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List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of the U-boat service

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants was the highest military award in Nazi Germany. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. During or shortly after World War II, 145 German sailors and officers of the U-boat service as part of the Kriegsmarine received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Among them, 29 officers received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), five the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), and two won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten). Of these, 144 presentations were formally made and one recipient received the award after 11 May 1945, when Großadmiral Karl Dönitz ordered a cease of all promotions and illegalized all subsequent awards. The final recipient is therefore considered to have received the medal without legal authority.[1][2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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).[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

  This along with the * (asterisk), indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Ultimately, it would be awarded to twenty-seven German soldiers, sailors and airmen, ranging from young fighter pilots to field marshals. Two recipients were members of the U-boat arm.[8]

NumberNameRankUnitDate of awardNotes
7Wolfgang Lüth15-MFregattenkapitän[9]Commander of U-181[10]9 August 1943[9]killed on active service 13 May 1945[11]
22Albrecht Brandi15-MFregattenkapitän[12]Commander of U-967[13]24 November 1944[12]
—

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords is also based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 to reward those servicemen who had already been awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

NumberNameRankUnitDate of awardNotes
5Otto Kretschmer15-MKorvettenkapitänCommander of U-99[14]26 December 1941
—
17Erich Topp14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of U-552[15]17 August 1942
—
18Reinhard Suhren14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of U-564[15]1 September 1942
—
29Wolfgang Lüth14-MKorvettenkapitän[9]Commander of U-181[16]15 April 1943[9]Awarded 7th Diamonds 9 August 1943[9]
66Albrecht Brandi14-MFregattenkapitän[12]Commander of U-380[17]9 May 1944[12]Awarded 22nd Diamonds 24 November 1944[12]

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. Higher numbers are unofficial and therefore denoted in brackets.[18]

NumberNameRankUnitDate of awardNotes
5Günther Prien14-MKapitänleutnant[19]Commander of U-47[20][19]20 October 1940[19]missing in action 7 March 1941[21]
6Otto Kretschmer14-MKapitänleutnant[22]Commander of U-99[20][22]4 November 1940[22]Awarded 5th Swords 26 December 1941[22]
7Joachim Schepke14-MKapitänleutnant[23]Commander of U-100[20][23]1 December 1940[23]killed in action 17 March 1941[24]
13Heinrich Liebe14-MKapitänleutnant[25]Commander of U-38[26][25]10 June 1941[25]At the same time promoted to Korvettenkapitän[26]
14Engelbert Endrass13-MOberleutnant zur See[26][Note 1]Commander of U-46[26][27]10 June 1941[27]killed in action 21 December 1941[28]
15Herbert Schultze14-MKapitänleutnant[29]Commander of U-48[26][29]12 June 1941[29]
—
23Viktor Hermann Otto Schütze15-MKorvettenkapitän[30]Commander of U-103[31][30]14 July 1941[30]
—
51Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock14-MKapitänleutnant[32]Commander of U-96[33][32]31 December 1941[32]
—
56Reinhard Suhren13-MOberleutnant zur See[34]Commander of U-564[35][34]31 December 1941[34]Awarded 18th Swords 1 September 1942[34]
87Erich Topp14-MKapitänleutnant[36]Commander of U-552[37][36]11 April 1942[36]Awarded 17th Swords 17 August 1942[36]
89Reinhard Hardegen14-MKapitänleutnant[38]Commander of U-123[37][38]23 April 1942[38]
—
104Rolf Mützelburg14-MKapitänleutnant[39]Commander of U-203[40][39]15 July 1942[39]killed on active service 11 September 1942[41]
105Adalbert Schnee14-MKapitänleutnant[42]Commander of U-201[40][42]15 July 1942[42]
—
123Klaus Scholtz15-MKorvettenkapitän[43]Commander of U-108[44][43]10 September 1942[43]
—
125Heinrich Bleichrodt14-MKapitänleutnant[45]Commander of U-109[44][45]23 September 1942[45]
—
142Wolfgang Lüth14-MKapitänleutnant[11]Commander of U-181[46][11]13 November 1942[11]Awarded 29th Swords 15 April 1943
7th Diamonds 9 August 1943[11]
147Karl-Friedrich Merten15-MKorvettenkapitän[47]Commander of U-68[48][47]16 November 1942[47]
—
171Friedrich Guggenberger14-MKapitänleutnant[49]Commander of U-81[49][50]8 January 1943[49]
—
177Johann Mohr14-MKapitänleutnant[51]Commander of U-124[50][51]13 January 1943[51]killed in action 3 April 1943[52]
208Georg Lassen14-MKapitänleutnant[53]Commander of U-160[54][53]7 March 1943[53]
—
223Karl Dönitz22-MGroßadmiral[55]Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine and Befehlshaber der U-Boote[56][55]6 April 1943[55]
—
224Albrecht Brandi15-MKorvettenkapitän[57]Commander of U-617[56][57]11 April 1943[57]Awarded 66th Swords 9 May 1944
22nd Diamonds 24 November 1944[57]
234Otto von Bülow14-MKapitänleutnant[58]Commander of U-404[56][58]26 April 1943[58]
—
250Robert Gysae14-MKapitänleutnant[59]Commander of U-177[60][59]31 May 1943[59]
—
256Carl Emmermann14-MKapitänleutnant[27]Commander of U-172[61][27]4 July 1943[27]
—
257Werner Henke14-MKapitänleutnant[62]Commander of U-515[61][62]4 July 1943[62]killed as prisoner of war on 15 June 1944[63]
645Werner Hartmann17-MKapitän zur See[64]Leader of the U-Boote in the Mediterranean Sea,[64] before commander of U-198[65]5 November 1944[64]
—
(852)Rolf Thomsen14-MKapitänleutnant[66]Commander of U-1202[67][66]29 April 1945[66]
—
(853)Hans-Günther Lange14-MKapitänleutnant[68]Commander of U-711[67][68]29 April 1945[68]
—

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).

NumberNameRankUnitDate of awardNotes
1Günther Prien14-MKapitänleutnant[19]Commander of U-47[69][19]18 October 1939[19]Awarded 5th Oak Leaves 20 October 1940[19]
2Herbert Schultze14-MKapitänleutnant[29]Commander of U-48[70][29]1 March 1940[29]Awarded 15th Oak Leaves 12 June 1941[29]
3Karl Dönitz18-MKonteradmiral[55]Befehlshaber der U-Boote (B.d.U.)[71][55]21 April 1940[55]Awarded 223rd Oak Leaves 6 April 1943[55]
4Werner Hartmann15-MKorvettenkapitän[64]Commander of U-37[72][64]9 May 1940[64]Awarded 645th Oak Leaves 5 November 1944[64]
5Otto Schuhart14-MKapitänleutnant[30]Commander of U-29[73][30]16 May 1940[30]
—
6Wilhelm Rollmann14-MKapitänleutnant[74]Commander of U-34[75][74]31 July 1940[74]killed in action 5 November 1943[76]
7Otto Kretschmer14-MKapitänleutnant[22]Commander of U-99[22][77]4 August 1940[22]Awarded 6th Oak Leaves 4 November 1940
5th Swords 26 December 1941[22]
8Heinrich Liebe14-MKapitänleutnant[25]Commander of U-38[78][25]14 August 1940[25]Awarded 13th Oak Leaves 10 June 1941[25]
9Fritz-Julius Lemp14-MKapitänleutnant[79]Commander of U-30[80][79]14 August 1940[79]killed in action 9 May 1941[81]
10Hans-Rudolf Rösing15-MKorvettenkapitän[82]Chief of the 7. Unterseebootsflottille and commander of U-48[82][83]29 August 1940[82]
—
11Fritz Frauenheim14-MKapitänleutnant[84]Commander of U-101[84][85]29 August 1940[84]
—
12Engelbert Endrass13-MOberleutnant zur See[27]Commander of U-46[86][27]5 September 1940Awarded 14th Oak Leaves 10 June 1941[27]
13Günter Kuhnke14-MKapitänleutnant[87]Commander of U-28[87][88]19 September 1940[87]
—
14Joachim Schepke14-MKapitänleutnant[23]Commander of U-100[23][89]24 September 1940[23]Awarded 7th Oak Leaves 1 December 1940[23]
15Hans Jenisch13-MOberleutnant zur See[90]Commander of U-32[91][90]7 October 1940[90]
—
16Victor Oehrn14-MKapitänleutnant[92]Commander of U-37[93][92]21 October 1940[92]
—
17Gerd Suhren13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)[34]Chief engineer on U-37[94][34]21 October 1940[34]
—
18Heinrich Bleichrodt14-MKapitänleutnant[45]Commander of U-48[45][95]24 October 1940[45]Awarded 125th Oak Leaves 23 September 1942[45]
19Wolfgang Lüth13-MOberleutnant zur See[11]Commander of U-138[96][11]24 October 1940[11]Awarded 142nd Oak Leaves 13 November 1942
29th Swords 15 April 1943
7th Diamonds 9 August 1943[11]
20Reinhard Suhren13-MOberleutnant zur See[34]1st watch officer on U-48[94][34]3 November 1940[34]Awarded 56th Oak Leaves 31 December 1941
18th Swords 1 September 1942[34]
21Heinrich Petersen11-MStabsobersteuermann[97]Watch officer and coxswain on U-99[98][97]5 November 1940[97]
—
22Viktor Schütze15-MKorvettenkapitän[30]Commander of U-103[73][30]11 December 1940[30]Awarded 23rd Oak Leaves 14 July 1941[30]
23Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen15-MKorvettenkapitän[99]Commander of U-65[99][100]14 January 1941[99]
—
24Karl-Heinz Moehle14-MKapitänleutnant[101]Commander of U-123[102][101]26 February 1941[101]
—
25Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock14-MKapitänleutnant[32]Commander of U-96[103][32]26 February 1941[32]Awarded 51st Oak Leaves 31 December 1941[32]
26Jürgen Oesten14-MKapitänleutnant[104]Commander of U-106[104][105]26 March 1941[104]
—
27Georg-Wilhelm Schulz14-MKapitänleutnant[106]Commander of U-124[107][106]4 April 1941[106]
—
28Erich Zürn13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)[108]Chief engineer on U-48[109][108]23 April 1941[108]
—
29Herbert Kuppisch14-MKapitänleutnant[110]Commander of U-94[111][110]14 May 1941[110]killed in action 27 August 1943[112]
30Herbert Wohlfarth14-MKapitänleutnant[113]Commander of U-556[114][113]15 May 1941[113]
—
31Georg Schewe14-MKapitänleutnant[115]Commander of U-105[89][115]23 May 1941[115]
—
32Claus Korth14-MKapitänleutnant[116]Commander of U-93[117][116]29 May 1941[116]
—
33Erich Topp13-MOberleutnant zur See[36]Commander of U-552[118][36]20 June 1941[36]Awarded 87th Oak Leaves 11 April 1942
17th Swords 17 August 1942[36]
34Günter Hessler14-MKapitänleutnant[119]Commander of U-107[120][119]24 June 1941[119]
—
35Jost Metzler14-MKapitänleutnant[121]Commander of U-69[122][121]28 July 1941[121]
—
36Adalbert Schnee13-MOberleutnant zur See[42]Commander of U-201[123][42]30 August 1941[42]Awarded 105th Oak Leaves 15 July 1942[42]
37Rolf Mützelburg14-MKapitänleutnant[39]Commander of U-203[124][39]17 November 1941[39]Awarded 104th Oak Leaves 15 July 1942[39]
38Ernst Mengersen14-MKapitänleutnant[125]Commander of U-101[126][125]18 November 1941[125]
—
39Friedrich Guggenberger14-MKapitänleutnant[49]Commander of U-81[49][127]10 December 1941[49]Awarded 171st Oak Leaves 8 January 1943[49]
40Klaus Scholtz14-MKapitänleutnant[43]Commander of U-108[128][43]26 December 1941[43]Awarded 123rd Oak Leaves 10 September 1942[43]
41Gerhard Bigalk14-MKapitänleutnant[129]Commander of U-751[129][130]26 December 1941[129]killed in action 17 July 1942[131]
42Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat14-MKapitänleutnant[132]Commander of U-74[133][132]31 December 1941[132]
—
43Robert Gysae14-MKapitänleutnant[59]Commander of U-98[59][134]31 December 1941[59]Awarded 250th Oak Leaves 31 May 1943[59]
44Reinhard Hardegen14-MKapitänleutnant[38]Commander of U-123[135][38]23 January 1942[38]Awarded 89th Oak Leaves 23 April 1942[38]
45Hans-Diedrich Freiherr von Tiesenhausen14-MKapitänleutnant[136]Commander of U-331[137][136]27 January 1942[136]
—
46Nicolai Clausen14-MKapitänleutnant[138]Commander of U-129[139][138]13 March 1942[138]killed in action 16 May 1943[140]
47Ernst Bauer14-MKapitänleutnant[141]Commander of U-126[142][141]16 March 1942[141]
—
48Johann Mohr14-MKapitänleutnant[51]Commander of U-124[143][51]27 March 1942[51]Awarded 177th Oak Leaves 13 January 1943[51]
49Otto Ites13-KOberleutnant zur See[144]Commander of U-94[145][144]28 March 1942[144]
—
50Robert-Richard Zapp15-MKorvettenkapitän[146]Commander of U-66[147][146]23 April 1942[146]
—
51Werner Winter14-MKapitänleutnant[148]Commander of U-103[149][148]5 June 1942[148]
—
52Peter-Erich Cremer14-MKapitänleutnant[150]Commander of U-333[151][150]5 June 1942[150]
—
53Karl-Friedrich Merten15-MKorvettenkapitän[47]Commander of U-68[126][47]13 June 1942[47]Awarded 147th Oak Leaves 16 November 1942[47]
54Hans-Werner Kraus14-MKapitänleutnant[152]Commander of U-83[153][152]19 June 1942[152]
—
55Erwin Rostin14-MKapitänleutnant[154]Commander of U-158[154][155]28 June 1942[154]
—
56Heinz-Otto Schultze14-MKapitänleutnant[29]Commander of U-432[70][29]9 July 1942[29]killed in action 25 November 1943[156]
57Georg Lassen13-MOberleutnant zur See[53]Commander of U-160[157][53]10 August 1942[53]Awarded 208th Oak Leaves 7 March 1943[53]
58Helmut Rosenbaum14-MKapitänleutnant[158]Commander of U-73[159][158]12 August 1942[158]
—
59Adolf Piening14-MKapitänleutnant[160]Commander of U-155[160][161]13 August 1942[160]
—
60Heinrich Schonder14-MKapitänleutnant[162]Commander of U-77[162][163]19 August 1942[162]killed in action 28 June 1943[164]
61Karl Thurmann15-MKorvettenkapitän[165]Commander of U-553[165][137]24 August 1942[165]missing in action 28 January 1943[166]
62Ernst Kals15-MKorvettenkapitän[167]Commander of U-130[167][168]1 September 1942[167]
—
63Werner Hartenstein15-MKorvettenkapitän[169]Commander of U-156[170][169]17 September 1942[169]killed in action 8 March 1943[171]
64Günther Krech14-MKapitänleutnant[172]Commander of U-558[173][172]17 September 1942[172]
—
65Otto von Bülow14-MKapitänleutnant[58]Commander of U-404[174][58]20 October 1942[58]Awarded 234th Oak Leaves 26 April 1943[58]
66Helmut Witte14-MKapitänleutnant[175]Commander of U-159[176][175]22 October 1942[175]
—
67Siegfried Strelow14-MKapitänleutnant[177]Commander of U-435[178][177]27 October 1942[177]killed in action 15 July 1943[179]
68Fritz Poske15-MKorvettenkapitän[180]Commander of U-504[181][180]6 November 1942[180]
—
69Carl Emmermann14-MKapitänleutnant[27]Commander of U-172[86][27]27 November 1942[27]Awarded 256th Oak Leaves 4 July 1943[27]
70Günther Müller-Stöckheim14-MKapitänleutnant[39]Commander of U-67[124][39]27 November 1942[39]killed in action 16 July 1943[182]
71Wilhelm Dommes14-MKapitänleutnant[183]Commander of U-431[184][183]2 December 1942[183]
—
72Hans Witt14-MKapitänleutnant[185]Commander of U-129[176][185]17 December 1942[185]
—
73Werner Henke13-MOberleutnant zur See zur Verwendung (for disposition)[62]Commander of U-515[62][186]17 December 1942[62]Awarded 257th Oak Leaves 4 July 1943[62]
74Hermann Rasch14-MKapitänleutnant[187]Commander of U-106[187][188]29 December 1942[187]
—
75Harro Schacht15-MKorvettenkapitän[189]Commander of U-507[190][189]9 January 1943[189]killed in action 14 January 1943[191]
76Albrecht Achilles14-MKapitänleutnant[192]Commander of U-161[192][193]16 January 1943[192]killed in action 27 September 1943[194]
77Herbert Schneider14-MKapitänleutnant[195]Commander of U-522[195][196]16 January 1943[195]killed in action 24 February 1943[197]
78Ulrich Heyse14-MKapitänleutnant[198]Commander of U-128[199][198]21 January 1943[198]
—
79Albrecht Brandi14-MKapitänleutnant[57]Commander of U-617[200][57]21 January 1943[57]Awarded 224th Oak Leaves 11 April 1943
66th Swords 9 May 1944
22nd Diamonds 24 November 1944[57]
80Siegfried Freiherr von Forstner14-MKapitänleutnant[201]Commander of U-402[201][202]9 February 1943[201]killed in action 13 October 1943[Note 2]
81Gerhard Bielig14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[129]Chief engineer on U-177[204][129]10 February 1943[129]
—
82Erich Würdemann14-MKapitänleutnant[205]Commander of U-506[206][205]14 March 1943[205]killed in action 14 July 1943[207]
83Reinhart Reche14-MKapitänleutnant[208]Commander of U-255[208][209]17 March 1943[208]
—
84Hans-Hartwig Trojer13-MOberleutnant zur See[210]Commander of U-221[211][210]24 March 1943[210]
—
85Harald Gelhaus14-MKapitänleutnant[212]Commander of U-107[213][212]26 March 1943[212]
—
86Karl Neitzel15-MKorvettenkapitän[214]Commander of U-510[215][214]27 March 1943[214]
—
87Günther Seibicke14-MKapitänleutnant[216]Commander of U-436[217][216]27 March 1943[216]killed in action 26 May 1943[218]
88Ulrich Folkers14-MKapitänleutnant[201]Commander of U-125[201][202]27 March 1943[201]killed in action 6 May 1943[219]
89Hans Heidtmann14-MKapitänleutnant[220]Commander of U-559[221][220]12 April 1943[220]
—
90Helmut Möhlmann14-MKapitänleutnant[101]Commander of U-571[102][101]16 April 1943[101]
—
91Gunter Jahn14-MKapitänleutnant[222]Commander of U-596[222][223]30 April 1943[222]
—
92Wilhelm Franken14-MKapitänleutnant[224]Commander of U-565[225][224]30 April 1943[224]killed in accident 13 January 1945[226]
93Klaus Bargsten14-MKapitänleutnant[227]Commander of U-521[228][227]30 April 1943[227]
—
94Günther Heydemann14-MKapitänleutnant[229]Commander of U-575[199][229]3 July 1943[229]
—
95Friedrich Markworth14-MKapitänleutnant[230]Commander of U-66[230][231]8 July 1943[230]
—
96Georg Staats14-MKapitänleutnant[232]Commander of U-508[233][232]14 July 1943[232]killed in action 12 November 1943[234]
97Gerd Kelbling14-MKapitänleutnant[235]Commander of U-593[236][235]18 August 1943[235]
—
98Herbert Panknin14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[237]Chief engineer on U-106[238][237]4 September 1943[237]
99Dipl.-Ing. Willi Lechtenbörger*13-MOberleutnant (Ing.) of the Reserves[239]Chief engineer on U-847[103][239]4 September 1943[239]killed in action 27 August 1943[240]
100Heinz Krey*12-MLeutnant (Ing.)[241]Chief engineer on U-752[77][241]4 September 1943[241]killed in action 23 May 1943[242]
101August Maus14-MKapitänleutnant[243]Commander of U-185[244][243]21 September 1943[243]
—
102Dietrich Schöneboom13-MOberleutnant zur See[245]Commander of U-431[246][245]20 October 1943[245]killed in action 23 October 1943[247]
103Carl-August Landfermann13-MOberleutnant (Ing.) of the Reserve[248]Chief engineer on U-181[248][249]27 October 1943[248]
—
104Hellmut Rohweder14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[74]Chief engineer on U-69 and U-514[75][74]14 November 1943[74]
—
105Egon-Reiner Freiherr von Schlippenbach14-MKapitänleutnant[250]Commander of U-453[250][251]19 November 1943[250]
—
106Horst-Arno Fenski13-MOberleutnant zur See[252]Commander of U-410[253][252]26 November 1943[252]
—
107Heinz Franke14-MKapitänleutnant[224]Commander of U-262[225][224]30 November 1943[224]
—
108Max-Martin Teichert*14-MKapitänleutnant[254]Commander of U-456[255][254]19 December 1943*[254]killed in action 12 May 1943[256]
109Siegfried Koitschka13-MOberleutnant zur See[257]Commander of U-616[257][258]27 January 1944[257]
—
110Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel14-MKapitänleutnant[259]Commander of U-543[259][260]3 February 1944[259]killed in action 2 July 1944[261]
111Siegfried Lüdden14-MKapitänleutnant[262]Commander of U-188[263][262]11 February 1944[262]killed on active service 13 January 1945[264]
112Johann-Friedrich Wessels14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[265]Chief engineer on U-198[265][266]9 March 1944[265]
—
113Gustav Poel14-MKapitänleutnant[267]Commander of U-413[268][267]21 March 1944[267]
—
114Waldemar Mehl14-MKapitänleutnant[269]Commander of U-371[270][269]28 March 1944[269]
—
115Alfred Eick13-MOberleutnant zur See[271]Commander of U-510[272][271]31 March 1944[271]
—
116Georg Olschewski13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)[273]Chief engineer on U-66[105][273]23 April 1944[273]
—
117Walter Käding10-MObersteuermann[274]3rd watch officer and coxswain on U-123[275][274]15 May 1944[274]
—
118Horst Hofmann10-MObersteuermann[276]Coxswain and watch officer on U-672[277][276]20 May 1944[276]
—
119Karl-Heinz Wiebe14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[278]Chief engineer on U-178[279][278]22 May 1944[278]
—
120Horst von Schroeter13-MOberleutnant zur See[280]Commander of U-123[281][280]1 June 1944[280]
—
—
Johann-Otto Krieg13-MOberleutnant zur See[241]Chief of the Kleinkampfmittel-Flottille 361[77][241]8 July 1944[241]
—
121Reinhard König13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)[282]Chief engineer on U-123[283][282]8 July 1944[282]
—
122Heinz Sieder13-MOberleutnant zur See[284]Commander of U-984[284][285]8 July 1944[284]killed in action 20 August 1944[286]
123Karl Fleige13-MOberleutnant zur See[287]Commander of U-18[288][287]18 July 1944[287]
—
124Karl-Heinz Marbach13-MOberleutnant zur See[289]Commander of U-953[290][289]22 July 1944[289]
—
125Hermann Stuckmann13-MOberleutnant zur See[291]Commander of U-621[291][292]11 August 1944[291]killed in action 23 August 1944[293]
126Heinrich Dammeier11-MStabsobermaschinist[294]Chief mechanic on U-270[294][295]12 August 1944[294]
—
127Hans-Günther Lange14-MKapitänleutnant[68]Commander of U-711[68][296]26 August 1944[68]Awarded (853rd) Oak Leaves 29 April 1945[68]
128Heinrich Timm15-MKorvettenkapitän[297]Commander of U-862[297][118]17 September 1944[297]
—
129Gerhard Schaar13-MOberleutnant zur See[189]Commander of U-957[190][189]1 October 1944[189]
—
130Hans-Joachim Förster13-MOberleutnant zur See[298]Commander of U-480[299][298]18 December 1944[298]killed in action 24 February 1945[300]
131Paul Brasack14-MKapitänleutnant[301]Commander of U-737[301][302]30 October 1944[301]
—
132Rudolf Mühlbauer08-MOberbootsmannsmaat[303]Brückenmaat (look out on the bridge) on U-123[304][303]10 December 1944[303]
—
133Günther Pulst13-MOberleutnant zur See[305]Commander of U-978[306][305]21 December 1944[305]
—
134Rolf Thomsen14-MKapitänleutnant[66]Commander of U-1202[307][66]4 January 1945[66]Awarded (852nd) Oak Leaves 29 April 1945[66]
135Ernst Hechler15-MKorvettenkapitän[308]Commander of U-870[309][308]21 January 1945[308]
—
136Dr. jur. Kurt Dobratz17-MKapitän zur See[55]Commander of U-1232[71][55]23 January 1945[55]
—
137Johannes Limbach12-LLeutnant zur See[310]1st watch officer on U-181[310][311]6 February 1945[310]
—
138Hans-Georg Hess13-MOberleutnant zur See of the Reserves[119]Commander of U-995[120][119]11 February 1945[119]
—
139Otto Westphalen13-MOberleutnant zur See[312]Commander of U-968[266][312]23 March 1945[312]
—
140Philipp Lichtenberg14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[25]Chief engineer on U-516[78][25]31 March 1945[25]
—
141Hans Johannsen13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)[313]Chief engineer on U-802[313][314]31 March 1945[313]
—
142Heinrich Praßdorf09-MObermaschinist[315]Lead machinist on U-1203[315][69]21 April 1945[315]
—
143Heinrich Schroeteler14-MKapitänleutnant[280]Commander of U-1023[281][280]2 May 1945[280]
—
144Hans Lehmann13-MOberleutnant zur See of the Reserves[239]Commander of U-997[103][239]7 May 1945[Note 3]

Legally disputed Knight's Cross recipients

Großadmiral Karl Dönitz ordered a cease of all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945. Nevertheless, a number of Knight's Crosses were awarded after this date and are considered "illegal" hand-outs. One sailor of the U-boat service is often listed as a recipient of the Knight's Cross but falls outside of the Dönitz-decree. Karl Jäckel received his Knight's Cross confirmation after 11 May 1945 and is therefore a de facto but not de jure recipient.[2]

NumberNameRankUnitDate of awardNotes
144Karl JäckelOber-SteuermannCoxswain on U-29, U-160 and U-9071 June 1945

References

Footnotes

Citations

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat Commanders of World War II. A Biographical Dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-366-8.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2.
  • Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2006). Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients 1941–45. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publisher. ISBN 978-1-84176-644-7.

External links

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