|
Date Instituted:
|
|
June 3rd, 1940
|
|
Awarded To:
|
|
Officers and men of all ranks within any branch of the Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS or
the auxiliary service organizations.
|
|
Required Qualifications*:
|
In general:
The previous award of the Knight's Cross, and
Continued performance of outstanding actions of combat bravery above
and beyond the call of duty.
For the Luftwaffe:
The previous award of the Knight's Cross, and
Continued accumulation of points, 1 point for downing a single-engine aircraft, 2 points
for a twin-engine aircraft and 3 points for a four-engine aircraft. All points were
x2 at night. This total was continuously raised as the war went on.
For the Kriegsmarine:
The previous award of the Knight's Cross, and
Continued accumulation of tons of shipping sunk for Uboots, and/or
Continued performance of outstanding actions of combat bravery above
and beyond the call of duty.
*Criteria often changed throughout the war
|
|
First Awarded:
|
|
July 19th, 1940 - to Eduard Dietl
|
|
Number Awarded: (Detailed
list)
|
|
882 to Germans, 8 to foreigners = 890 total
|
|
Grades/Variations:
|
During the time of the Third Reich, the range of categories of the Iron Cross
were as follows:
The Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
The various grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross specifically are
discussed within seperate entries due to the great importance
of each grade. The grades of the Knight's Cross were as follows:
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross w. Oakleaves
Knight's Cross w. Oakleave, Swords
Knight's Cross w. Oakleaves, Swords, Diamonds
K.Cross w. Golden Oakleaves, Swords, Diamonds
|
|
Method of Wear:
|
The Knight's Cross with Oakleaves was worn in the same manner as the
original Knight's Cross, the only differance being
in the addition of oakleaves above the Knight's Cross itself.
|
|
Notes:
|
The Knight's Cross with Oakleaves was the next higher grade of the Knight's
Cross above the original, and as such, was an even more highly regarded
award. The number awarded during WWII, 890, is a
testiment to the great honor attached to this award. Like the Knight's Cross,
the RK with Oakleaves could also be awarded to foreigners and was also
awarded to commanders in recognition of the valor of the unit they commanded.
Of the 882 German holders of the RK with Oakleaves, 96 are known to be alive
as of 1999 and 234 (27%) are known to have been killed in action or are
listed as missing in action during WWII.
|
|
The Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
Oakleaves holder, Bruno Dilley
Complete listing of Oakleave Holders
Detailed Distribution Statistics for this
grade
|
