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Date Instituted:
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September 28th, 1941
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Awarded To:
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Officers and men of all ranks within any branch of the Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS or
the auxiliary service organizations.
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Required Qualifications*:
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In general:
The previous award of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, 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 with Oakleaves and Swords, 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 with Oakleaves and Swords, 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
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First Awarded:
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July 15th, 1941 - to Werner Mölders
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Number Awarded: (Detailed
list)
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27
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Grades/Variations:
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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
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Method of Wear:
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The Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds was worn in the same manner as the
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, the only difference being
the addition of a set inlaid diamonds in the oakleave and sword cluster
above the Knight's Cross itself.
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Notes:
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The Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds was the next higher grade of the Knight's
Cross above the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. It was the highest
award presented to more than one person in the Third Reich, and it was
reserved for the most highly decorated and heroic figures in the
German Wehrmacht. This grade of the RK, like the one previous to it, was instituted
after the first award of it had actually been presented. Of the 27 holders
of this award, none are alive today and 9 (33%) were killed in action or are
listed as missing in action during WWII.
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Knights Cross with Oakleaves, Swords
and Diamonds
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords
and Diamonds holder, Erwin Rommel
Complete listing of Diamond Holders
Detailed Distribution Statistics for this
grade
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