The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () and its variants were the highest military award in Nazi Germany. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. During World War II, 23 German sailors and officers of the Schnellboot (Fast Attack Craft) service, which was a part of the Kriegsmarine, received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Of these, 8 officers received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).
Background The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments. The first enactment, of 1 September 1939 instituted the Iron Cross (), the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (). Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes. 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 (), was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment of 3 June 1940. In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment of 28 September 1941 introduced the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords () and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (). At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (), based on the enactment of 29 December 1944, became the final variant of the Knight's Cross authorized.
Recipients The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht kept separate Knight's Cross lists, one for each of the three military branches, Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air force) and for the Waffen-SS. Within each of these lists a unique sequential number was assigned to each recipient. The same numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades of the Knight's Cross, one list per grade.
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves was based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940. The last officially announced number for the Oak Leaves was 843.
Number Name Rank Unit Date of award Notes14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of Schnellboot S-102 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-56 in the 3. Schnellbootflottille15-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 3. Schnellbootflottille15-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 1. Schnellbootsflottille15-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 5. Schnellbootflottille15-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 2. Schnellbootflottille17-MKapitän zur SeeLeader of the Schnellboote14-MKapitänleutnantChief of the 9. Schnellbootflottille
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross).
Number Name Rank Unit Date of award Notes113-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander Schnellboot S-31 in the 2. SchnellbootflottilleKilled in action 22 March 1945214-MKapitänleutnantChief of the 1. Schnellbootflottille3 +15-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 2. SchnellbootsflottilleAwarded 499th Oak Leaves 13 June 1944413-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-26 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille5 +13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-21 in the 1. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 500th Oak Leaves 14 June 19446 +13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-102 in the 1. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 143rd Oak Leaves 13 November 19427 +14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of Schnellboot S-28 in the 1. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 361st Oak Leaves 1 January 19448 +13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-30 in the 2. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 362nd Oak Leaves 1 January 19449 +13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-101 in the 1. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 326th Oak Leaves 13 November 194310 +13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-60 in the 3. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 226th Oak Leaves 14 April 19431114-MKapitänleutnantChief of the 4. SchnellbootflottilleKilled in action 12 December 194412 +14-MKapitänleutnantChief of the 3. SchnellbootflottilleAwarded 249th Oak Leaves 27 May 19431314-MKapitänleutnantCommander of Schnellboot S-27 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille14The brackets around the doctor title [Dr.] denotes that the academic title was attained after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded.13-MOberleutnant zur See of the ReservesCommander of Schnellboot S-55 in the 3. Schnellbootflottille1514-MKapitänleutnantCommander of Schnellboot S-52 in the 5. Schnellbootflottille1613-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-87 in the 4. Schnellbootflottille1713-MOberleutnant zur SeeGroup leader and commander of Schnellboot S-28 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille1814-MKapitänleutnantCommander of Schnellboot S-59 in the 3. Schnellbootflottille1913-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-54 in the 10. SchnellbootflottilleKilled in action 22 December 19442014-MKapitänleutnantChief of the 5. SchnellbootflottilleKilled in action 14 June 19442113-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander of Schnellboot S-60 in the 3. Schnellbootflottille2215-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 8. Schnellbootflottille2315-MKorvettenkapitänChief of the 6. Schnellbootflottille
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