From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of
the Iron Cross
The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz monly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichs-
des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest gesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.[4] In 1941, two higher
award in the military of the Third Reich during World grades of the Knight’s Cross were instituted. The enact-
War II. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded ment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 in-
for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a troduced the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak
senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in Leaves and Swords and the Knight’s Cross of the Iron
battle to a low ranking soldier for a single act of extreme Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.[5] At the
gallantry. In total 43 individuals in the military of allies end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron
of the Third Reich were awarded the Knight’s Cross of Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds
the Iron Cross. Eight men were also honoured with the (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit goldenem Eichenlaub,
next higher grade the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross Schwertern und Brillanten), based on the enactment Reichs-
(German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) gesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944, concluded the
and one senior naval officer, Fleet Admiral Isoroku Ya- variants of the Knight’s Cross.[6]
mamoto, with the Swords to the Knight’s Cross with Oak
Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichen-
laub und Schwertern). Among the recipients were eighteen
Recipients
Romanian, nine Italian, eight Hungarian, two Slovakian, The recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross are
two Japanese, two Spanish, two Finnish, and one Belgi- initially ordered alphabetically whereas the recipients of
an.[Notes 1] the higher grades are initially ordered chronologically.
The rank listed is the recipient’s rank at the time the
Knight’s Cross or the Oak Leaves were awarded.
Background This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht kept separate Knight’s Knight’s Cross was awarded posthumously.
Cross lists, one for each of the military branches, Heer
(Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air force) and for Recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the
the Waffen-SS. Within each of these lists a unique sequen- Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
tial number was assigned to each recipient. The same
The Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords is based
numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades
on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September
of the Knight’s Cross, one list per grade. Once the four
1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been
lists of the Knight’s Cross recipients were merged into
awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron
one listing, the chronological order was abandoned and
Cross. Isoroku Yamamoto was the sole non-German com-
the list was converted to an alphabetical list of recipients.
batant to be honoured with the Swords to the Knight’s
’Foreign recipients’ were never integrated into this list
Cross with Oak Leaves.
and have been listed separately from the Wehrmacht re-
cipients. The Wehrmacht also refrained from assigning a
numbering scheme to the different lists of ’foreign recip-
Recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the
ients’. Two principles were retained, the foreign Knights Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Cross recipients were ordered alphabetically and the re- The Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves was based on the en-
cipients of the higher grades were ordered chronologi- actment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.
cally.[2]
The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher Recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the
grades were based on four separate enactments. The first
Iron Cross
enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939
instituted the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) and the Knight’s The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross is based on the enact-
Cross of the Iron Cross.[3] As the war progressed, some ment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of 1 September 1939 Verord-
of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a nung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation
higher grade, the Oak Leaves to Knight’s Cross of the Iron of the renewing of the Iron Cross).
Cross, was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were com-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
Name Country Rank Unit Date of Notes Picture
award
Yamamoto, Japan Fleet Admiral Commander-in-chief 01943-05-27 Killed in action
IsorokuIsoroku Yamamo- of the IJN Combined 27 May 18 April 1943[7]
to Fleet 1943*
Name Country Rank Unit Date of Notes Picture
award
Lascar, MihailMihail Romania Major General 6th Infantry Divi- 01942-11-22 — —
Lascar (General de di- sion of the 3rd Ro- 22 Novem-
vizie)[8] manian Army ber 1942
Muñoz Grandes, Spain Lieutenant Gen- Blue Division (250. 01942-12-13 — —
AgustínAgustín Muñoz eral Infantry Division) 13 Decem-
Grandes ber 1942
Yamamoto, Japan Fleet Admiral Commander-in- 01943-05-27 Awarded Swords
IsorokuIsoroku Ya- chief of the IJN 27 May 27 May 1943
mamoto Combined Fleet 1943*
Teodorini, Cor- Romania Brigadier General 6th Cavalry Divi- 01943-12-08 — —
neliuCorneliu Teodori- (General de sion 8 December
ni brigadâ)[9] 1943
Dumitrescu, PetrePetre Romania Lieutenant Gen- 3rd Romanian 01944-04-04 —
Dumitrescu eral (General de Army 4 April 1944
armatâ)[10]
Koga, MineichiMine- Japan Fleet Admiral Japanese Chief of 01944-05-12 Killed in action
ichi Koga Fleet 12 May 31 March 1944[11]
1944*
Mannerheim, Baron Finland Marshal of Fin- President and 01944-08-05 —
Carl Gustaf EmilBaron land Commander-in- 5 August
Carl Gustaf Emil Man- chief of Finnish 1944
nerheim Defense Forces
Degrelle, LéonLéon De- Belgium SS-Sturmbann- 5. SS-Freiw.- 01944-08-27 — —
grelle führer Sturm-Brig. "Wal- 27 August
lonien" 1944
Notes Reserve and leader of the 5. SS-Freiwilligen-
Brigade "Wallonien" on 20 February 1944.[1]
[1] Léon Degrelle from Belgium had received the [2] According to Scherzer name is spelled Fedele
Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross while subordinated Degiorgis while Fellgiebel had listed him as Fedele
to the German Wehrmacht. Degrelle had received di Giorgio.[15]
the Knight’s Cross as SS-Hauptsturmführer der
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
Name Country Rank Unit Date of Notes Picture
award
Antonescu, IonIon An- Romania General Commander-in- 01941-08-06 —
tonescu chief of the Mili- 6 August
tary of Romania 1941
Carolis, Ugo deUgo de Italy Major Gener- Italian 52 Mo- 01942-02-09 Killed in action
Carolis al (Generale di torised Division 9 February 12 December 1941[12]
Divisione) Torino 1942*
Cavallero, UgoUgo Italy General (Gen- Chief of the Italian 01942-02-14 —
Cavallero erale di Corpo Supreme Com- 14 February
d’Armata des- mand 1942
ignato
d’Armata
Dragalina, CorneliuCor- Romania Lieutenant Romanian 6th 01942-08-06 — —
neliu Dragalina General Army Corps 6 August
1942
Dumitrache, IoanIoan Romania Major Gener- 2nd Romanian 01942-11-21 — —
Dumitrache al Mountain Division 21 Novem-
ber 1942
Dumitrescu, PetrePetre Romania Lieutenant 3rd Romanian 01942-09-01 Awarded Oak Leaves
Dumitrescu General (Gen- Army 1 Septem- 4 April 1944
eral de ar- ber 1942
matâ)[10]
Esteban Infantes, Spain Lieutenant Blue Division (250. 01943-10-03 — —
EmilioEmilio Esteban General Infantry Division) 3 October
Infantes 1943
Fecia di Cossato, Car- Italy Frigate Cap- Italian submarine 01943-03-19 —
loCarlo Fecia di Cossato tain (Capitano Enrico Tazzoli 19 March
di Fregata)] 1943
Gariboldi, ItaloItalo Italy General (Gen- 8th Italian Army 01943-04-01 —
Gariboldi erale di Corpo 1 April 1943
d’Armata des-
ignato
d’Armata)
Gazzana-Priaroggia, Italy Corvette Italian submarine 01943-05-26 Killed in action
GianfrancoGianfranco Captain (Cap- Archimede 26 May 24 May 1943[13]
Gazzana-Priaroggia itano di 1943*
Corvetta)
Gheorghiu, ErmilErmil Romania Major Gener- General Staff of 01944-04-04 — —
Gheorghiu al (General de the Romanian Air 4 April 1944
escadrâ)[14] Force
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
Giorgis, Fedele Italy Major Gener- Italian 55 Infantry 01942-01-09 —
deFedele de Gior- al (Generale di Division Savona 9 January
gis[Notes 2] Divisione) 1942
Grossi, EnzoEnzo Italy Frigate Cap- Italian submarine 01942-10-07 —
Grossi tain (Capitano Barbargio 7 October
di Fregata) 1942
Heinrichs, ErikErik Finland General of Chief of Finnish 01944-08-05 —
Heinrichs the Infantry General Staff 5 August
1944
Heszlényi, József Hungary Field Mar- 3rd Hungarian 01944-10-28 — —
VitézJózsef Vitéz Hes- shal-Lieuten- Army 28 October
zlényi ant 1944
von Horthy und von Hungary Admiral Commander-in- 01941-09-10 —
Nagybánya, Niko- chief of the Mili- 10 Septem-
lausNikolaus von Hor- tary of Hungary ber 1941
thy und von Nagy-
bánya
Hristea, Ioan L.Ioan L. Romania Colonel Romanian 2nd 01943-03-28 — —
Hristea Calarasi Cavalry 28 March
Regiment 1943
Ibrányi, Mihály vonMi- Hungary Field Mar- Hungarian Caval- 01944-11-26 — —
hály von Ibrányi shal-Lieuten- ry Division 26 Novem-
ant ber 1944
Jány, Gusztáv Hungary Colonel Gen- 2nd Hungarian 01943-03-31 — —
VitézGusztáv Vitéz eral Army 31 March
Jány 1943
Ionescu, Romania Major Gener- Commander of the 01944-05-10 — —
EmanoilEmanoil Iones- al Romanian Air 10 May
cu Force’s Corpul I Ae- 1944
rien
Koga, MineichiMine- Japan Fleet Admiral Japanese Chief of 01944-05-12 Oak Leaves
ichi Koga Fleet 12 May 12 May 1944
1944*
Korne, RaduRadu Romania Colonel Romanian 8th 01942-12-18 — —
Korne Cavalry Division 18 Decem-
ber 1942
Lakatos Edler de Csík- Hungary Colonel Gen- 1st Hungarian 01944-05-24 — —
szentsimon, Geza eral Army 24 May
VitézGeza Vitéz 1944
Lakatos Edler de Csík-
szentsimon
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
Lascar, MihailMihail Romania Brigadier Romanian 1st 01942-01-18 Awarded Oak Leaves —
Lascar General (Gen- Mountain Brigade 18 January 22 November 1942
eral de 1942
brigadâ)[8]
László, Dezső Hungary Colonel Gen- 1st Hungarian 01945-03-03 — —
VitézDezső Vitéz Lás- eral Army 3 March
zló 1945
Macellariu, HoriaHoria Romania Counter Ad- Romanian Naval 01944-05-21 — —
Macellariu miral Forces 21 May
1944
Malár, AugustínAu- Slovakia Generálmajor Slovak Fast Divi- 01942-01-23 — —
gustín Malár sion 23 January
1942
Mannerheim, Baron Finland Field Marshal Commander-in- 01941-08-30 Awarded Oak Leaves
Carl Gustaf EmilBaron chief of the Fin- 30 August 5 August 1944
Carl Gustaf Emil Man- nish Defense 1941
nerheim Forces
Manoliu, Gheo- Romania Divisions- 4th Romanian 01942-08-30 — —
rgheGheorghe Manoliu General Mountain Division 30 August
1942
Martinat, GiulioGiulio Italy Brigadier Staff of the Italian 01943-04-03 Killed in action
Martinat General (Gen- Alpini-Corps 3 April 26 January 1943[16]
erale di Briga- 1943*
ta)
Messe, GiovanniGio- Italy Lieutenant Italian Expedi- 01942-01-23 —
vanni Messe General (Gen- tionary Corps in 23 January
erale di Corpo Russia 1942
d’Armata)
Miklós de Dálnok, Béla Hungary Field Mar- Hungarian Fast 01941-12-04 — —
VitézBéla Vitéz Miklós shal-Lieuten- Corps 4 December
de Dálnok ant 1941
Mociulschi, Romania Major Gener- 3rd Romanian 01943-12-19 — —
LeonardLeonard Mo- al Mountain Division 19 Decem-
ciulschi ber 1943
Muñoz Grandes, Spain Lieutenant Blue Division (250. 01942-03-12 Awarded Oak Leaves —
AgustínAgustín Muñoz General Infantry Division) 12 March 13 December 1942
Grandes 1942
Pălăghiţă, IoanIoan Romania Major Romanian I./In- 01943-04-07 — —
Pălăghiţă fantry Regiment 7 April 1943
94
Racovita, Ioan Mi- Romania General of 4th Romanian 01944-07-08 — —
hailIoan Mihail Racovi- the Cavalry Army 8 July 1944
ta
Rădulescu, EdgarEdgar Romania Brigadier 11th Romanian In- 01944-07-03 — —
Rădulescu General fantry Division 3 July 1944
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
Răscănescu, Gheo- Romania Major Romanian I./In- 01942-12-04 — —
rgheGheorghe Răscă- fantry Regiment 4 December
nescu 15 1942
Szügyi, Zoltán C. Hungary Colonel Hungarian In- 01945-01-12 — —
VitézZoltán C. Vitéz fantry Division 12 January
Szügyi Szent László 1945
TataranuNicolae Romania Major Gener- 20th Romanian In- 01942-12-17 — —
Tătăranu al fantry Division 17 Decem-
ber 1942
Teodorini, Cor- Romania Colonel 6th Cavalry Divi- 01943-08-27 Awarded Oak Leaves —
neliuCorneliu Teodori- sion 27 August 8 December 1943
ni 1943
Turanec, JozefJozef Tu- Slovakia Generálmajor Slovak Fast Divi- 01942-08-07 — —
ranec sion 7 August
1942
Yamamoto, Japan Fleet Admiral Commander-in- 01943-05-27 Awarded Oak Leaves
IsorokuIsoroku Ya- chief of the IJN 27 May 27 May 1943
mamoto Combined Fleet 1943* Awarded Swords
27 May 1943
References [7] Scherzer 2007, p. 801.
[8] ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 495.
[1] Scherzer 2007, p. 268. [9] Scherzer 2007, p. 739.
[2] Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112. [10] ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 284.
[3] "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" [11] Scherzer 2007, p. 462.
(in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische [12] Scherzer 2007, p. 257.
Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren [13] Scherzer 2007, p. 328.
(Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/ [14] Scherzer 2007, p. 332.
cgi-content/anno- [15] Scherzer 2007, p. 268.
plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19390007&zoom=2&seite=00001573&ues=on&x=21&y=6.
[16] Scherzer 2007, p. 528.
Retrieved 21 February 2008. Bibliography
[4] "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940" (in • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des
German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 – 1945.
Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren Wölfersheim-Berstadt, Germany: Podzun-Pallas.
(Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/ ISBN 3-7909-0284-5
cgi-content/anno- • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 – 1945 Die
plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19400007&zoom=2&seite=00000849&ues=on&x=22&y=10.
Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von
Retrieved 21 February 2008. Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm
[5] "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den
(in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Unterlagen des Bundesarchives. Jena, Germany:
Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
(Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/
cgi-content/anno-
External links
plus?apm=0&aid=dra&datum=19410007&zoom=2&seite=00000613&ues=on&x=14&y=9.
Retrieved 21 February 2008. • "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes" (in German) (HTML).
[6] "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" Lexikon der Wehrmacht. http://www.lexikon-der-
(in German) (PDF). ALEX Österreichische wehrmacht.de/Orden/Ritterkreuz/IndexRK.htm.
Nationalbibliothek. Reichsministerium des Inneren Retrieved 2 January 2011.
(Ministry of the Interior). http://alex.onb.ac.at/ • "Das Bundesarchiv" (in English) (HTML). Military
cgi-content/anno- Archive - Freiburg im Breisgau.
http://www.bundesarchiv.de/bundesarchiv/
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Retrieved 21 February 2008.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List of foreign recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
dienstorte/freiburg/index.html.en. Retrieved 2
January 2011.
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Categories:
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