Continued accumulation of points, 1 point for downing a single-engine aircraft, 2 points for a twin-engine aircraft and 3 points for a four-engine aircraft. All points werex2 at night. This total was continuously raised as the war went on.
During the time of the Third Reich, the range of categories of the Iron Cross were as follows:
The Iron Cross The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
The various grades of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross specifically are discussed within separate entries due to the great importance of each grade. The grades of the Knight’s Cross were as follows:
The Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds was worn in the same manner as the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, the only difference being the addition of a set inlaid diamonds in the oak leave and sword cluster above the Knight’s Cross itself.
Notes:
The Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds was the next higher grade of the Knight’s Cross above the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. It was the highest award presented to more than one person in the Third Reich, and it was reserved for the most highly decorated and heroic figures in the German Wehrmacht. This grade of the RK, like the one previous to it, was instituted after the first award of it had actually been presented. Of the 27 holders of this award, none are alive today and 9 (33%) were killed in action or are listed as missing in action during WWII.Knights Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and DiamondsErwin Rommel Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds holder
Distribution Statistics of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds 1941-1945*
Rank on day of award
Heer
Waffen-SS
Kriegsmarine
Luftwaffe
Totals
Generalfeldmarschall /Grossadmiral
2
–
–
1
3
Generaloberst /Generaladmiral
1
1
–
–
2
General d.Inf. usw. / Admiral
4
–
–
–
4
Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral
1
1
–
1
3
Generalmajor / Konteradmiral
1
–
–
–
1
Oberst /Kapitän zur See
2
–
–
2
4
Oberstleutnant /Fregattenkapitän
–
–
–
1
1
Major / Korvettenkapitän
–
–
2
2
4
Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant
–
–
–
2
2
Oberleutnant/ Oberleutnant zur See
–
–
–
3
3
Grand Totals
11
2
2
12
27
* These stats are only for the distribution of the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds, and not the many other grades of the RK
Holders:
Number of Holder
Rank
Name
Position at time of award
Date of Award
1.
Oberst
Werner Mölders
General der Jagdflieger
7.16.41
2.
Generalleutnant
Adolf Galland
General der Jagdflieger
1.28.42
3.
Oberst
Gordon M Gollob
General der Jagdflieger
8.30.42
4.
Hauptmann
Hans-Joachim Marseille
Staffelkapitän 3./Jagdgeschwader 27
9.4.42
5.
Oberst
Hermann Graf
Kommodore Jagdgeschwader 52
9.16.42
6.
Generalfeldmarschall
Erwin Rommel
OB Heeresgruppe B
3.11.42
7.
Kommodore
Wolfgang Lüth
Kommandant der Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik
8.11.43
8.
Major
Walter Nowotny
Kommandeur Erprobungsgruppe “Nowotny”
10.20.43
9.
Generalmajor
Adelbert Schulz
Kommandeur 7.Panzer-Division
12.14.44
10.
Oberst
Hans-Ulrich Rudel
Kommodore Schlachtgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”
3.29.44
11.
Generalmajor
Hyazinth Graf von Strachwitz
Kommandeur einer Panzer-Kampfgruppe bei der Heeresgruppe Nord
