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

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 92 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "V".[7] Author and historian Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of five 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 (V)
Service   Number of presentations Posthumous presentations
Heer
68
5
Kriegsmarine
1
0
Luftwaffe
17
1
Waffen-SS
6
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 92 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "V", seven were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and seven presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 68 of the medals, one went to the Kriegsmarine, 17 to the Luftwaffe, and six 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 ? (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
Vaerst, Gustav vonGustav von Värst Heer Oberst[14] Commander of the 2. Schützen-Brigade[14][15] 30 July 1940[14]
—
—
Vahl, Herbert-ErnstHerbert-Ernst Vahl Waffen-SS SS-Oberführer[16] Leader of 2. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Das Reich"[15][16] 31 March 1943[16]
—
—
Valet, Hans-JoachimHans-Joachim Valet Luftwaffe Leutnant[16] Pilot in the 3./Transportgeschwader 2[15][16] 20 April 1944[16]
—
—
Valle, HermannHermann Valle Heer Oberleutnant of the Reserves[16] Chief of the 4./Schützen-Regiment 112[15][16] 31 December 1941[16]
—
—
Valtiner, HelmuthHelmuth Valtiner Heer Gefreiter[16] Reconnaissance troop leader in the 1./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143[15][16] 13 June 1941[16]
—
—
Vandieken, AntonAnton Vandieken Waffen-SS SS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves[16] Leader of a Kampfgruppe in SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 15[17][Note 3] 26 December 1944[16]
—
—
Vaulot, EugèneEugène Vaulot Waffen-SS Waffen-Unterscharführer[16] Group leader in the 33. SS-Freiwilligen-Division "Charlemagne" (franz. Nr. 1) in the combat area Groß Berlin (greater Berlin)[15][16] 29 April 1945[16]
—
—
Vechtel, BernhardBernhard Vechtel Luftwaffe Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[16] Pilot in the 10./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[15][16] 27 July 1944[16]
—
—
Veeser, PeterPeter Veeser Heer Oberfeldwebel[16] Shock troops leader in the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 125[15][16] 14 May 1941[16]
—
—
Vehse, FritzFritz Vehse Heer Gefreiter[16] Deputy group leader in the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 342[15][16] 4 October 1944[16]
—
—
Veiel, RudolfRudolf Veiel Heer Generalleutnant[16] Commander of the 2. Panzer-Division[15][16] 3 June 1940[16]
—
Veiss, VoldemārsVoldemārs Veiss Waffen-SS Waffen-Standartenführer[16] Commander of lett. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 48[18][Note 4] 9 February 1944[16]
—
—
Veith, AlfredAlfred Veith Luftwaffe Oberleutnant[19] Observer in the 5./Kampfgeschwader 55[19][20] 24 October 1944[19]
—
—
Veith, JohannJohann Veith Waffen-SS SS-Obersturmführer[19] Leader of the 3./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"[19][20] 14 February 1945*[19] Killed in action 7 January 1945[19]
—
Veldkamp, MartinMartin Veldkamp Heer Unteroffizier[19] Group leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 76 (motorized)[19][20] 28 November 1943[19]
—
—
Velke, PaulPaul Velke Heer Oberstleutnant[19] Commander of Pionier-Bataillon 45[19][20] 15 August 1940[19]
—
—
Velten, OttoOtto Velten Heer Feldwebel[19] Leader of Infanterie-Pionier-Zug/Grenadier-Regiment 436[19][20] 5 April 1945[19]
—
—
Velten, TheodorTheodor Velten Heer Leutnant[19] Leader of the 3./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 14[19][20] 4 October 1944[19]
—
—
Verhein, SiegfriedSiegfried Verhein Heer Generalmajor[19] Leader of Kampfgruppe 551. Volksgrenadier-Division[19][20] 28 February 1945[19]
—
—
Vernhold, JosefJosef Vernhold Heer Unteroffizier[19] In the 8./Infanterie-Regiment 60 (motorized)[19][20] 22 February 1942[19]
—
—
Versock, KurtKurt Versock Heer Oberst[19] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 31[19][20] 25 August 1942[19]
—
—
Vesenmayer, Dr.-agrar. HansDr.-agrar. Hans Vesenmayer Luftwaffe Oberleutnant[19] Chief of the 2./leichte Flak-Abteilung 77 (self-motorized)[20][Note 5] 18 November 1944[19]
—
—
Veth, KurtKurt Veth Luftwaffe Hauptmann[Note 6] Commander of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3[19][20] 30 September 1944[19]
—
—
Vetter, AlfredAlfred Vetter Kriegsmarine Leutnant[19] Group leader in the Marine-Kleinkampfmittel-Flottille 211[19][20] 12 August 1944[19] Along with Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[20]
—
Vetter, JohannJohann Vetter Heer Gefreiter[21] PaK gunner in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 147[20][Note 7] 15 June 1944*[21] Killed on active service 4 June 1944[21]
—
Vetter, MartinMartin Vetter Luftwaffe Major[21] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 26[20][21] 16 May 1940[21]
—
—
Vetter, MaxMax Vetter Heer Unteroffizier[21] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 380[20][21] 7 February 1944[21]
—
—
Vial, AlexanderAlexander Vial Heer Oberst[21] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 60 (motorized)[20][21] 18 December 1942[21]
—
—
Vicinius, HermannHermann Vicinius Heer Hauptmann of the Reserves[21] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 866[20][21] 16 September 1943[21]
—
—
Vickendey, WilliWilli Vickendey Heer Obergefreiter[21] Group leader of the 7./Skijäger-Regiment 1[20][21] 17 September 1944[21]
—
—
Viebig, HansHans Viebig Heer Oberst[21] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 258[20][21] 21 February 1944[21]
—
—
Viechter, KorbinianKorbinian Viechter Heer Leutnant of the Reserves[21] Leader of the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 42[20][21] 20 October 1944[21]
—
—
Viedebantt, HelmutHelmut Viedebantt Luftwaffe Oberleutnant[21] Staffelkapitän in the II./Zerstörergeschwader 1[20][21] 30 December 1942[21]
—
Viehmann, WilhelmWilhelm Viehmann Heer Oberstleutnant[21] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 453[21][22] 17 April 1945[21]
—
—
Viehweg, GottfriedGottfried Viehweg Heer Oberleutnant of the Reserves[21] Chief of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 456[21][22] 13 January 1944[21]
—
—
Vielhauer, ErnstErnst Vielhauer Heer Major[Note 8] Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 461[21][22] 21 May 1943[21]
—
—
Vielwerth, Wilhelm-AugustWilhelm-August Vielwerth Heer Oberfeldwebel[23] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Infanterie-Regiment 87 (motorized)[22][23] 18 October 1941[23]
—
—
Vierecker, FritzFritz Vierecker?[Note 9] Heer Hauptmann Leader of an alarm unit at the Oder sector[22] 28 April 1945
—
—
Vierow, ErwinErwin Vierow Heer General der Infanterie[23] Commanding general of the LV. Armeekorps[22][23] 15 November 1941[23]
—
Viertel, WilliWilli Viertel Luftwaffe Oberleutnant[23] Staffelkapitän of the 7./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[23][25] 5 February 1944*[23] Killed in action 31 August 1943[23]
—
Vietinghoff, Heinrich vonHeinrich von Vietinghoff+ called von Scheel Heer General der Panzertruppe[23] Commanding general of the XIII. Armeekorps[22][23] 24 June 1940[23] Awarded 456th Oak Leaves 16 April 1944[23]
Viezenz, GüntherGünther Viezenz Heer Oberleutnant[23] Chief of the 10./Grenadier-Regiment 7[22][23] 7 January 1944[23]
—
—
Villinger, HeinrichHeinrich Villinger Heer Leutnant[Note 10] Leader of the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99[22][23] 1 February 1945*[23] Killed in action 12 December 1944[23]
—
Vincon, OttoOtto Vincon+ Heer Hauptmann of the Reserves[23] Deputy leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 460[22][Note 11] 3 December 1943[23] Awarded 728th Oak Leaves 5 February 1945[23]
—
Vinke, HeinzHeinz Vinke+ Luftwaffe Feldwebel[23] Pilot in the 11./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[22][23] 19 September 1943[23] Awarded 465th Oak Leaves 25 April 1944[23] Smiling man wearing life jacket and a military decoration in shape of an Iron Cross at his neck.
Virkus, GerhardGerhard Virkus Heer Oberfeldwebel[23] Company troop leader in the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25[22][23] 7 September 1943[23]
—
—
Vischer, KurtKurt Vischer Heer Obergefreiter[23] Group leader in the 6./Jäger-Regiment 40 (L)[22][23] 18 December 1944[23]
—
—
Vitali, ViktorViktor Vitali?[Note 12] Luftwaffe Leutnant Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4[25] 30 April 1945
—
—
Vocke, HelmutHelmut Vocke Heer Hauptmann[23] Commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40[22][23] 26 March 1943[23]
—
—
Voegerl, GeorgGeorg Vögerl Luftwaffe Leutnant[23] In Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 26[22][23] 28 March 1945[23]
—
—
Voegtle, HelmutHelmut Vögtle?[Note 13] Heer Hauptmann of the Reserves Commander of the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99[22] 1 June 1945
—
—
Voelckers, PaulPaul Völckers Heer Generalleutnant[27] Commander of the 78. Infanterie-Division[25][27] 11 December 1942[27]
—
—
Voelk, HermannHermann Völk Heer Hauptmann[27] Commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 92[22][27] 26 March 1944[27]
—
—
Voelkel, HelmutHelmut Völkel Heer Feldwebel[27] Zugführer (platoon leader) of the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 91[22][27] 13 November 1942*[27] Died of wounds 26 October 1942[27]
—
Voelker, GerhardDr.-jur. Gerhard Völker Heer Oberleutnant of the Reserves[27] Leader of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25[27][28] 26 November 1944[27]
—
—
Vogel, EmilEmil Vogel+ Heer Generalleutnant[27] Commander of the 101. Jäger-Division[27][28] 7 August 1943[27] Awarded 475th Oak Leaves 14 May 1944[27]
—
Vogel, RobertRobert Vogel Heer Feldwebel[27] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 119 (motorized)[27][28] 26 August 1943[27]
—
—
Vogel, WalterWalter Vogel Heer Major[27] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 6[27][28] 29 August 1943[Note 14]
—
—
Vogelsang, FriedrichFriedrich Vogelsang Heer Oberfeldwebel[27] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 12./Infanerie-Regiment 78[27][28] 4 September 1942[27]
—
—
Vogelsang, Dr. med. dent. FriedrichDr. med. dent. Friedrich Vogelsang Heer Oberstleutnant[27] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 505[27][28] 14 December 1943[27]
—
—
Vogelsang, KarlKarl Vogelsang Heer Major of the Reserves[27] Commander of the II./Artillerie-Regiment 157[27][28] 14 January 1945[27]
—
—
Vogler, EmilEmil Vogler Heer Unteroffizier[27] Kradmeldestaffel (motorcycle halftrack messenger squadron) in the Stab I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 93[27][28] 24 January 1944[27]
—
—
Vogt, AdolfAdolf Vogt Heer Oberleutnant[29] Chief of the 12./Grenadier-Regiment 1054[28][29] 16 October 1944[29]
—
—
Vogt, EmilEmil Vogt Heer Oberschirrmeister[29] In the Stabskompanie/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 101[28][29] 26 March 1943[29]
—
—
Vogt, FritzFritz Vogt+ Waffen-SS SS-Obersturmführer[29] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung of the SS-Verfügungs-Division[28][29] 4 September 1940[29] Awarded 785th Oak Leaves 16 March 1945[29]
—
Vogt, Heinz-GerhardHeinz-Gerhard Vogt Luftwaffe Leutnant[29] Staffelführer of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[28][29] 25 November 1944[29]
—
—
Vogt, LudwigLudwig Vogt Heer Leutnant of the Reserves[29] Leader of the 4.(MG)/Grenadier-Regiment 915[28][Note 15] 17 February 1945[29]
—
—
Vohburger, HansHans Vohburger Heer Oberleutnant[29] Chief of the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 19 "List"[28][29] 14 December 1941[29]
—
—
Voigt, GerhardGerhard Voigt Heer Oberleutnant[29] Chief of the 2./Pionier-Bataillon 18[28][29] 25 June 1940[29]
—
—
Voigt, HansHans Voigt?[Note 16] Heer Generalmajor Commander of fortress Arnswalde (Pommern)[28] 28 April 1945
—
—
Voigt, Hans-GüntherHans-Günther Voigt Heer Oberleutnant[29] Chief of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 154[28][29] 29 February 1944*[29] Killed in action 12 January 1944[29]
—
Voigt, WalterWalter Voigt Heer Oberfeldwebel[29] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 31[28][Note 17] 16 October 1944[29]
—
—
Voigtsberger, HeinrichHeinrich Voigtsberger+ Heer Major[29] Commander of MG-Bataillon 2[28][29] 9 July 1941[29] Awarded 351st Oak Leaves 9 December 1943[29]
—
Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach, Friedrich-JobstFriedrich-Jobst Volckamer von Kirchensittenbach Heer Generalleutnant[29] Commander of the 8. Jäger-Division[28][29] 26 March 1944[29]
—
—
Volckens, HenneckeHennecke Volckens Heer Hauptmann[31] Chief of the 7./Panzer-Regiment 6[28][31] 17 December 1942*[31] Died of wounds 16 December 1942[31]
—
Volk, KurtKurt Volk Heer Unteroffizier[31] Gun leader in the 2./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 9[28][31] 10 May 1943[31]
—
—
Volke, HerbertHerbert Volke Heer Oberwachtmeister[31] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5[28][Note 18] 16 November 1944[31]
—
—
Volker, HeinrichHeinrich Volker Heer Hauptmann[31] Chief of the Stabskompanie/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73[31][32] 19 January 1943[31]
—
—
Volkmann, HeinzHeinz Volkmann Heer Leutnant of the Reserves[31] Battery officer in the 2./Artillerie-Regiment 240[31][32] 8 February 1943[31]
—
—
Vollbracht, FriedrichFriedrich Vollbracht Luftwaffe Oberstleutnant[31] Geschwaderkommodore of Zerstörergeschwader 2[31][32] 13 October 1940[31]
—
—
Vollmer, GötzpeterGötzpeter Vollmer Luftwaffe Oberleutnant[31] Staffelkapitän of the 1./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[31][32] 22 June 1941[Note 19]
—
—
Vollmer, GünterGünter Vollmer Heer Oberleutnant of the Reserves[31] Leader of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 411[31][32] 20 April 1943[31]
—
—
Vonhoff, HeinrichHeinrich Vonhoff Heer Oberleutnant of the Reserves[31] Chief of the 12./Infanterie-Regiment 408[31][32] 25 September 1942[31]
—
—
Voormann, KlausKlaus Voormann Heer Oberleutnant[31] Chief of the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 134[31][32] 10 September 1942[31]
—
—
Vorbrugg, OskarOskar Vorbrugg Luftwaffe Oberst[31] Commander of Flak-Regiment 21 (motorized)[32][Note 20] 3 June 1944[Note 20]
—
—
Vormann, Nikolaus vonNikolaus von Vormann Heer Generalleutnant[31] Commander of the 23. Panzer-Division[31][32] 22 August 1943[31]
—
—
Voshage, WernerWerner Voshage?[Note 21] Heer Major Commander of Heeres-Flak-Abteilung "Brandenburg"[32] 8 May 1945
—
—
Voss, ErnstErnst Voß+ Heer Oberstleutnant[33] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 585[32][33] 18 April 1943[33] Awarded 314th Oak Leaves 28 October 1943[33]
—
Voss, HerbertHerbert Voß Luftwaffe Major[33] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 51[32][33] 5 February 1944[33]
—
—
Voss, Johann-JoachimJohann-Joachim Voß Heer Oberleutnant of the Reserves[33] Leader of the 5./Schützen-Regiment 93[32][33] 27 May 1942[33]
—
—
Voss, ReimerReimer Voß Luftwaffe Oberleutnant[33] Staffelkapitän of the 4./Kampfgeschwader 26[32][33] 12 March 1945[33]
—
—
Voutta, HeinrichHeinrich Voutta Heer Hauptmann[33] Leader of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 9[32][33] 23 March 1945[33]
—
—

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 chief of the 6./SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 15 and leader of a Kampfgruppe.[16]
  4. ↑ According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 42 (lett. Nr. 4).[16]
  5. ↑ According to Scherzer as chief of the 2./leichte Flak-Abteilung 77 (Selbstfahrlafette).[19]
  6. ↑ According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.[19]
  7. ↑ According to Scherzer as gunner in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 147.[21]
  8. ↑ According to Scherzer as Major of the Reserves.[21]
  9. ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Fellgiebel assumes a presentation via the chief of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) Wilhelm Burgdorf in Berlin. This scenario is very unlikely since the commanding Oder corps, and most likely also Fritz Vierecker's emergency unit, had both been deployed south of Stettin under the command of the Army Group Vistula.[22] His nomination should therefore have been submitted via the command chain of the Army Group Vistula. Additionally the radio connection to the Führerbunker was down since 5:00 on 28 April 1945. Vierecker is not mentioned anywhere in the proceedings of the Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). His family holds a portrait picture of Vierecker wearing the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross at his neck evidently is not a photomontage. Noteworthy is the fact that Vierecker wears his peace time uniform of Pionier-Battailon 12 (12th pioneer battalion) on this picture.[24]
  10. ↑ According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[23]
  11. ↑ According to Scherzer as leader of I./Grenadier-Regiment 460.[23]
  12. ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by the commanding general of the I. Falschirmkorps, General der Fallschirmtruppe Richard Heidrich.[24]
  13. ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Fellgiebel presented on 1 June 1945 by the AOK 6, which was not authorized. Helmut Vögtle is member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients.[26]
  14. ↑ According to Scherzer on 27 August 1943.[27]
  15. ↑ According to Scherzer as leader of the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 915.[29]
  16. ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) stated: "...Generalmajor Hans Voigt has to be considered a bearer of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, even though the formalities are not 100 percent correct." because the presentation was an "authorized presentation by Himmler" as commander-in-chief of Army Group Vistula from the end of February or early March. Himmler was not authorized to make this presentation, a fact known to the AKCR, however the AKCR wanted to affiliate Voigt immediately. The AKCR therefore assigned the unsuspicious presentation date of 28 April 1945 and claimed its approval was made by the chief of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) Wilhelm Burgdorf in Berlin. His listing by Fellgiebel contains a footnote stating "It has to be assumed that a few presentations have been made by the chief of the HPA General Burgdorf in the timeframe 20 April to 30 April." Voigt was a member of the AKCR.[24][30]
  17. ↑ According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 31.[29]
  18. ↑ According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5.[31]
  19. ↑ According to Scherzer on 24 June 1941.[31]
  20. 1 2 According to Scherzer on 9 June 1944 as commander of Flak-Regiment 21.[31]
  21. ↑ No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Werner Voshage is also not mentioned in the activity reports of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). The only indication can be found in a letter of the AKCR to Friedrich Müller-Rochholz dated from 16 June 1980 which claims that Voshage may have been nominated in mid-March. According to the AKCR the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date is an assumption of the AKCR.[26]

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. 1 2 Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 429–433.
  8. ↑ Scherzer 2007, pp. 181–182.
  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. 1 2 3 Scherzer 2007, p. 755.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 429.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Scherzer 2007, p. 756.
  17. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 429, 507.
  18. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 430, 507.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Scherzer 2007, p. 757.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 430.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Scherzer 2007, p. 758.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 431.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Scherzer 2007, p. 759.
  24. 1 2 3 Scherzer 2007, p. 181.
  25. 1 2 3 Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 431, 507.
  26. 1 2 Scherzer 2007, p. 182.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Scherzer 2007, p. 760.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 432.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Scherzer 2007, p. 761.
  30. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 26.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Scherzer 2007, p. 762.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Fellgiebel 2000, p. 433.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Scherzer 2007, p. 763.

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. 
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