List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of the U-boat service
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants was the highest award in the military of the Third Reich. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. During or shortly after World War II, 145 German sailors and officers of the U-boat service as part of the Kriegsmarine received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Among them, 29 officers received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), five the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), and two won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten). Of these, 144 presentations were formally made and one recipient received the award after 11 May 1945, when Großadmiral Karl Dönitz ordered a cease of all promotions and illegalized all subsequent awards. The final recipient is therefore considered to have received the medal without legal authority.[1][2]
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.[3] 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.[4] 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).[5] 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.[6]
Recipients
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht kept separate Knight's Cross lists, one for each of the three military branches, Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air force) and for the 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.[7]
This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Ultimately, it would be awarded to twenty-seven German soldiers, sailors and airmen, ranging from young fighter pilots to field marshals. Two recipients were members of the U-boat arm.[8]
Number | Name | Rank | Unit | Date of award | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Wolfgang Lüth | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-181 | 9 August 1943 | killed on active service 13 May 1945[9] |
22 | Albrecht Brandi | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-967 | 24 November 1944 |
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords is also based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Number | Name | Rank | Unit | Date of award | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Otto Kretschmer | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-99 | 26 December 1941 | |
17 | Erich Topp | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-552 | 17 August 1942 | |
18 | Reinhard Suhren | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-564 | 1 September 1942 | |
29 | Wolfgang Lüth | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-181 | 25 April 1943 | Awarded 7th Diamonds on 9 August 1943 |
66 | Albrecht Brandi | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-380 | 9 May 1944 | Awarded 22nd Diamonds on 24 November 1944 |
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940. The last officially announced number for the Oak Leaves was 843. Higher numbers are unofficial and therefore denoted in brackets.[10]
Number | Name | Rank | Unit | Date of award | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Günther Prien | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-47 | 20 October 1940 | missing in action 7 March 1941[11] |
6 | Otto Kretschmer | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-99 | 4 November 1940 | Awarded 5th Swords on 26 December 1941 |
7 | Joachim Schepke | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-100 | 1 December 1940 | killed in action 17 March 1941[12] |
13 | Heinrich Liebe | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-38 | 10 June 1941 | |
14 | Engelbert Endrass | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-46 | 10 June 1941 | killed in action 21 December 1941[13] |
15 | Herbert Schultze | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-48 | 12 June 1941 | |
23 | Viktor Hermann Otto Schütze | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-103 | 14 July 1941 | |
51 | Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-96 | 31 December 1941 | |
56 | Reinhard Suhren | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-564 | 31 December 1941 | Awarded 18th Swords on 1 September 1942 |
87 | Erich Topp | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-552 | 11 April 1942 | Awarded 17th Swords on 17 August 1942 |
89 | Reinhard Hardegen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-123 | 23 April 1942 | |
104 | Rolf Mützelburg | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-203 | 15 July 1942 | killed on active service 11 September 1942[14] |
105 | Adalbert Schnee | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-201 | 15 July 1942 | |
123 | Klaus Scholtz | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-108 | 10 September 1942 | |
125 | Heinrich Bleichrodt | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-109 | 23 September 1942 | |
142 | Wolfgang Lüth | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-181 | 13 November 1942 | Awarded 29th Swords on 15 April 1943 and 7th Diamonds on 9 August 1943 |
147 | Karl-Friedrich Merten | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-68 | 16 November 1942 | |
171 | Friedrich Guggenberger | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-81 | 8 January 1943 | |
177 | Johann Mohr | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-124 | 13 January 1943 | killed in action 3 April 1943[15] |
208 | Georg Lassen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-160 | 7 March 1943 | |
223 | Karl Dönitz | Großadmiral | commander in chief of the Kriegsmarine Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine |
6 April 1943 | |
224 | Albrecht Brandi | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-617 | 11 April 1943 | Awarded 66th Swords on 9 May 1944 and 22nd on Diamonds 24 November 1944 |
234 | Otto von Bülow | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-404 | 26 April 1943 | |
250 | Robert Gysae | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-177 | 31 May 1943 | |
256 | Carl Emmermann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-172 | 4 July 1943 | |
257 | Werner Henke | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-515 | 4 July 1943 | killed as prisoner of war on 15 June 1944[16] |
645 | Werner Hartmann | Kapitän zur See | leader of U-boat operations in the Mediterranean Sea, commander of U-198 | 5 November 1944 | |
(852) | Rolf Thomsen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-1202 | 29 April 1945 | |
(853) | Hans-Günther Lange | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-711 | 29 April 1945 |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross).
Number | Name | Rank | Unit | Date of award | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Günther Prien | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-47 | 18 October 1939 | Awarded 5th Oak Leaves on 20 October 1940 |
2 | Herbert Schultze | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-48 | 1 March 1940 | Awarded 15th Oak Leaves on 12 June 1941 |
3 | Karl Dönitz | Konteradmiral | commander in chief of U-boat operations Befehlshaber der U-Boote |
21 April 1940 | Awarded 223rd Oak Leaves on 6 April 1943 |
4 | Werner Hartmann | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-37 | 9 May 1940 | Awarded 645th Oak Leaves on 5 November 1944 |
5 | Otto Schuhart | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-29 | 16 May 1940 | |
6 | Wilhelm Rollmann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-34 | 31 July 1940 | killed in action 5 November 1943[17] |
7 | Otto Kretschmer | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-99 | 4 August 1940 | Awarded 6th Oak Leaves on 4 November 1940 and 5. Swords on 26 December 1941 |
8 | Heinrich Liebe | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-38 | 14 August 1940 | Awarded 13th Oak Leaves on 10 June 1941 |
9 | Fritz-Julius Lemp | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-30 | 14 August 1940 | killed in action 9 May 1941[18] |
10 | Hans-Rudolf Rösing | Korvettenkapitän | chief of the 7. Unterseebootsflottille and commander of U-48 | 29 August 1940 | |
11 | Fritz Frauenheim | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-101 | 29 August 1940 | |
12 | Engelbert Endrass | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-46 | 5 September 1940 | Awarded 14th Oak Leaves on 10 June 1941 |
13 | Günter Kuhnke | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-28 | 19 September 1940 | |
14 | Joachim Schepke | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-100 | 24 September 1940 | Awarded 7th Oak Leaves on 1 December 1940 |
15 | Hans Jenisch | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-32 | 7 October 1940 | |
16 | Victor Oehrn | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-37 | 21 October 1940 | |
17 | Gerd Suhren | Oberleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-37 | 21 October 1940 | |
18 | Heinrich Bleichrodt | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-48 | 24 October 1940 | Awarded 125th Oak Leaves on 23 September 1942 |
19 | Wolfgang Lüth | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-138 | 24 October 1940 | Awarded 142nd Oak Leaves 13 November 1942, 29th Swords on 15 April 1943 and 7th Diamonds on 9 August 1943 |
20 | Reinhard Suhren | Oberleutnant zur See | 1st officer on U-48 | 3 November 1940 | Awarded 56th Oak Leaves on 31 December 1941 and 18th Swords on 1 September 1942 |
21 | Heinrich Petersen | Stabsobersteuermann | watch officer and coxswain on U-99 | 5 November 1940 | |
22 | Viktor Schütze | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-103 | 11 December 1940 | Awarded 23rd Oak Leaves on 14 July 1941 |
23 | Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-65 | 14 January 1941 | |
24 | Karl-Heinz Moehle | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-123 | 26 February 1941 | |
25 | Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-96 | 26 February 1941 | Awarded 51st Oak Leaves on 31 December 1941 |
26 | Jürgen Oesten | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-106 | 26 March 1941 | |
27 | Georg-Wilhelm Schulz | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-124 | 4 April 1941 | |
28 | Erich Zürn | Oberleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-48 | 23 April 1941 | |
29 | Herbert Kuppisch | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-94 | 14 May 1941 | killed in action 27 August 1943[19] |
30 | Herbert Wohlfarth | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-556 | 15 May 1941 | |
31 | Georg Schewe | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-105 | 23 May 1941 | |
32 | Claus Korth | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-93 | 29 May 1941 | |
33 | Erich Topp | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-552 | 20 June 1941 | Awarded 87th Oak Leaves on 11 April 1942 and 17th Swords on 17 August 1942 |
34 | Günther Hessler | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-107 | 24 June 1941 | |
35 | Jost Metzler | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-69 | 28 July 1941 | |
36 | Adalbert Schnee | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-201 | 30 August 1941 | Awarded 105th Oak Leaves on 15 July 1942 |
37 | Rolf Mützelburg | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-203 | 17 November 1941 | Awarded 104th Oak Leaves on 15 July 1942 |
38 | Ernst Mengersen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-101 | 18 November 1941 | |
39 | Friedrich Guggenberger | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-81 | 10 December 1941 | Awarded 171st Oak Leaves on 8 January 1943 |
40 | Klaus Scholtz | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-108 | 26 December 1941 | Awarded 123rd Oak Leaves on 10 September 1942 |
41 | Gerhard Bigalk | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-751 | 26 December 1941 | killed in action 17 July 1942[20] |
42 | Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-74 | 31 December 1941 | |
43 | Robert Gysae | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-98 | 31 December 1941 | Awarded 250th Oak Leaves on 31 May 1943 |
44 | Reinhard Hardegen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-123 | 23 January 1942 | Awarded 89th Oak Leaves on 23 April 1942 |
45 | Hans-Diedrich Freiherr von Tiesenhausen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-331 | 27 January 1942 | |
46 | Nicolai Clausen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-129 | 13 March 1942 | killed in action 16 May 1943[21] |
47 | Ernst Bauer | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-126 | 16 March 1942 | |
48 | Johann Mohr | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-124 | 27 March 1942 | Awarded 177th Oak Leaves on 13 January 1943 |
49 | Otto Ites | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-94 | 28 March 1942 | |
50 | Robert-Richard Zapp | Korvettenkapitän | comannder of U-66 | 23 April 1942 | |
51 | Werner Winter | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-103 | 5 June 1942 | |
52 | Peter-Erich Cremer | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-333 | 5 June 1942 | |
53 | Karl-Friedrich Merten | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-68 | 13 June 1942 | Awarded 147th Oak Leaves on 16 November 1942 |
54 | Hans-Werner Kraus | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-83 | 19 June 1942 | |
55 | Erwin Rostin | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-158 | 28 June 1942 | |
56 | Heinz-Otto Schultze | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-432 | 9 July 1942 | killed in action 25 November 1943[22] |
57 | Georg Lassen | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-160 | 10 August 1942 | Awarded 208th Oak Leaves on 7 March 1943 |
58 | Helmut Rosenbaum | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-73 | 12 August 1942 | |
59 | Adolf Piening | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-155 | 13 August 1942 | |
60 | Heinrich Schonder | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-77 | 19 August 1942 | killed in action 28 June 1943[23] |
61 | Karl Thurmann | Korvettenkapitän | comannder of U-553 | 24 August 1942 | missing in action 28 January 1943[24] |
62 | Ernst Kals | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-130 | 1 September 1942 | |
63 | Werner Hartenstein | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-156 | 17 September 1942 | killed in action 8 March 1943[25] |
64 | Günther Krech | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-558 | 17 September 1942 | |
65 | Otto von Bülow | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-404 | 20 October 1942 | Awarded 234th Oak Leaves on 26 April 1943 |
66 | Helmut Witte | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-159 | 22 October 1942 | |
67 | Siegfried Strelow | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-435 | 27 October 1942 | killed in action 15 July 1943[26] |
68 | Fritz Poske | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-504 | 6 November 1942 | |
69 | Carl Emmermann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-172 | 27 November 1942 | Awarded 256th Oak Leaves on 4 July 1943 |
70 | Günther Müller-Stöckheim | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-67 | 27 November 1942 | killed in action 16 July 1943[27] |
71 | Wilhelm Dommes | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-431 | 2 December 1942 | |
72 | Hans Witt | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-129 | 17 December 1942 | |
73 | Werner Henke | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-515 | 17 December 1942 | Awarded 257th Oak Leaves on 4 July 1943 |
74 | Hermann Rasch | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-106 | 29 December 1942 | |
75 | Harro Schacht | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-507 | 9 January 1943 | killed in action 14 January 1943[28] |
76 | Albrecht Achilles | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-161 | 16 January 1943 | killed in action 27 September 1943[29] |
77 | Herbert Schneider | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-522 | 16 January 1943 | killed in action 24 February 1943[30] |
78 | Ulrich Heyse | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-128 | 21 January 1943 | |
79 | Albrecht Brandi | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-617 | 21 January 1943 | Awarded 224th Oak Leaves on 11 April 1943, 66th Swords on 9 May 1944 and 22nd Diamonds on 24 November 1944 |
80 | Siegfried Freiherr von Forstner | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-402 | 9 February 1943 | killed in action 13 October 1943[a] |
81 | Gerhard Bielig | Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-177 | 10 February 1943 | |
82 | Erich Würdemann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-506 | 14 March 1943 | killed in action 14 July 1943[31] |
83 | Reinhart Reche | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-255 | 17 March 1943 | |
84 | Hans-Hartwig Trojer | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-221 | 24 March 1943 | |
85 | Harald Gelhaus | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-107 | 26 March 1943 | |
86 | Karl Neitzel | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-510 | 27 March 1943 | |
87 | Günther Seibicke | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-436 | 27 March 1943 | killed in action 26 May 1943[32] |
88 | Ulrich Folkers | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-125 | 27 March 1943 | killed in action 6 May 1943[33] |
89 | Hans Heidtmann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-559 | 12 April 1943 | |
90 | Helmut Möhlmann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-571 | 16 April 1943 | |
91 | Gunter Jahn | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-596 | 30 April 1943 | |
92 | Wilhelm Franken | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-565 | 30 April 1943 | killed in accident 13 January 1945[34] |
93 | Klaus Bargsten | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-521 | 30 April 1943 | |
94 | Günther Heydemann | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-575 | 3 July 1943 | |
95 | Friedrich Markworth | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-66 | 8 July 1943 | |
96 | Georg Staats | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-508 | 14 July 1943 | killed in action 12 November 1943[35] |
97 | Gerd Kelbling | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-593 | 18 August 1943 | |
98 | Herbert Panknin | Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-106 | 4 September 1943 | |
99 | Dipl.-Ing. Willi Lechtenbörger* | Oberleutnant (Ing.) of the Reserves | chief engineer on U-847 | 4 September 1943 | killed in action 27 August 1943[36] |
100 | Heinz Krey* | Leutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-752 | 4 September 1943 | killed in action 23 May 1943[37] |
101 | August Maus | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-185 | 21 September 1943 | |
102 | Dietrich Schöneboom | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-431 | 20 October 1943 | killed in action 23 October 1943[38] |
103 | Carl-August Landfermann | Oberleutnant (Ing.) of the Reserves | chief engineer on U-181 | 27 October 1943 | |
104 | Hellmut Rohweder | Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-69 and U-514 | 14 November 1943 | |
105 | Egon-Reiner Freiherr von Schlippenbach | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-453 | 19 November 1943 | |
106 | Horst-Arno Fenski | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-410 | 26 November 1943 | |
107 | Heinz Franke | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-262 | 30 November 1943 | |
108 | Max-Martin Teichert* | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-456 | 19 December 1943 | killed in action 12 May 1943[39] |
109 | Siegfried Koitschka | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-616 | 27 January 1944 | |
110 | Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-543 | 3 February 1944 | killed in action 2 July 1944[40] |
111 | Siegfried Lüdden | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-188 | 11 February 1944 | killed on active service 13 January 1945[41] |
112 | Johann-Friedrich Wessels | Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-198 | 9 March 1944 | |
113 | Gustav Poel | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-413 | 21 March 1944 | |
114 | Waldemar Mehl | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-371 | 28 March 1944 | |
115 | Alfred Eick | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-510 | 31 March 1944 | |
116 | Georg Olschewski | Oberleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-66 | 23 April 1944 | |
117 | Walter Käding | Obersteuermann | 3rd watch officer and coxswain on U-123 | 15 May 1944 | |
118 | Horst Hofmann | Obersteuermann | coxswain and watch officer on U-672 | 20 May 1944 | |
119 | Karl-Heinz Wiebe | Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-178 | 22 May 1944 | |
120 | Horst von Schroeter | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-123 | 1 June 1944 | |
— |
Johann-Otto Krieg | Oberleutnant zur See | chief of the Kleinkampfflottille 361 | 8 July 1944 | |
121 | Reinhard König | Oberleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-123 | 8 July 1944 | |
122 | Heinz Sieder | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-984 | 8 July 1944 | killed in action 20 August 1944[42] |
123 | Karl Fleige | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-18 | 18 July 1944 | |
124 | Karl-Heinz Marbach | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-953 | 22 July 1944 | |
125 | Hermann Stuckmann | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-621 | 11 August 1944 | killed in action 23 August 1944[43] |
126 | Heinrich Dammeier | Stabsobermaschinist | lead machinist on U-270 | 12 August 1944 | |
127 | Hans-Günther Lange | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-711 | 26 August 1944 | Awarded 853rd Oak Leaves on 29 April 1945 |
128 | Heinrich Timm | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-862 | 17 September 1944 | |
129 | Gerhard Schaar | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-957 | 1 October 1944 | |
130 | Hans-Joachim Förster | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-480 | 18 December 1944 | killed in action 24 February 1945[44] |
131 | Paul Brasack | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-737 | 30 October 1944 | |
132 | Rudolf Mühlbauer | Oberbootsmannsmaat | leading seaman of the bridge (Brückenmaat) on U-123 | 10 December 1944 | |
133 | Günther Pulst | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-978 | 21 December 1944 | |
134 | Rolf Thomsen | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-1202 | 4 January 1945 | Awarded 852nd Oak Leaves on 29 April 1945 |
135 | Ernst Hechler | Korvettenkapitän | commander of U-870 | 21 January 1945 | |
136 | Dr. jur. Kurt Dobratz | Kapitän zur See | commander of U-1232 | 23 January 1945 | |
137 | Johannes Limbach | Leutnant zur See | 1st officer on U-181 | 6 February 1945 | |
138 | Hans-Georg Hess | Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves | commander of U-995 | 11 February 1945 | |
139 | Otto Westphalen | Oberleutnant zur See | commander of U-968 | 23 March 1945 | |
140 | Philipp Lichtenberg | Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-516 | 31 March 1945 | |
141 | Hans Johannsen | Oberleutnant (Ing.) | chief engineer on U-802 | 31 March 1945 | |
142 | Heinrich Praßdorf | Obermaschinist | lead machinist on U-1203 | 21 April 1945 | |
143 | Heinrich Schroeteler | Kapitänleutnant | commander of U-1023 | 2 May 1945 | |
144 | Hans Lehmann | Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves | commander of U-997 | 7 May 1945[b] |
Legally disputed Knight's Cross recipients
Großadmiral Karl Dönitz ordered a cease of all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945. Nevertheless, a number of Knight's Crosses were awarded after this date and are considered "illegal" hand-outs. One sailor of the U-boat service is often listed as a recipient of the Knight's Cross but falls outside of the Dönitz-decree. Karl Jäckel received his Knight's Cross confirmation after 11 May 1945 and is therefore a de facto but not de jure recipient.[2]
Number | Name | Rank | Unit | Date of award | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
144 | Karl Jäckel | Ober-Steuermann | Coxswain on U-29, U-160 and U-907 | 1 June 1945 |
References
Footnotes
- a Some sources indicating that von Forstner succumbed to his injuries aboard USS Card on 22 October 1943 have been found incorrect.[45]
- b Author Clemens Range dates Hans Lehmann's Knight's Cross on 8 June 1945, thus after the effectiveness of the Dönitz-decree. Walther-Peer Fellgiebel, author of Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945, indicates that Lehmann received the Knight's Cross on 11 May 1945, before the Dönitz-decree prohibited the awarding of the Knight's Cross. The sequential number 317 within the Kriegsmarine, 144 within the U-boat service, associated to Lehmann's Knight's Cross is based on author Clemens Range's work Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine and Busch and Röll's book Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939-1945 - Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Historian Veit Scherzer, whose work Die Ritterkreuzträger 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 is based on the primary data from the German Federal Archives, indicates that the 7 May 1945 is the correct date.[46][47][48]
Citations
- Kurowski 1995, p. 7
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.
- "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
- Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 36–38.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 518.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 102.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 201.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 224.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 62.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 184.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 180.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 99.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 214.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 145.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 138–139.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 32.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 47.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 237–238.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 232.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 257–258.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 92.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 252.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 183.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 221.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 19.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 229.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 276.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 243.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 70–71.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 72–73.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 246–247.
- Busch & Röll 2003, p. 382.
- Busch & Röll 2003, p. 383.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 230.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 256.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 98.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 151.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 244.
- Busch & Röll 1999, pp. 253–254.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 70.
- Busch & Röll 1999, p. 71.
- Range 1974, p. 113.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 287.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 498.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat Commanders of World War II. A Biographical Dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-366-8.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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.
- Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2.
- Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
- 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.
External links
- "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German). Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- "Das Bundesarchiv". Military Archive - Freiburg im Breisgau. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.