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

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military of the Third Reich 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 — 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. Fellgiebel was the former chairman and head of the order commission of the AKCR. In 1996 a second edition of this book was published with an addendum delisting 11 of these original recipients. Author and historian 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 the Third Reich during the final days of World War II left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.^[4] Scherzer wrote his book in cooperation with the German Federal Archives. The book was chosen by Prof. Dr. Franz W. Seidler for the library of the Bundeswehr University Munich and Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and is considered an accepted reference there.^[5][6] For many years Fellgiebel's book was considered the main reference work on this topic, and it has now been succeeded by Scherzer's work.

Listed here are the 118 Knight's Cross recipients of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS whose last name starts with "A".^[7] Fellgiebel himself delisted one and Scherzer has challenged the validity of three more of these listings.^[8][9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11] 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).^[12] 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.^[13]

Recipients

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (A)

Service	Number of presentations	Posthumous presentations
Heer	79	5
Kriegsmarine	2	0
Luftwaffe	26	4
Waffen-SS	11	2

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.^[14] 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.^[7]

      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 historian Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.

Name	Service	Rank	Role and unit[Note 2]	Date of award	Notes	Image
Abel, AdolfAdolf Abel	Heer	Major[15]	Commander of I./Grenadier-Regiment 364[15][16]	23 September 1943[15]	—	—
Abel, JosefJosef Abel	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[15]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 217[15][16]	23 November 1941[15]	—	—
Abele, ArnulfArnulf Abele	Heer	Hauptmann[15]	Commander of the I./Reichsgrenadier-Regiment "Hoch und Deutschmeister"[15][17]	12 February 1944[15]	—	—
Abraham, ErichErich Abraham+	Heer	Oberst[15]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 230[15][16]	13 November 1942[15]	Awarded 516th Oak Leaves 26 June 1944[15]	—
Abraham, ErichErich Abraham	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[15]	Leader of the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13[15][16]	20 January 1944*[15]	Killed in action 8 December 1943[15]	—
Abrahamczik, RudolfRudolf Abrahamczik	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[15]	Staffelführer of the 14./Kampfgeschwader 2[15][16]	29 February 1944[15]	—	—
Abratis, HerbertHerbert Abratis	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[15]	Leader of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1[15][16]	24 October 1944[15]	—
Achilles, AlbrechtAlbrecht Achilles	Kriegsmarine	Kapitänleutnant[15]	Commander of U-161[15][16]	16 January 1943[15]	—	—
Ackermann, GeorgGeorg Ackermann	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[Note 3]	Staffelkapitän and technical officer in the 5./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[16][Note 3]	28 February 1945[15]	—	—
Adam, HelmutHelmut Adam	Heer	Oberleutnant[15]	Chief of the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 192[15][16]	21 November 1941[15]	—	—
Adam, PaulPaul Adam	Heer	Major of the Reserves[15]	Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 158[15][16]	18 April 1943[15]	—	—
Adam, WilhelmWilhelm Adam	Heer	Oberst[18]	Adjutant of Armeeoberkommando 6 (Supreme Command of the 6th Army)[16][18]	17 December 1942[18]	—	—
Adamowitsch, FelixFelix Adamowitsch	Heer	Hauptmann[18]	Chief of the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 904[16][18]	20 October 1944[18]	—	—
Adamsons, MiervaldisMiervaldis Adamsons	Waffen-SS	SS-Untersturmführer[18]	Chief of the 6./Waffen Grenadier-Regiment 44 (lettische Nr. 6) der SS[16][18]	25 January 1945[18]	—	—
Ademeit, HorstHorst Ademeit+	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[18]	Pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54[16][18]	16 April 1943[18]	Awarded 414th Oak Leaves 2 March 1944[18]	—
Adolff, PaulPaul Adolff	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann of the Reserves[18]	Leader of Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 1[16][18]	26 March 1944*[18]	Killed in action 17 July 1943[16]	—
Adolph, WalterWalter Adolph	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[18]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[18][19]	13 November 1940[18]	—	—
Adrario, FriedrichFriedrich Adrario	Heer	Hauptmann[18]	Leader of the Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 272[18][19]	26 December 1944[18]	—	—
Adrian, Josef-HubertJosef-Hubert Adrian	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[18]	Leader of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 24[18][19]	28 March 1945[18]	—	—
Aechtner, FritzFritz Aechtner	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[18]	Pilot and observer in the 1./Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 5[19][Note 4]	20 December 1944[18]	—	—
Afheldt, EckartEckart Afheldt	Heer	Oberleutnant[18]	Leader of the II./Jäger-Regiment 2 "Brandenburg"[18][19]	17 March 1945[18]	—	—
Aghta, EgonEgon Aghta+	Heer	Oberleutnant (W) of the Reserves[18][Note 5]	Leader of a bomb disposal commando in the Luftgaukommando III Berlin[18][19]	3 February 1945[18]	Awarded 778th Oak Leaves 12 March 1945[18]	—
Ahnert, Heinrich-WilhelmHeinrich-Wilhelm Ahnert	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[18]	Pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 52[21][Note 6]	23 August 1942*[18]	Killed in action 23 August 1942[18]	—
Ahrens, AlbertAlbert Ahrens	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[22]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 31[19][22]	25 July 1943[22]	—	—
Ahrens, HinrichHinrich Ahrens	Heer	Unteroffizier[22]	Gun commander in the 13./Grenadier-Regiment 1141[19][22]	9 January 1945[22]	—	—
Ahrens, WilhelmWilhelm Ahrens	Heer	Hauptmann[22]	Commander of the III.(Jäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 17[19][22]	4 May 1944[22]	—	—
Aigen, ReinhardReinhard Aigen	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[22]	Board mechanic in the 7./Kampfgeschwader 4[19][22]	9 June 1944*[22]	Killed in action 19 September 1943[19][22]	—
Alber, HermannHermann Alber	Waffen-SS	SS-Sturmmann[22]	Company messenger in the 9./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 20 "Hohenstaufen"[19][22]	16 December 1944*[22]	Killed in action 2 August 1944[19][22]	—
Alber, RobertRobert Alber	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[22]	Leader of the I./Panzer-Regiment 201[21][22]	7 September 1943[22]	—	—
Albers, Hans-WilhelmHans-Wilhelm Albers	Heer	Hauptmann[22]	Commander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 1 "Afrika"[19][22]	10 May 1943[22]	—	—
Albert, WilhelmWilhelm Albert	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[22]	Company chief in the Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 35[19][22]	14 February 1945[22]	—	—
Alberts, OttoOtto Alberts	Heer	Oberst of the Reserves[22]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 501[19][22]	10 December 1943[22]	Died of wounds 10 December 1943[19]	—
Albrecht, EgonEgon Albrecht[Note 7]	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant	Staffelführer of the 9./Zerstörergeschwader 76[19][Note 8]	22 May 1943[23]	—
Albrecht, FritzFritz Albrecht	Heer	Oberst[22]	Leader of a Kampfgruppe in the defensive sector of Magdeburg[19][22]	19 April 1945[22]	—	—
Albrecht, KurtKurt Albrecht	Heer	Oberst[22]	Commander of Artillerie-Regiment 172[19][22]	3 November 1944[22]	—	—
Albrecht, KurtKurt Albrecht	Heer	Oberst of the Reserves[22]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 948[19][22]	28 February 1945[22]	—	—
Albrecht, OskarOskar Albrecht	Heer	Unteroffizier[23]	Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 14.(Jäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 15[21][23]	24 July 1941[23]	—	—
Albrecht, WillyWilly Albrecht?[Note 9]	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves	Commander of the I./Jäger-Regiment 734[19]	9 May 1945	—	—
Albust, RudolfRudolf Albust	Heer	Obergefreiter[23]	Richtschütze (gunner) in the 2./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 129[23][24]	19 December 1943[23]	—	—
Alex, ErnstErnst Alex	Heer	Oberwachtmeister[23]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 243[23][24]	1 August 1941[23]	—	—
Allersmeier, HeinzHeinz Allersmeier	Heer	Major of the Reserves[23]	Leader of the Feldersatz-Bataillon 181[24][Note 10]	9 December 1944[23]	—	—
Allmacher, FriedrichFriedrich Allmacher	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[23]	Commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 366[23][24]	7 March 1944[23]	—	—
Allmendinger, KarlKarl Allmendinger+	Heer	Generalmajor[23]	Commander of the 5. Infanterie-Division[23][25]	17 July 1941[23]	Awarded 153rd Oak Leaves 13 December 1942[23]	—
Alm, KarlKarl Alm	Heer	Hauptmann[23]	Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 353[23][24]	12 August 1944[23]	—	—
Alpers, FriedrichFriedrich Alpers	Luftwaffe	Major[Note 11]	Commander of Fernaufklärungs-Gruppe 4[23][24]	14 October 1942[23]	—	—
Altacher, EduardEduard Altacher	Heer	Hauptmann[23]	Leader of the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143[23][24]	18 November 1944[23]	—	—
Altermann, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Altermann	Heer	Oberleutnant[23]	Chief of the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25[23][24]	4 October 1944[23]	—	—
Altmann, GustavGustav Altmann	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[23]	Leader of Sturmgruppe "Stahl" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm Abteilung "Koch"[23][24]	12 May 1940[23]	—	—
Altstadt, RudolfRudolf Altstadt	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[26]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 380[24][26]	14 May 1944[26]	—	—
Alvermann, GustavGustav Alvermann	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[26]	Chief of the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 47[24][26]	26 May 1940[26]	—	—
Amann, HerbertHerbert Amann	Heer	Oberleutnant[26]	Chief of the 1./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 905[24][26]	10 February 1944*[26]	Died of wounds 12 January 1944[24]	—
Amann, PaulPaul Amann[Note 12]	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[26]	Observer in the 3./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"[25][Note 12]	12 March 1945[26]	—	—
Ambrosius, Dr. LotharDr. Lothar Ambrosius	Heer	Oberst[26]	Leader of Divisions-Kampfgruppe 268[25][26]	24 January 1944[26]	—	—
Ameiser, AntonAnton Ameiser	Waffen-SS	SS-Sturmbannführer of the Reserves[26]	Leader of SS Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Regiment 52 "Ungarn"[24][26]	1 November 1944[26]	—	—
Amelung, GünterGünter Amelung	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[26]	Leader of the 5./Schnelle Abteilung 123[24][26]	15 January 1943[26]	—	—
Amelung, Heinz-GünterHeinz-Günter Amelung	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[26]	Staffelkapitän of the 5./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[24][26]	15 July 1942[26]	—	—
Amerkamp, SiegfriedSiegfried Amerkamp	Heer	Obergefreiter[26]	Machine gunner and deputy group leader in the Sturmkompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 459[24][26]	22 November 1943[Note 13]	—	—
Amling, FritzFritz Amling	Heer	Wachtmeister[26]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 202[26][27]	11 December 1942[26]	—	—
Ammann, FranzFranz Ammann	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[26]	Leader of 5./Grenadier-Regiment 256[26][28]	23 August 1943[26]	—	—
Ammer, HermannHermann Ammer	Heer	Oberleutnant of the Reserves[26]	Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 62[26][28]	12 October 1943[26]	—	—
Amsberg, Joachim vonJoachim von Amsberg?[Note 14]	Heer	Oberst	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 502[27]	9 May 1945	—	—
Ancans, RobertsRoberts Ancans	Waffen-SS	Waffen-Untersturmführer[29]	Leader of Waffen Feld Ersatz-Bataillon der SS Nr. 19[27][Note 15]	25 January 1945[29]	—	—
Anders, CarlCarl Anders	Heer	Oberst[29]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 484[27][29]	4 May 1944[29]	—	—
Anders, FriedrichFriedrich Anders	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[29]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2[27][29]	14 August 1943[29]	—	—
Anders, RichardRichard Anders	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[29]	Pilot in the 11.(H)/Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 12[27][Note 16]	27 July 1944[29]	—	—
Andersen, KurtKurt Andersen	Luftwaffe	Oberst[29]	Commander of Flak-Regiment 153[27][29]	23 December 1942[Note 17]	—	—
Anding, FriedrichFriedrich Anding	Heer	Leutnant[29]	Adjudant of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung "Großdeutschland"[27][29]	8 May 1945[29]	—	—
Andorfer, AntonAnton Andorfer	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[29]	Staffelführer of the 2./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[27][Note 18]	26 March 1944[29]	—	—
Andreae, WolfWolf Andreae	Heer	Oberst[29]	Commander of Werfer-Regiment 71[27][29]	24 June 1944[29]	—	—
Andree, HarryHarry Andree	Heer	Major[29]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 504[27][29]	4 May 1944[29]	—	—
Andres, ErnstErnst Andres	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[29]	Pilot in the Stabsstaffel/Kampfgeschwader 2[27][29]	20 April 1944[29]	—	—
Andres, HansHans Andres	Heer	Obergefreiter[29]	1st machine gunner in the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128[27][29]	4 May 1944*[29]	Died of wounds 25 March 1944[29]	—
Angel, OttoOtto Angel	Heer	Unteroffizier of the Reserves[Note 19]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 6[27][29]	15 March 1945[29]	—	—
Angelis, Maximilian deMaximilian de Angelis+	Heer	Generalleutnant[30]	Commander of the 76. Infanterie-Division[27][30]	9 February 1942[30]	Awarded 323rd Oak Leaves 12 November 1943[30]	—
Angelmaier, HeinzHeinz Angelmaier	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[30]	Leader of the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 279[27][30]	18 February 1945[30]	—	—
Angern, GüntherGünther Angern	Heer	Oberst[30]	Commander of the 11. Schützen-Brigade[27][30]	5 August 1940[30]	—	—
Angerstein, KarlKarl Angerstein	Luftwaffe	Oberst[30]	Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 1 "Hindenburg"[27][30]	2 November 1940[30]	—	—
Anhalt, GüntherGünther Anhalt	Waffen-SS	SS-Standartenführer and Oberst of the Schupo[30]	Commander of SS-Polizei-Regiment 2[27][30]	12 August 1944[30]	—	—
Anhalt, WilhelmWilhelm Anhalt	Kriegsmarine	Kapitänleutnant[30]	Chief of the 4. Räumbootflottille[27][30]	3 July 1944[30]	—	—
Anneken, UdoUdo Anneken	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[30]	Leader of the 1./Füsilier-Bataillon 83[27][30]	9 June 1944[30]	—	—
Ansons, ŽanisŽanis Ansons	Waffen-SS	Waffen-Hauptscharführer[30]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Waffen Grenadier-Regiment 44 der SS[31][Note 20]	16 January 1945[30]	—	—
Anton, WernerWerner Anton	Luftwaffe	Generalmajor[30]	Commander of the 6. Flak-Division (motorized)[30][31]	11 June 1944[Note 21]	—	—
Antrup, WilhelmWilhelm Antrup+	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[30]	Staffelkapitän of the 5./Kampfgeschwader 55[30][31]	13 November 1942[30]	Awarded 655th Oak Leaves 18 November 1944[30]	—
Apell, Wilhelm vonWilhelm von Apell	Heer	Generalmajor[30]	Commander of the 9. Schützen-Brigade[30][31]	14 May 1941[30]	—	—
Apelt, FedorFedor Apelt	Heer	Oberst[32]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 102[31][32]	8 February 1944[32]	—	—
Aperats, KarlisKarlis Aperats	Waffen-SS	Waffen-Obersturmbannführer[32]	Commander of Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment 32 (lettische Nr. 1) der SS[32][33]	21 September 1944[32]	—	—
Apitz, WillyWilly Apitz	Heer	Obergefreiter[32]	Radio/wireless operator in the 10./Artillerie-Regiment 81[31][32]	1 January 1944[32]	—	—
Apitzsch, Karl-ArthurKarl-Arthur Apitzsch	Heer	Oberleutnant[32]	Vorgeschobener Beobachter (artillery observer) in the 4./Artillerie-Regiment 3 (motorized)[31][32]	4 November 1943*[32]	Died in a Soviet POW camp in 1943[32]	—
Arendt, KurtKurt Arendt	Heer	Hauptmann[32]	Commander of Panzer-Abteilung 5[31][32]	24 February 1945*[32]	Killed in action 9 January 1945[31]	—
Arendt, VeltenVelten Arendt	Heer	Hauptmann[Note 22]	Leader of the I./Panzer-Regiment 36[31][32]	28 March 1945[32]	—	—
Arent, PeterPeter Arent![Note 23]	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel	Pioneer Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Stabskompanie/Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5[31]	4 December 1942*	Killed in action 3 December 1942[31]
Arentschildt, Alexander vonAlexander von Arentschildt	Heer	Hauptmann[32]	Chief of the 2./Panzer-Abteilung 67[31][32]	5 August 1940[32]	—	—
Armberger, JosefJosef Armberger	Waffen-SS	SS-Obersturmführer[32]	Chief of the 8./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[25][32]	31 October 1944*[32]	Killed in action 20 August 1944[32]	—
Arndt, FritzFritz Arndt+	Heer	Obergefreiter[32]	Machine gunner in the Stabskompanie/Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 32[31][32]	31 March 1943[32]	Awarded 678th Oak Leaves 9 December 1944[32]	—
Arndt, JohannesJohannes Arndt	Heer	Oberstleutnant[32]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 391[31][32]	23 February 1944[32]	—	—
Arndt, KarlKarl Arndt+	Heer	Oberst[32]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 511[25][32]	23 January 1942[32]	Awarded 719th Oak Leaves 1 February 1945[32]	—
Arnim, Hans-Jürgen vonHans-Jürgen von Arnim	Heer	Generalleutnant[32]	Commander of the 17. Panzer-Division[31][32]	4 September 1941[32]	—
Arning, KarlKarl Arning	Heer	Oberst[34]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 24[31][34]	11 October 1943[34]	—	—
Arnold, FriedrichFriedrich Arnold	Heer	Oberleutnant of the Reserves[34]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 237[31][34]	16 November 1943[34]	—	—
Arpke, HelmutHelmut Arpke	Luftwaffe	Feldwebel[34]	Member of Sturmgruppe "Stahl" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm Abteilung "Koch"[31][34]	13 May 1940[34]	—
Ascher, DietrichDietrich Ascher	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[34]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 259[31][34]	28 February 1945[34]	—	—
Ascherfeld, WilliWilli Ascherfeld	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[34]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 926[31][34]	14 February 1945[34]	—	—
Assmann, AloisAlois Assmann	Heer	Obergefreiter[34]	Richtschütze (gunner) in the 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 61[34][35]	18 September 1942[34]	—	—
Assmann, Dr. med.dent. WalterDr. med.dent. Walter Assmann	Heer	Generalmajor[34]	Commander of the 101. Jäger-Division[34][35]	10 February 1945[34]	—
Attenberger, Franz-XaverFranz-Xaver Attenberger	Heer	Stabsgefreiter[34]	Driver in the 3./Artillerie-Regiment 114[34][36]	21 January 1945[34]	—	—
Audenrieth, GeorgGeorg Audenrieth	Heer	Stabsgefreiter[34]	Group leader in the 3./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99[34][35]	10 February 1945[34]	—	—
Audorff, PaulPaul Audorff	Heer	Oberstleutnant[34]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 754[34][35]	13 May 1943[34]	—	—
Auer, KarlKarl Auer	Waffen-SS	SS-Hauptsturmführer[34]	Leader of the I./SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 8[34][35]	31 October 1944[34]	—	—
Auert, HeinzHeinz Auert	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[34]	Leader of the 2./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 116[34][35]	28 February 1945[34]	—	—
Augenstein, Hans-HeinzHans-Heinz Augenstein	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[37]	Staffelführer of the 7./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[35][37]	9 June 1944[37]	—	—
Augsberger, FranzFranz Augsberger	Waffen-SS	SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS[37]	Commander of the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (estnische Nr. 1)[35][37]	8 March 1945[37]	—	—
Aulock, Andreas vonAndreas von Aulock+	Heer	Oberst[37]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 226[35][37]	6 November 1943[37]	Awarded 551st Oak Leaves 16 August 1944[37]	—
Austen, HansHans Austen	Heer	Hauptmann[37]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 487[35][37]	5 December 1943[37]	—	—
Austermann, JohannesJohannes Austermann	Heer	Major[37]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 1146[35][37]	10 February 1945[37]	—	—
Ax, AdolfAdolf Ax?[Note 24]	Waffen-SS	SS-Oberführer	Leader of the 15. Waffen Grenadier-Division der SS (lettische Nr. 1)[35]	9 May 1945	—	—
Axthammer, ErichErich Axthammer	Luftwaffe	Feldwebel[37]	Pilot in the Stab/Schlachtgeschwader 10[35][37]	28 April 1945[37]	—	—
Axthelm, Walther vonWalther von Axthelm	Luftwaffe	Generalmajor[37]	Commanding general of the I. Flak-Korps[35][37]	4 September 1941[37]	—	—
Axtmann, FritzFritz Axtmann	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[37]	Company troop leader in the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 20 (motorized)[35][37]	25 August 1941[37]	—	—

Notes

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. According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän and technical officer of the Stab II./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor".^[15]
4. According to Scherzer as pilot and observer in the 1./Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 3.^[18]
5. The suffix W in brackets after the rank denotes a Feuerwerker (pyrotechnician).^[20]
6. According to Scherzer in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 52.^[18]
7. According to Scherzer last name is Albrecht-Lemke.^[23]
8. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 6./Zerstörergeschwader 1.^[23]
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.^[9]
10. According to Scherzer as leader of the Feldersatz-Bataillon 81.^[23]
11. According to Scherzer as Major of the Reserves.^[23]
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".^[26]
13. According to Scherzer on 24 November 1943.^[26]
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.^[9]
15. According to Scherzer as leader of the Divisionskampfschule (divisions combat school) of the 19. Waffen-Grenadier-Division of the SS (lettische Nr. 2).^[29]
16. According to Scherzer as pilot in the Nahaufklärungs-Staffel 11.(H)/12.^[29]
17. According to Scherzer on 21 December 1942.^[29]
18. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 8./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77.^[29]
19. According to Scherzer as Unteroffizier and not as Unteroffizier of the Reserves.^[29]
20. According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Waffen Grenadier-Regiment 44 der SS (lettische Nr. 6).^[30]
21. According to Scherzer on 9 June 1944.^[30]
22. According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.^[32]
23. According to Fellgiebel Peter Arent is delisted without reason.^[8]
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.^[9]

References

Citations

1. Williamson and Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3–4.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509.
4. Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
5. "Stimmen zum Buch "Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945" von Veit Scherzer" (PDF). Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag (in German). Retrieved 10 December 2012.
6. Scherzer 2007, cover.
7. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–118.
8. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 483.
9. Scherzer 2007, p. 117.
10. "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.
11. "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.
12. "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.
13. "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.
14. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
15. Scherzer 2007, p. 187.
16. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 113.
17. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113, 492.
18. Scherzer 2007, p. 188.
19. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 114.
20. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 29.
21. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 114, 482.
22. Scherzer 2007, p. 189.
23. Scherzer 2007, p. 190.
24. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 115.
25. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 115, 483.
26. Scherzer 2007, p. 191.
27. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 116.
28. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 116, 483.
29. Scherzer 2007, p. 192.
30. Scherzer 2007, p. 193.
31. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 117.
32. Scherzer 2007, p. 194.
33. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 117, 483.
34. Scherzer 2007, p. 195.
35. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 118.
36. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 118, 483.
37. Scherzer 2007, p. 196.

Bibliography

• 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.
• 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 Miltaer-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.

Further reading

• Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
• Fraschka, Günther (1994). Knights of the Reich. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military/Aviation History. ISBN 978-0-88740-580-8.

External links

• "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes". Lexikon der Wehrmacht (in German). Retrieved 2 January 2011.
• "Das Bundesarchiv". Military Archive - Freiburg im Breisgau. Retrieved 2 January 2011.