List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (E) (original) (raw)

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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 received the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of Germany in the final days of World War II in Europe left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.[4]

Listed here are the 188 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "E".[5] Scherzer has challenged the validity of three of these listings.[6] 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.

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.[7] 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.[8] 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).[9] 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.[10]

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (E)

Service Number of presentations Posthumous presentations
Heer 126 6
Kriegsmarine 6 0
Luftwaffe 41 3
Waffen-SS 15 2

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists, one for each of the three military branches, 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.[11] Of the 188 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "E", 22 were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and two the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords; eleven presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 126 of the medals, six went to the Kriegsmarine, 41 to the Luftwaffe, and 15 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 ? (question mark) indicates that author Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.

  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. ^ 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. ^ a b c d The brackets around the doctor title [Dr.] denotes that the academic title was attained after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded.

  4. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter".[12]

  5. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon "Narwa".[12]

  6. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän in the II./Kampfgeschwader 76.[12]

  7. ^ According to Scherzer on 24 January 1945.[12]

  8. ^ a b According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant of the Reserves on 17 April 1945.[15]

  9. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland".[16]

  10. ^ According to Scherzer name is spelled Hermann Eckardt.[15]

  11. ^ According to Scherzer as Richtschütze (gunner) in the 1./SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 12.[16]

  12. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of Verteidigungs-Abschnitt (defensive sector) "F" (Spandau/Charlottenburg)/Verteidigungsbereich (defensive area) Berlin.[18]

  13. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11.[18]

  14. ^ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Veit Scherzer was denied access to files, which could help clarify the case, of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) on the grounds of the Bundesarchivgesetz (German Archive Law). Paul Egger was a member of the AKCR.[19]

  15. ^ According to Scherzer as chief of the 3./Flak-Regiment 64 (motorized/all-terrain).[18]

  16. ^ a b According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and chief of the 13.(IG)/Infanterie-Regiment 490.[21]

  17. ^ According to Scherzer on 2 July 1944.[21]

  18. ^ According to Scherzer on 5 April 1944.[23]

  19. ^ According to Scherzer as Ia (operations officer) of the 22. Infanterie-Division.[23]

  20. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the Stabs-Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".[23]

  21. ^ According to Scherzer in the Stab Pionier-Bataillon SS-Division "Wiking".[23]

  22. ^ a b According to Scherzer name is Johann Eichmeier who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as commander of leichte Flak-Abteilung 854 (verlegefähig).[26]

  23. ^ According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 97.[26]

  24. ^ The brackets around the professor and doctor title [Prof. Dr.] denotes that the academic title was attained after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded.

  25. ^ Hans-Egon von Einem's nomination by the corps was never forwarded or was lost due to the military situation. A second nomination was submitted after the evacuation of East Prussia and after the German capitulation. This nomination was never processed. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) never addressed this case. The presentation date is an assumption by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.[28]

  26. ^ According to Scherzer in the 3./Jäger-Regiment 38.[27]

  27. ^ According to Scherzer as chief of the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 366.[27]

  28. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the II./Jagdgeschwader 54.[27]

  29. ^ According to Scherzer as reconnaissance troop leader in the 1./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 23.[27]

  30. ^ No evidence of the award to Karl Eisgruber can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Walther-Peer Fellgiebel the presentation was made on 1 June 1945 by the Armee-Oberkommando 6 (6th Army), which was not authorized to do so.[28]

  31. ^ According to Scherzer as observer in the 14.(Eis/Nord)/Kampfgeschwader 27 "Boelcke".[30]

  32. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of Küstenflieger-Gruppe 806.[30]

  33. ^ According to Scherzer as Unteroffizier.[33]

  34. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelführer of the 5./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor".[33]

  35. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the II./SS-Polizei-Regiment 19.[33]

  36. ^ a b According to Scherzer as Oberwachtmeister and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 232.[33]

  37. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of the I./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2.[35]

  38. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann".[35]

  39. ^ According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 3./Kampfgeschwader 76.[35]

  40. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Schlachtgeschwader 10.[35]

  41. ^ According to Scherzer as Ia (operations officer) in the XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps.[37]

  42. ^ According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant.[37]

  43. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of Infanterie-Regiment 30 (motorized) and leader of the 18. Infanterie-Division (motorized).[37]

  44. ^ According to Fellgiebel the name is spelled "Ernst Ehrhardt".[22]

  45. ^ According to Scherzer as adjutant of SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 49 "De Ruyter" (niederländisch Nr. 2).[39]

  46. ^ According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 451.[39]

  47. ^ According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5.(Jäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 4.[42]

  48. ^ According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung of the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking".[42]

  49. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot and not Staffelführer in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".[42]

  50. ^ According to Scherzer as commander of the IV./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 22.[42]

  51. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 3.(F)/121.[43]

  52. ^ According to Scherzer as leader of the Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3 (motorized).[43]

  53. ^ According to Scherzer on 17 September 1944.[43]

  54. ^ Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3–4.

  55. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.

  56. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509.

  57. ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.

  58. ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 167–176.

  59. ^ Scherzer 2007, pp. 127–128.

  60. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.

  61. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.

  62. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.

  63. ^ "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944". ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.

  64. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.

  65. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 285.

  66. ^ a b c d Fellgiebel 2000, p. 167.

  67. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Fellgiebel 2000, p. 168.

  68. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Scherzer 2007, p. 286.

  69. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Scherzer 2007, p. 287.

  70. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Fellgiebel 2000, p. 169.

  71. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 288.

  72. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 127.

  73. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 169, 489.

  74. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 289.

  75. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Fellgiebel 2000, p. 170.

  76. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Scherzer 2007, p. 290.

  77. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 170, 489.

  78. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Fellgiebel 2000, p. 171.

  79. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Scherzer 2007, p. 291.

  80. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Scherzer 2007, p. 292.

  81. ^ a b c Scherzer 2007, p. 128.

  82. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Fellgiebel 2000, p. 172.

  83. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Scherzer 2007, p. 293.

  84. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Scherzer 2007, p. 294.

  85. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Fellgiebel 2000, p. 173.

  86. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 295.

  87. ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 173, 490.

  88. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Scherzer 2007, p. 296.

  89. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Fellgiebel 2000, p. 174.

  90. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 297.

  91. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 174, 490.

  92. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Scherzer 2007, p. 298.

  93. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Fellgiebel 2000, p. 175.

  94. ^ a b c Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 175, 490.

  95. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Scherzer 2007, p. 299.

  96. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Scherzer 2007, p. 300.

  97. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Fellgiebel 2000, p. 176.

  98. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 176, 490.

  99. ^ a b c d e f Scherzer 2007, p. 301.