Kārlis_Aperāts

List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (A)

List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (A)

Add article description

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron 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 extreme gallantry.[1] A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945.[Note 1] This number is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich.[3]

These recipients are listed in the 1986 edition of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945]. Fellgiebel was the former chairman and head of the order commission of the AKCR. In 1996, the second edition of this book was published with an addendum delisting 11 of these original recipients. Author Veit Scherzer has cast doubt on a further 193 of these listings. The majority of the disputed recipients had been nominated for the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of Germany during the final days of World War II left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.[4]

Listed here are the 118 Knight's Cross recipients of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS whose last name starts with "A".[5] Fellgiebel himself delisted one and Scherzer has challenged the validity of three more of these listings.[6][7] The recipients are initially ordered alphabetically by last name. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded.

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 (Eisernes Kreuz), the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes.[8] As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.[9] 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).[10] 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, became the final variant of the Knight's Cross authorized.[11]

Recipients

More information Service, Number of presentations ...

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists for the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air Force) and Waffen-SS. Within each of these lists a unique sequential number was assigned to each recipient. The same numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades of the Knight's Cross, one list per grade.[12] Of the 118 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "A", nine were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and 11 presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 79 of the medals, two went to the Kriegsmarine, 26 to the Luftwaffe, and 11 to the Waffen-SS.[5]

  This along with the + (plus) indicates that a higher grade of Knight's Cross was awarded as well.
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
  This along with the ! (exclamation mark) indicates that author Walther-Peer Fellgiebel has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.
  This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that author Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.

More information Name, Service ...

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    Großadmiral and President of Germany Karl Dönitz, Hitler's successor as Head of State (Staatsoberhaupt) and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, had ordered the cessation of all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945 (Dönitz-decree). Consequently the last Knight's 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 hand-out.[2]
  2. [N 2]
    For an explanation of the various naming schemes used by the Luftwaffe, Heer, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS refer to nomenclature used by the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS.
  3. [N 3]
    According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän and technical officer of the Stab II./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor".[13]
  4. [N 4]
    According to Scherzer as pilot and observer in the 1./Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 3.[16]
  5. [N 5]
    The suffix W in brackets after the rank denotes a Feuerwerker (pyrotechnician). [18]
  6. [N 6]
    According to Scherzer in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 52.[16]
  7. [N 7]
    According to Scherzer last name is Albrecht-Lemke.[21]
  8. [N 8]
    According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 6./Zerstörergeschwader 1.[21]
  9. [N 9]
    No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Willy Albrecht's case was never processed by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). It is incomprehensible what evidence exists and who accepted him as a Knight's Cross recipient.[7]
  10. [N 10]
    According to Scherzer as leader of the Feldersatz-Bataillon 81.[21]
  11. [N 11]
    According to Scherzer as Major of the Reserves.[21]
  12. [N 12]
    According to Scherzer name is Paul Ammann who had received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Oberfeldwebel and pilot and oberserver in the 3./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever".[24]
  13. [N 13]
    According to Scherzer on 24 November 1943.[24]
  14. [N 14]
    The nomination by the troop was rejected on 9 May 1945 by the commanding officer of the Außenstelle of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA/A—Branch of the Army Staff Office)—Oberst Goecke—because the intermittent commanding officers of Joachim von Amsberg had not approved the nomination. The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed the case in 1981 and decided: "Knight's Cross yes, 6 May 1945". The presentation date was later changed again by Fellgiebel to 9 May 1945. Von Amsberg was a member of the AKCR.[7]
  15. [N 15]
    According to Scherzer as leader of the Divisionskampfschule (divisions combat school) of the 19. Waffen-Grenadier-Division of the SS (lettische Nr. 2).[27]
  16. [N 16]
    According to Scherzer as pilot in the Nahaufklärungs-Staffel 11.(H)/12.[27]
  17. [N 17]
    According to Scherzer on 21 December 1942.[27]
  18. [N 18]
    According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 8./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77.[27]
  19. [N 19]
    According to Scherzer as Unteroffizier and not as Unteroffizier of the Reserves.[27]
  20. [N 20]
    According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Waffen Grenadier-Regiment 44 der SS (lettische Nr. 6).[28]
  21. [N 21]
    According to Scherzer on 9 June 1944.[28]
  22. [N 22]
    According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.[30]
  23. [N 23]
    According to Fellgiebel Peter Arent is delisted without reason.[6]
  24. [N 24]
    Adolf Ax's nomination shows no indication that the request had been processed or granted, not even an entry date is noted. The nomination list indicates that the request was filed on 28 April 1945. A Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) nomination with the number 5092 had been created. The nomination, according to the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses), was forwarded to the HPA on 25 April 1945. No proof exists that the Knight's Cross was awarded. The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed this case in 1981 and decided: "Knight's Cross yes, 9 May 1945". Ax was member of the AKCR.[7]

References

Citations

  1. [1]
    Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3–4.
  2. [2]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.
  3. [3]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509.
  4. [4]
    Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
  5. [5]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–118.
  6. [6]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 483.
  7. [7]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 117.
  8. [8]
    "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  9. [9]
    "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  10. [10]
    "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  11. [11]
    "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  12. [12]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
  13. [13]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 187.
  14. [14]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 113.
  15. [15]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113, 492.
  16. [16]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 188.
  17. [17]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 114.
  18. [18]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 29.
  19. [19]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 114, 482.
  20. [20]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 189.
  21. [21]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 190.
  22. [22]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 115.
  23. [23]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 115, 483.
  24. [24]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 191.
  25. [25]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 116.
  26. [26]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 116, 483.
  27. [27]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 192.
  28. [28]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 193.
  29. [29]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 117.
  30. [30]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 194.
  31. [31]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 117, 483.
  32. [32]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 195.
  33. [33]
    Fellgiebel 2000, p. 118.
  34. [34]
    Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 118, 483.
  35. [35]
    Scherzer 2007, p. 196.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 – The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2004). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1939–40. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-641-6.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Kārlis_Aperāts, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.