2).This award was unique since it had not been in existence prior to thattime. The award was also noted in the recipients Soldbuch (Soldiers Pay Book), his Wehrpass (Military Identification) and personnel records. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military of the Third Reich. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. They originally appeared in conjunction with the Golden Oak Leaves of the Red Eagle Order, which was the second highest Prussian order after the Black Eagle Order. [11] Presentation of the Diamonds came as a set and included the more elaborate A-piece and a second clasp with rhinestones for everyday wear, the B-piece. [19], Administration/Marktschellenberg (preliminary decision) → deputy Chief of the Heerespersonalamt/Marktschellenberg (preliminary decision) → Chief of the HPA/Berlin (preliminary decision) → OKW-Department/Berlin (presenting) → Hitler (decision)[20], The approval authority of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross became confusing after Hitler's death on 30 April 1945. This grade of the award was to be awarded twelve times only. Six sets of Golden Oak Leaves were manufactured, each consisting of an A-piece, made of 18 Carat gold with 58 real diamonds and a B-piece, made of 14 Carat with 68 real sapphires. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer", 11. [9], The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) was instituted on 15 July 1941. This report was then sent to Reichsleiter Martin Bormann. The final grade, the Golden Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross was verifiably awarded once to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944. The following decision making chains of command were possible at this time:[22], Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, as President of Germany and Hitler's successor as Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, soon declared that "All nominations for the bestowal of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and their higher grades which have been received by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht — staff of the Wehrmacht high command — until the capitulation becomes effective are approved, under the premise that all nominations are formally and correctly approved by the nominating authorities of the Wehrmacht, Heer including the Waffen-SS, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe all the way to the level of the field army and army group leadership."[23]. In May 1940 the number of presentations peaked. [citation needed], Nominations for the Knight's Cross could be made at company level or higher. The death sentence, according to German law, resulted in the loss of all orders and honorary signs.[53]. 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. A number of presentations were made after this date, the last on 17 June 1945. It was also possible to nominate subordinated foreign units. In the Luftwaffe the lowest level was the Geschwader and in the Kriegsmarine the respective flotilla was authorized to make the nomination. Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for the exemplary conduct of the unit as a whole. During World War I the Pour Le Merite (*3) or PLM was the highestaward for valor. SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring", 7. At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, was created. I S. 334 @ Bundesministerium der Justiz, Argentine Nation to the Heroic Valour in Combat Cross, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword, Order of the Karađorđe's Star with Swords, Oak Leaves, Swords or Diamonds recipients, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knight%27s_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross&oldid=990158219, Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Military valour or outstanding leadership, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded. [25], Hitler frequently made the presentations of the Oak Leaves and higher grades himself. 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. The re-institution of the Iron Cross was therefore a Führer decree based on the enactment (Reich… (OdR)) is an association of highly decorated soldiers of both world wars. The Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten) was instituted on 29 December 1944. First pilot to 200 kills, end of Sept 42. Fallschirm-Korps, Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111, Commanding general of XXXXVII. [17], The nomination had to be forwarded in writing by a courier up the official command chain. The first enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 [1] of September 1, 1939 instituted the Iron Cross and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross at the beginning of the German campaign as part of the Napoleonic Wars. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate … The Knight's Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of military valour. Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force), as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia), along with personnel from other Axis powers. The association was founded in 1955 in Cologne by Alfred Keller, Knight of the Order Pour le Mérite and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. [8], Like the Knight's Cross to which it was added, the Oak Leaves clasp could be awarded for leadership, distinguished service or personal gallantry. The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940. To finance the army, the king implored wealthy Prussians to turn in their jewels in exchange for a men's cast-iron ring or a ladies' brooch, each bearing the legend "Gold I gave for iron" (Gold gab ich für Eisen). [6], 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 (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross). [4] The German Federal Archives substantiate 863 awards of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, along with the 147 Swords and 27 Diamonds awards. [18], Administration/Berlin (preliminary decision) → Chief of the Heerespersonalamt/Berlin (preliminary decision) → Oberkommando der Wehrmacht-Department/Berlin (presenting) → Hitler (decision)[19], The Army Personnel Branch Office was split due to the deteriorating war situation and was moved to Marktschellenberg in the time frame 21 to 24 April 1945. [52] Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 13 of these listings. The format and the content were predefined. The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German invasion of Poland.