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

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 145 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "N".^[7] Fellgiebel himself delisted two and Scherzer has challenged the validity of two more of these listings.^[8] The recipients are 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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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).^[11] 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.^[12]

Recipients

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (N)

Service	Number of presentations	Posthumous presentations
Heer	103	7
Kriegsmarine	3	0
Luftwaffe	34	0
Waffen-SS	5	1

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.^[13] Of the 145 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "N", nine were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, four the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and one the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds; eight presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received one-hundred-three of the medals, including the award given to Hitlerjunge Günther Nowak. A further three presentations were given to the Kriegsmarine, thirty-four to the Luftwaffe, and five to the Waffen-SS.^[14] The sequential numbers greater than 143 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.^[15]

      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 and formal correctness of the listing.
      This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that historian Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.

Name	Service	Rank	Role and unit[Note 2]	Date of award	Notes	Image
Nacke, HeinzHeinz Nacke	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[16]	Staffelkapitän of the 6./Zerstörergeschwader 76[16][17]	2 November 1940[16]	—	—
Nacke, RudolfRudolf Nacke	Luftwaffe	Stabsfeldwebel[16]	Pilot in the III./Kampfgeschwader 76[16][17]	23 July 1941[16]	—	—
Naderwitz, KurtKurt Naderwitz	Heer	Oberleutnant[16]	Chief of the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 112[16][17]	1 January 1944[16]	—	—
Nadolski, WernerWerner Nadolski	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[18]	Chief of the 3./Flak-Regiment 61 (motorized)[17][18]	31 December 1943[18]	—	—
Nädele, WilhelmWilhelm Nädele	Heer	Major[18]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 460[17][18]	4 November 1943[18]	—	—
Näfe, WalterWalter Näfe	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[18]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 232[17][18]	4 October 1944[18]	—	—
Naehring, AlfredAlfred Nähring	Heer	Major[18]	Leader of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73[17][18]	4 October 1944[18]	—	—
Nagel, HelmutHelmut Nagel	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[18]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment-Gruppe 163[17][Note 3]	15 March 1944[18]	—	—
Nagel, WillyWilly Nagel	Heer	Oberst[18]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 131[17][18]	12 June 1944[18]	—	—
Nagengast, GeorgGeorg Nagengast	Heer	Major[18]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 119 (motorized)[17][18]	28 November 1943[18]	—	—
Najock, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Najock	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[18]	Pilot and observer in the 1.(H)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 5[17][18]	28 April 1945[18]	—	—
Namyslo, BrunoBruno Namyslo	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[18]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Jäger-Regiment 49[17][18]	4 May 1944[18]	—	—
Naseband, WernerWerner Naseband	Heer	Hauptmann[18]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 451[17][18]	28 January 1943[18]	—	—
Nass, WalterWalter Nass	Heer	Oberstleutnant[18]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 937[17][18]	30 September 1944[18]	—	—
Natzmer, Oldwig vonOldwig von Natzmer	Heer	Oberst im Generalstab[18]	Ia (operations officer) in the Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"[17][18]	4 September 1943[18]	—	—
Nau, HerbertHerbert Nau	Kriegsmarine	Kapitänleutnant[19]	Chief of the 10. Räumbootflottille[17][19]	11 July 1944[19]	—	—
Naue, HerbertHerbert Naue	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[19]	Leader of the 2./Infanterie-Regiment 178[17][19]	13 July 1940[19]	—	—
Naumann, Hans-JörgHans-Jörg Naumann	Heer	Hauptmann[19]	Commander of Feldersatz-Bataillon 172 of the 72 Infanterie-Division[20][Note 4]	12 November 1943*[19]	Killed in action 13 October 1943[17]	—
Naumann, HelmutHelmut Naumann	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[19]	Staffelkapitän of the 3./Sturzkampfgeschwader 3[17][19]	22 June 1941[Note 5]	—	—
Naumann, HorstHorst Naumann	Heer	Unteroffizier[19]	Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 184[17][19]	4 January 1943[19]	—	—
Naumann, JohannesJohannes Naumann	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[19]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 6[17][19]	9 November 1944[19]	—	—
Nebe, WernerWerner Nebe	Heer	Major[19]	Commander of the I./Schützen-Regiment 59[17][19]	14 December 1941[19]	—	—
Nebel, PeterPeter Nebel	Heer	Oberleutnant[19]	Chief of the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 177[19][21]	27 March 1942[19]	—	—
Nechansky, LeonhardLeonhard Nechansky	Heer	Oberleutnant of the Reserves[19]	Chief of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 131[19][21]	20 January 1943*[19]	Killed in action 4 December 1942[21]	—
Necker, Hanns-Horst vonHanns-Horst von Necker	Luftwaffe	Oberst[19]	Commander of Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "Hermann Göring"[19][21]	24 June 1944[19]	—	—
Nehring, WaltherWalther Nehring+	Heer	Generalmajor[19]	Commander of the 18. Panzer-Division[19][21]	24 July 1941[19]	Awarded 383rd Oak Leaves 8 February 1944 124th Swords 22 January 1945[19]
Neibecker, FranzFranz Neibecker	Heer	Oberst[19]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 227[19][22]	16 February 1942[19]	—	—
Neidhöfer, HansHans Neidhöfer	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[23]	Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 712[21][23]	26 December 1944[23]	—	—
Neigl, LudwigLudwig Neigl	Heer	Feldwebel[23]	Deputy Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Stabskompanie/schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 519[21][23]	27 July 1944[23]	—	—
Neindorff, Egon vonEgon von Neindorff+	Heer	Generalmajor[23]	Commander of the garrison at Tarnopol[21][23]	4 April 1944[23]	Awarded 457th Oak Leaves 17 April 1944[23]	—
Neise, Dr. WalterDr. Walter Neise	Heer	Oberst of the Reserves[23]	Commander of Armeewaffenschule of Panzer AOK 4[21][23]	5 February 1945[23]	—	—
Neitzel, KarlKarl Neitzel	Kriegsmarine	Korvettenkapitän[23]	Commander of U-510[21][23]	27 March 1943[23]	—	—
Neitzel, WalterWalter Neitzel+	Heer	Hauptmann[23]	Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 409[21][23]	2 June 1943[23]	Awarded 576th Oak Leaves 5 September 1944[23]	—
Nelke, HerbertHerbert Nelke	Luftwaffe	Unteroffizier[23]	Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 1./Flak-Regiment 23 (motorized)[21][Note 6]	4 July 1940[23]	—
Nelles, HeinrichHeinrich Nelles	Heer	Feldwebel[23]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 698[21][23]	10 September 1944[23]	—	—
Nemecek, LudwigLudwig Nemecek	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[23]	Observer in the 3.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 122[21][Note 7]	19 September 1942[23]	—	—
Nemitz, WilliWilli Nemitz	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[23]	Pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 52[21][Note 8]	24 March 1943[23]	—	—
Nemnich, GerhartGerhart Nemnich	Heer	Hauptmann[23]	Commander of Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 19[21][23]	15 July 1943[23]	—	—
Nentwig, GüntherGünther Nentwig	Heer	Major[24]	Commander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 295[21][24]	21 January 1942[24]	—	—
Nestle, KarlKarl Nestle	Heer	Feldwebel[24]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 35 (motorized)[21][24]	17 August 1943*[24]	Killed in action 30 July 1943[21]	—
Neuber, HelmutHelmut Neuber	Heer	Stabsfeldwebel[24]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 176[21][24]	25 January 1945[24]	—	—
Neubert, FrankFrank Neubert	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[24]	Staffelkapitän of the 2./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[21][24]	22 June 1941[Note 9]	—	—
Neubert, KarlKarl Neubert	Heer	Major[24]	Commander of Ski-Jäger-Bataillon 1[21][Note 10]	4 October 1944[24]	—	—
Neubert, RudolfRudolf Neubert+	Heer	Hauptmann[24]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 32[24][25]	29 February 1944[24]	Awarded 817th Oak Leaves 5 April 1945[24]	—
Neubrandt, RudolfRudolf Neubrandt	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[24]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 37[24][25]	29 September 1940[24]	—	—
Neuer, WaltherWalther Neuer	Heer	Major[24]	Leader of a Kampfgruppe in Ploiești (Romania)[26][Note 11]	5 November 1944[24]	—	—
Neuerburg, HermannHermann Neuerburg	Heer	Oberleutnant of the Reserves[24]	Leader of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 121[24][25]	8 February 1944[24]	—	—
Neufeld, ErnstErnst Neufeld	Heer	Oberfeldwebel[24]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Kradschützen-Bataillon 40[25][Note 12]	3 January 1943[24]	—	—
Neufellner, KarlKarl Neufellner	Heer	Oberst[24]	Commander of Artillerie-Regiment 86[24][25]	6 April 1944[24]	—	—
Neuffer, GeorgGeorg Neuffer	Luftwaffe	Generalmajor[24]	Commander of the 20. Flak-Division (motorized)[25][Note 13]	1 August 1943[24]	—	—
Neufville, Georg vonGeorg von Neufville	Heer	Oberst zur Verwendung (for disposition)[27]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 195[25][27]	22 September 1941[27]	—	—
Neugebauer, [Dr.]Walter[Dr.]Walter Neugebauer[Note 14]	Heer	Oberleutnant[27]	Leader of the 12./Artillerie-Regiment 12[25][27]	16 October 1944[27]	—	—
Neuhierl, JosefJosef Neuhierl	Heer	Unteroffizier[27]	Group leader of the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 3[25][27]	17 March 1945[27]	—	—
Neuhoff, HermannHermann Neuhoff	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[27]	Staffelführer in the III./Jagdgeschwader 53[25][Note 15]	16 June 1942[Note 15]	—	—
Neuhoff, KarlKarl Neuhoff	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[27]	Shock troops leader in the 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3[25][27]	9 June 1944[27]	—	—
Neuling, FerdinandFerdinand Neuling	Heer	Generalleutnant[27]	Commander of the 239. Infanterie-Division[25][27]	28 February 1942[27]	—	—
Neumann, EggertEggert Neumann	Waffen-SS	SS-Sturmbannführer of the Reserves[27]	Commander of SS-Gebirgs-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7 "Prinz Eugen"[25][Note 16]	3 November 1944[27]	—	—
Neumann, ErnstErnst Neumann	Heer	Hauptmann[Note 17]	Leader of Festungs-Infanterie-Bataillon XII./999[25][27]	20 April 1945[27]	—	—
Neumann, Friedrich-WilhelmFriedrich-Wilhelm Neumann	Heer	Generalleutnant[27]	Commander of the 712. Infanterie-Division[25][27]	16 October 1944[27]	—	—
Neumann, Dr. med. HeinrichDr. med. Heinrich Neumann[Note 18]	Luftwaffe	Oberstabsarzt[27]	Troop doctor of the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment[25][Note 19]	21 August 1941[27]	—	—
Neumann, HelmutHelmut Neumann	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[27]	Staffelführer of the 14./Jagdgeschwader 5[25][27]	12 March 1945[27]	—	—
Neumann, JoachimJoachim Neumann	Heer	Major[27]	Commander of the I./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 103[25][27]	23 February 1944[27]	—	—
Neumann, JohannesJohannes Neumann	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[28]	Chief of the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 852[25][28]	17 September 1944[28]	—	—
Neumann, JürgenJürgen Neumann	Heer	Oberleutnant[28]	Chief of the 1./Infanterie-Regiment 5 (motorized)[25][Note 20]	1 November 1941[28]	—	—
Neumann, KlausKlaus Neumann	Luftwaffe	Feldwebel[28]	Pilot in the 16./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[25][Note 21]	9 December 1944[Note 21]	—	—
Neumann, Otto-KarlOtto-Karl Neumann	Heer	Leutnant[Note 22]	Leader of the 6./Artillerie-Regiment 126[25][28]	5 April 1945*[28]	Killed in action 22 February 1945[25]	—
Neumann, RudolfRudolf Neumann	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[28]	Staffelkapitän of the 2./Schlachtgeschwader 1[28][29]	17 April 1945[28]	—	—
Neumann, WernerWerner Neumann	Heer	Oberst[28]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 121[28][29]	5 September 1944[28]	—	—
Neumann-Silkow, WalterWalter Neumann-Silkow	Heer	Oberst[28]	Commander of the 8. Schützen-Brigade[28][29]	5 August 1940[28]	—	—
Neumayer, HansHans Neumayer	Heer	Oberleutnant of the Reserves[28]	Chief of the 12.(MG)/Grenadier-Regiment 282[29][Note 23]	20 January 1944[28]	—	—
Neumayr, LorenzLorenz Neumayr	Heer	Gefreiter[28]	Machine gunner in the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 755[28][29]	14 January 1945[28]	—	—
Neumeier, HansHans Neumeier	Heer	Feldwebel[28]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64[28][29]	6 April 1944[28]	—	—
Neumeister, KarlKarl Neumeister	Heer	Oberst[28]	Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1[28][29]	4 June 1944[28]	—	—
Neumeyer, WernerWerner Neumeyer	Heer	Leutnant[28]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26[28][29]	23 October 1944[28]	—	—
Neumüller, ErnstErnst Neumüller	Heer	Oberleutnant[30]	Leader of the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Divisions-Kampfgruppe 216[29][Note 24]	5 October 1944[30]	—	—
Neumüller, FritzFritz Neumüller	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[30]	Pilot and adjutand in the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[29][30]	4 May 1944[30]	—	—
Neunhoeffer, LotharLothar Neunhoeffer	Heer	Major[30]	Commander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 292[29][30]	3 January 1944[30]	—	—
Nibbe, KurtKurt Nibbe	Heer	Oberfähnrich[30]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Pionier-Bataillon 20[29][30]	17 March 1945[30]	—	—
Nickel, HeinrichHeinrich Nickel+	Heer	Oberstleutnant[30]	Commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 26[29][30]	16 June 1940[30]	Awarded 543rd Oak Leaves 8 August 1944[30]	—
Nicolussi-Leck, KarlKarl Nicolussi-Leck	Waffen-SS	SS-Obersturmführer[30]	Chief of the 8./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"[29][Note 25]	9 April 1944[30]	—	—
Niederländer, HorstHorst Niederländer+	Heer	Hauptmann[30]	Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 686[29][30]	10 February 1943[30]	Awarded 491st Oak Leaves 9 June 1944[30]	—
Niedermeier, HeinrichHeinrich Niedermeier	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[30]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Gebirgsjäger-Bataillon 94[29][30]	11 December 1943*[30]	Died of wounds 7 November 1943[29]	—
Niedzwetzki, HansHans Niedzwetzki	Heer	Feldwebel[30]	Zugführer (platoon leader) of the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 23[29][30]	22 August 1943[30]	—	—
Niedzwitzki, RomanRoman Niedzwitzki	Heer	Unteroffizier of the Reserves[Note 26]	Vorgeschobener Beobachter (forward observer) in the 12./Artillerie-Regiment 290[29][30]	28 April 1945[30]	—	—
Niegsch, KarlKarl Niegsch	Heer	Major of the Reserves[30]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 223[29][Note 27]	30 April 1945[30]	—	—
Niehoff, HermannHermann Niehoff+	Heer	Generalleutnant[31]	Commander of the 371. Infanterie-Division[29][31]	15 June 1944[31]	Awarded 764th Oak Leaves 5 March 1945[31] (147th) Swords 26 April 1945?[Note 28]	—
Niehuus, [Dr.] Heinz[Dr.] Heinz Niehuus[Note 14]	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[31]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 77[29][31]	17 April 1945[31]	—	—
Nielsen, AlbertAlbert Nielsen	Heer	Oberwachtmeister[31]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 58[29][Note 29]	17 March 1945[31]	—	—
Niemack, HorstHorst Niemack+	Heer	Rittmeister[31]	Commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5[29][31]	13 July 1940[31]	Awarded 30th Oak Leaves 10 August 1941 69th Swords 4 June 1944[31]	—
Niemann, AugustAugust Niemann	Heer	Feldwebel[31]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 112[31][32]	4 May 1944[31]	—	—
Niemann, EduardEduard Niemann	Heer	Oberst of the Reserves[31]	Commander of Artillerie-Regiment 212[31][32]	29 February 1944[31]	—	—
Niemann, HeinrichHeinrich Niemann	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[31]	Leader of the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 196[31][32]	30 April 1943[31]	—	—
Niemann, WilliWilli Niemann	Heer	Unteroffizier[31]	Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 9./Artillerie-Regiment 31[31][32]	26 December 1944[31]	—	—
Niemeck, GerhardGerhard Niemeck	Heer	Feldwebel[31]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 8./Panzer-Regiment 31[31][32]	14 March 1943[31]	—	—
Niemeier, ErnstErnst Niemeier	Heer	Feldwebel[31]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the II./Grenadier-Regiment 431[31][32]	18 February 1945[31]	—	—
Niemietz, JosefJosef Niemietz	Heer	Hauptfeldwebel[31]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Stab 3.(Fla)/Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 332[31][32]	24 July 1943[31]	—
Nießen, PeterPeter Nießen	Heer	Leutnant[31]	Aide-de-camp in Grenadier-Regiment 979[31][32]	9 January 1945[31]	—	—
Nietert, GeorgGeorg Nietert	Heer	Unteroffizier[33]	Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 994[32][33]	10 February 1945[33]	—	—
Nietsche, HeinrichHeinrich Nietsche	Heer	Hauptmann[33]	Commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 105[32][33]	13 June 1941[33]	—	—
Niggemeyer, WilhelmWilhelm Niggemeyer+	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[33]	Leader of the 2./Pionier-Bataillon 26[32][33]	18 September 1942[33]	Awarded 241st Oak Leaves 17 May 1943[33]	—
Nilshon, HansHans Nilshon	Heer	Major[33]	Commander of the III./Artillerie-Regiment 26[32][33]	28 March 1945[33]	—	—
Nippa, ErhardErhard Nippa	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[33]	Pilot in the 15./Schnellkampfgeschwader 10[32][33]	26 March 1944[33]	—	—
Nippes, KurtKurt Nippes	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[33]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 276[32][33]	29 January 1944*[33]	Killed in action 10 December 1943[32]	—
Nitsch, AlfredAlfred Nitsch	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[33]	Pilot in the 2.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 123[32][Note 30]	21 June 1943[33]	—	—
Nitsch, Hans-JoachimHans-Joachim Nitsch	Heer	Leutnant[33]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Panzer-Abteilung 118[32][Note 31]	23 March 1945[33]	—	—
Nitsch, HermannHermann Nitsch	Heer	Obergefreiter[33]	Vorgeschobener Beobachter (forward observer) and radio/wireless operator in the 6./Artillerie-Regiment 11[32][33]	17 April 1945[33]	—	—
Nitsch, MartinMartin Nitsch	Heer	Oberleutnant[33]	Leader of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 417[32][33]	30 September 1944*[33]	Killed in action 19 September 1944[32]	—
Nittler, RobertRobert Nittler	Heer	Leutnant[Note 32]	Leader of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 212[32][33]	20 January 1943[33]	—	—
Noack, KarlKarl Noack	Heer	Oberleutnant[34]	Chief of the 1.(Reiter)/Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 168[32][Note 33]	24 April 1943[34]	—	—
Noak, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Noak+	Heer	Leutnant[34]	Zugführer (platoon leader) of the 2./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 46[32][34]	5 August 1940[34]	Awarded 63rd Oak Leaves 16 January 1942[34]	—
Nobis, ErnstErnst Nobis+	Heer	Hauptmann[34]	Commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 204[32][34]	21 January 1942[34]	Awarded 151st Oak Leaves 5 December 1942[34]	—
Nocken, KlausKlaus Nocken	Luftwaffe	Major[34]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Kampfgeschwader 26[32][34]	29 October 1943[34]	—	—
Nöbel, KurtKurt Nöbel	Heer	Obergefreiter[34]	Group leader in the 1.(Reiter)/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7[32][Note 34]	30 November 1943[34]	—	—
Nökel, Friedrich-KarlFriedrich-Karl Nökel	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[34]	Leader of the II./Panzer-Regiment 31[34][35]	17 September 1944[34]	—	—
Noeldechen, FerdinandFerdinand Noeldechen	Heer	Generalmajor[34]	Commander of the 96. Infanterie-Division[34][35]	8 June 1943[34]	—	—
Noëll, CorneliusCornelius Noëll	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[34]	Pilot in the 4.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe des OB der Luftwaffe[34][35]	22 October 1941[34]	—	—
Nölter, HerbertHerbert Nölter	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[34]	Staffelkapitän of the 2./Kampfgeschwader 3 "Lützow"[34][35]	5 September 1944[34]	—	—
Nöske, KlausKlaus Nöske	Luftwaffe	Hauptmann[34]	Staffelkapitän of the 1./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"[34][35]	16 May 1941[34]	—	—
Nohr, KarlKarl Nohr?[Note 35]	Heer	Unteroffizier	Group leader in the Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 453[35]	9 May 1945	—	—
Noller, WilhelmWilhelm Noller	Luftwaffe	Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel[34]	Pilot in the 2./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[35][Note 36]	6 April 1944[34]	—	—
Nolte, HarroHarro Nolte	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[36]	Leader of the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 507[35][36]	4 October 1944[36]	—	—
Nolte, KurtKurt Nolte	Heer	Hauptmann of the Reserves[36]	Commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 213[35][36]	6 September 1942[36]	—	—
Nolte, WalterWalter Nolte	Heer	Hauptmann[36]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment "Jütland"[35][Note 37]	5 April 1945[36]	—	—
Nordmann, Karl-GottfriedKarl-Gottfried Nordmann+	Luftwaffe	Oberleutnant[36]	Staffelkapitän of the 12./Jagdgeschwader 51[35][36]	1 August 1941[36]	Awarded 35th Oak Leaves 16 September 1941[36]
Nordmann, TheodorTheodor Nordmann+	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[36]	Pilot in the 8./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[35][36]	17 September 1941[36]	Awarded 214th Oak Leaves 17 March 1943 98th Swords 17 September 1944[Note 38]	—
Nordt, OttoOtto Nordt	Kriegsmarine	Kapitänleutnant[36]	Chief of the 14. Räumbootflottille[35][36]	6 September 1944[36]	—	—
Normann, HelmutHelmut Normann	Heer	Oberleutnant of the Reserves[36]	Leader of the 1./Jäger-Regiment 83[35][36]	23 February 1944[36]	—	—
Norz, JakobJakob Norz	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel[36]	Pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5[35][Note 39]	26 March 1944[36]	—	—
Nossek, RainerRainer Nossek	Luftwaffe	Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel[36]	Pilot in the 10.(Panzer)/Schlachtgeschwader 3[35][36]	29 October 1944[36]	—	—
Nostitz-Wallwitz, Gustav-Adolf vonGustav-Adolf von Nostitz-Wallwitz	Heer	Oberst[36]	Commander of Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 89[35][36]	12 June 1944[36]	—	—
Nottbeck, Jürgen vonJürgen von Nottbeck	Heer	Hauptmann[36]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 94[35][36]	21 January 1945[36]	—	—
Notz, Friedrich-Wilhelm vonFriedrich-Wilhelm von Notz	Heer	Oberstleutnant[37]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1233[35][37]	23 March 1945[37]	—	—
Nowak, AlfredAlfred Nowak	Waffen-SS	SS-Oberscharführer of the Reserves[37]	Zugführer (platoon leader) of the 3./SS-Reiter-Regiment 1 "Florian Geyer"[35][Note 40]	1 November 1943*[37]	Killed in action 13 September 1943[35]	—
Nowak, GüntherGünther Nowak![Note 41]	Hitlerjugend	Hitlerjunge	Hitlerjunge in Hindenburg (Upper Silesia)	14 February 1945	—	—
Nowak, PaulPaul Nowak	Heer	Leutnant of the Reserves[37]	Leader of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 273[37][39]	10 September 1944[37]	—	—
Nowotnik, HeinzHeinz Nowotnik	Waffen-SS	SS-Untersturmführer of the Reserves[37]	Leader of the 14.(MG)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[39][Note 42]	14 May 1944[37]	—	—
Nowotnik, KarlKarl Nowotnik	Heer	Sanitätsfeldwebel[37]	In the Stab/Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 212[37][39]	15 March 1944[37]	—	—
Nowotny, WalterWalter Nowotny+	Luftwaffe	Leutnant[37]	Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 54[40][Note 43]	4 September 1942[37]	Awarded 293rd Oak Leaves 4 September 1943 37th Swords 22 September 1943 8th Diamonds 19 October 1943[37]	—
Nowowieski, GregorGregor Nowowieski	Heer	Hauptmann[37]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 695[37][39]	28 December 1944[37]	—	—
Nuckelt, AlfredAlfred Nuckelt	Heer	Major[37]	Commander in the Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 218[37][39]	10 September 1944[37]	—	—
Nürnberger, ErichErich Nürnberger	Heer	Feldwebel[37]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 12./Infanterie-Regiment 410[37][39]	4 December 1942[37]	—	—
Nugent, CarlosCarlos Nugent	Luftwaffe	Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[37]	Radio operator in the I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[37][39]	17 April 1945[37]	—	—
Nugiseks, HaraldHarald Nugiseks	Waffen-SS	Waffen-Unterscharführer[Note 44]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 46 (estn. Nr. 2)[37][40]	9 April 1944[37]	—	—
Nuhn, HeinrichHeinrich Nuhn?[Note 45]	Heer	Hauptmann	Commander of Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon in the Führer-Grenadier-Division[39]	9 April 1945	—	—
Nuhr, HansHans Nuhr?[Note 46]	Luftwaffe	Oberfeldwebel	Pilot in Schnellkampfgeschwader 210[39]	22 March 1944	—	—

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 Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment-Gruppe 163 in Divisions-Gruppe 52.^[18]
4. According to Scherzer as commander of Feldersatz-Bataillon 172.^[19]
5. According to Scherzer on 24 June 1941.^[19]
6. According to Scherzer as Geschützführer (gun layer) in the 4./Flak-Regiment 23.^[23]
7. According to Scherzer as observer in the Aufklärungsstaffel 3.(F)/122.^[23]
8. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52.^[23]
9. According to Scherzer on 24 June 1941.^[24]
10. According to Scherzer as commander of schweres Ski-Bataillon 1.^[24]
11. According to Scherzer as leader of a Kampfgruppe from emergency units composed of all Wehrmacht branches in Ploiești/Romania.^[24]
12. According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Kradschützen-Abteilung 4.^[24]
13. According to Scherzer as commander of the 20. Flak-Division.^[24]
14. 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.
15. According to Scher on 19 June 1942 as Staffelführer of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 53.^[27]
16. According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Gebirgs-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7.^[27]
17. According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.^[27]
18. In German a Doctor of Medicine is abbreviated as Dr. med. (Doctor medicinae).
19. According to Scherzer as regimental doctor of Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 at the same time leader of the I./ Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1.^[27]
20. According to Scherzer as chief of the 1./Schüzen-Regiment 5.^[28]
21. According to Scherzer on 25 November 1944 as pilot in the 16.(Sturm)/Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet".^[28]
22. According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.^[28]
23. According to Scherzer as chief of the 12./Grenadier-Regiment 282.^[28]
24. According to Scherzer as leader of the 14./Divisions-Gruppe 216.^[30]
25. According to Scherzer as chief of the 8./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5.^[30]
26. According to Scherzer as Unteroffizier.^[30]
27. According to Scherzer as commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 223 (fortress La Rochelle).^[30]
28. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) only assumes that the Swords were awarded. According to Hermann Niehoff's testimony he was nominated by Gauleiter Karl Hanke. The date and sequential number "147" were assigned by the AKCR. Niehoff was member of the AKCR.^[8]
29. According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 58.^[31]
30. According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 2.(F)/123.^[33]
31. According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzer-Abteilung 118.^[33]
32. According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.^[33]
33. According to Scherzer as chief of the Reiter-Schwadron 168.^[34]
34. According to Scherzer as group leader in the 1./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7.^[34]
35. Karl Nohr's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 3 April 1945. The HPA created a nomination request with the number 5018 and forwarded this request on 7 April. This was also noted on the file card. No further remarks or comments have been noted. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the presentation was made in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.^[8]
36. According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann".^[34]
37. According to Scherzer as commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment "Jütland" (32. Infanterie-Division).^[36]
38. According to Scherzer the 214th Oak Leaves were awarded on 16 March 1943.^[36]
39. According to Scherzer as pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 5.^[36]
40. According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) of the 3./SS-Reiter-Regiment 1.^[37]
41. Günther Nowak was a non existing person who became a de jure recipient of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.^[38]
42. According to Scherzer as leader of the 14./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler".^[37]
43. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54.^[37]
44. According to Scherzer as Waffen-Untersturmführer.^[37]
45. Heinrich Nuhn's nomination by the troop was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 28 April 1945 as teleprinter message. The HPA did not create a nomination request nor is Nuhn listed in the book of "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses). No further remarks or comments have been noted. The registry of rejected or deferred nominations contains his file card. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the presentation was made in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.^[8]
46. The addendum of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German), contains a note indicating that that Hans Nuhr needs to be struck from the list.^[41]

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. 321–327.
8. Scherzer 2007, p. 161.
9. "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.
10. "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.
11. "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.
12. "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.
13. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
14. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 327–331.
15. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 49–51.
16. Scherzer 2007, p. 561.
17. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 321.
18. Scherzer 2007, p. 562.
19. Scherzer 2007, p. 563.
20. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 321, 498.
21. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 322.
22. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 322, 498.
23. Scherzer 2007, p. 564.
24. Scherzer 2007, p. 565.
25. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 323.
26. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 323, 499
27. Scherzer 2007, p. 566.
28. Scherzer 2007, p. 567.
29. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 324.
30. Scherzer 2007, p. 568.
31. Scherzer 2007, p. 569.
32. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 325.
33. Scherzer 2007, p. 570.
34. Scherzer 2007, p. 571.
35. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 326.
36. Scherzer 2007, p. 572.
37. Scherzer 2007, p. 573.
38. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 511.
39. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 327.
40. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 327, 499.
41. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 499.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). 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.