# List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients

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. Recipients are grouped by grades of the Knight's Cross. Within each grade the recipients are ordered chronologically. An exception is the lowest grade, here 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. Broken out into sub lists are the recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, one list for every year between 1940 and 1945 the award was presented. Also listed separately are the alphabetical lists of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients. The foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross and the foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves are listed separately as well.
The last legal presentation of the Knight's Cross, in any of its grades, had to be made before 23:01 Central European Time 8 May 1945, the time when the German surrender became effective. A number of presentations were made after this date, the last on 17 June 1945. These late presentations are considered de facto but not de jure awards. In 1986, the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) acknowledged 7,321 presentations made to the 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 for a total of 7,364 recipients. Analysis of the German Federal Archives revealed evidence for 7,161 officially—de facto and de jure—bestowed recipients, including one additional presentation previously unidentified by the AKCR. The AKCR names 890 recipients of the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, including the eight recipients who served in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich. The German Federal Archives do not substantiate 27 of these Oak Leaves recipients. The Swords to the Knight's Cross were awarded 160 times according to the AKCR, among them the posthumous presentation to the Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, 13 of which cannot be supported by the German Federal Archives. The Diamonds to the Knight's Cross were awarded 27 times, all of which are verifiable in the German Federal Archives. The final grade, the Golden Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross was verifiably awarded once to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944.

## 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. As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940. 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). 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.

## Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

The Grand 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). This grade was awarded only once. The sole recipient was Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring, who at the same time was promoted to Reichsmarschall.
| Number | Name | Service | Rank | Role and unit | Date of award | Notes |
| 1 | Hermann Göring | Luftwaffe | Generalfeldmarschall | Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe | 19 July 1940 | at the same time promoted to Reichsmarschall |

## Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds

The "Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds" is based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944. This grade of the award was to be awarded twelve times only. The sole recipient was Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel.
| Number | Name | Service | Rank | Role and unit | Date of award | Notes |
| 1 | Hans-Ulrich Rudel | Luftwaffe | Oberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" | 29 December 1944 | at the same time promoted to Oberst |

## 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 only twenty-seven German soldiers, sailors and airmen, ranging from young fighter pilots to field marshals.
| Number | Name | Service | Rank | Role and unit | Date of award | Notes |
| 1 | Werner Mölders | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 | 15 July 1941 | Killed in plane crash 22 November 1941 |
| 2 | Adolf Galland | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" | 28 January 1942 | — |
| 3 | Gordon Gollob | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77 | 29 August 1942 | — |
| 4 | Hans-Joachim Marseille | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 27 | 3 September 1942 | KIA 30 September 1942 |
| 5 | Hermann Graf | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant of the Reserves | Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 16 September 1942 | — |
| 6 | Erwin Rommel | Heer | 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall | Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Afrika | 11 March 1943 | Committed suicide 14 October 1944 |
| 7 | Wolfgang Lüth | Kriegsmarine | 15-MFregattenkapitän | Commander of U-181 | 9 August 1943 | Killed 14 May 1945 |
| 8 | Walter Nowotny | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 | 19 October 1943 | KIA 8 November 1944 |
| 9 | Adelbert Schulz | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of Panzer-Regiment 25 | 14 December 1943 | KIA 28 January 1944 |
| 10 | Hans-Ulrich Rudel+ | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" | 29 March 1944 | Awarded 1st (and only) Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944 |
| 11 | Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of a Panzer Group in the Heeresgruppe Nord | 15 April 1944 | Promoted to Generalmajor with the Diamonds |
| 12 | Herbert Otto Gille | Waffen-SS | 19-WSS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS | Commander of 5. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking" | 19 April 1944 | — |
| 13 | Hans Hube | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commander of 1. Panzerarmee | 20 April 1944 | Promoted to Generaloberst with the Diamonds, killed in a plane crash 21 April 1944 |
| 14 | Albert Kesselring | Luftwaffe | 22-LGeneralfeldmarschall | OB Süd (Heeresgruppe C) | 19 July 1944 | — |
| 15 | Helmut Lent | Luftwaffe | 16-LOberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3 | 31 July 1944 | KIA 7 October 1944 |
| 16 | Josef Dietrich | Waffen-SS | 21-WSS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst of the Waffen-SS | Commanding general of I. SS-Panzerkorps "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" | 6 August 1944 | — |
| 17 | Walter Model | Heer | 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall | Commander in chief of Heeresgruppe Mitte | 17 August 1944 | Committed suicide 21 April 1945 |
| 18 | Erich Hartmann | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 25 August 1944 | — |
| 19 | Hermann Balck | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Acting commander of 4. Panzerarmee | 31 August 1944 | — |
| 20 | Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke | Luftwaffe | 19-LGeneralleutnant | Commander of Fortress Brest | 19 September 1944 | Awarded the Swords simultaneously with the Diamonds. |
| 21 | Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 | 16 October 1944 | — |
| 22 | Albrecht Brandi | Kriegsmarine | 15-MFregattenkapitän | Commander of U-967 | 24 November 1944 | — |
| 23 | Ferdinand Schörner | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Nord | 1 January 1945 | — |
| 24 | Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commander-in-chief of 5. Panzerarmee | 18 February 1945 | — |
| 25 | Theodor Tolsdorff | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 340. Volks-Grenadier-Division | 18 March 1945 | — |
| 26 | Dr. med. dent. Karl Mauss | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 7. Panzer-Division | 15 April 1945 | — |
| 27 | Dietrich von Saucken | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commander-in-chief of Armeeoberkommando East Prussia | 8 May 1945 | — |
| Rank on day of award | Heer | Waffen-SS | Kriegsmarine | Luftwaffe | Totals |
| Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral | 2 | | | 1 | 3 |
| Generaloberst / Generaladmiral | 1 | 1 | | | 2 |
| General der Infanterie etc. / 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 |
| Totals | 11 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 27 |

## 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. The sequential numbers greater than 143 are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and therefore denoted in brackets. The number of the 160 Sword recipients is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the (AKCR). Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 13 of these listings. The majority—12 recipients—of these disputed recipients have received the award in 1945. The deteriorating situation of the Third Reich during the final days of World War II has left the nominations unfinished in various stages of the approval process. Hermann Fegelein had received the Oak Leaves in 1942 but was sentenced to death by Adolf Hitler and executed by SS-Gruppenführer Johann Rattenhuber's Reichssicherheitsdienst (RSD) on 28 April 1945 after a court martial led by SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS Wilhelm Mohnke. The sentence was carried out the same day. The death sentence, according to German law, resulted in the loss of all orders and honorary signs.
| No. | Name | Service | Rank | Role and unit | Date of award | Notes |
| 1 | Adolf Galland+ | Luftwaffe | 16-LOberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" | 21 June 1941 | Awarded 2nd Diamonds 28 January 1942 |
| 2 | Werner Mölders+ | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 | 22 June 1941 | Awarded 1st Diamonds 15 July 1941 |
| 3 | Walter Oesau | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 | 15 July 1941 | KIA 11 May 1944 |
| 4 | Günther Lützow | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 | 11 October 1941 | — |
| 5 | Otto Kretschmer | Kriegsmarine | 15-MKorvettenkapitän | Commander of U-99 | 26 December 1941 | — |
| 6 | Erwin Rommel+ | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commander of Panzergruppe Afrika | 20 January 1942 | Awarded 6th Diamonds 11 March 1943 |
| 7 | Heinrich Bär | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" | 16 February 1942 | — |
| 8 | Hans Philipp | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 | 12 March 1942 | KIA 8 October 1943 |
| 9 | Herbert Ihlefeld | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 77 | 24 April 1942 | — |
| 10 | Max-Hellmuth Ostermann | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54 | 17 May 1942 | KIA 9 August 1942 |
| 11 | Hermann Graf+ | Luftwaffe | 12-LLeutnant of the Reserves | Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 19 May 1942 | Awarded 5th Diamonds 16 September 1942 |
| 12 | Hans-Joachim Marseille+ | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 27 | 18 June 1942 | Awarded 4th Diamonds 3 September 1942 |
| 13 | Gordon Gollob+ | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77 | 23 June 1942 | Awarded 3rd Diamonds 30 August 1942 |
| 14 | Leopold Steinbatz | Luftwaffe | 10-LOberfeldwebel | Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 23 June 1942* | KIA 15 June 1942 |
| 15 | Albert Kesselring+ | Luftwaffe | 22-LGeneralfeldmarschall | OB Süd | 18 July 1942 | Awarded 14th Diamonds 19 July 1944 |
| 16 | Werner Baumbach | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 30 | 17 August 1942 | — |
| 17 | Erich Topp | Kriegsmarine | 14-MKapitänleutnant | Commander of U-552 | 17 August 1942 | — |
| 18 | Reinhard Suhren | Kriegsmarine | 14-MKapitänleutnant | Commander of U-564 | 1 September 1942 | — |
| 19 | Joachim Müncheberg | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Deputy Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" | 9 September 1942 | KIA 23 March 1943 |
| 20 | Joachim Helbig | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I. (Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1 | 28 September 1942 | — |
| 21 | Karl Eibl | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 385. Infanterie-Division | 19 December 1942 | KIA 21 January 1943 |
| 22 | Hans Hube+ | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commanding general of the XIV. Panzerkorps | 21 December 1942 | Awarded 13th Diamonds 20 April 1944 |
| 23 | Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" | 23 December 1942 | — KIA 23 March 23 1944 |
| 24 | Alfred Druschel | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Deputy Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 1 | 19 February 1943 | — |
| 25 | Hermann Balck+ | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 11. Panzer-Division | 4 March 1943 | Awarded 19th Diamonds 31 August 1944 |
| 26 | Josef Dietrich+ | Waffen-SS | 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS | Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" | 14 March 1943 | Awarded 16th Diamonds 6 August 1944 |
| 27 | Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz+ | Heer | 17-HOberst of the Reserves | Commander of Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland" | 28 March 1943 | Awarded 11th Diamonds 15 April 1944 |
| 28 | Walter Model+ | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of 9. Armee | 2 April 1943 | Awarded 17th Diamonds 17 August 1944 Committed suicide 21 April 1945 |
| 29 | Wolfgang Lüth+ | Kriegsmarine | 14-MKorvettenkapitän | Commander of U-181 | 15 April 1943 | Awarded 7th Diamonds 9 August 1943 |
| 30 | Walter Gorn | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 | 8 June 1943 | — |
| 31 | Dietrich Peltz | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst im Generalstab | Angriffsführer England | 23 July 1943 | — |
| 32 | Helmut Lent+ | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 | 2 August 1943 | Awarded 15th Diamonds 31 July 1944 |
| 33 | Adelbert Schulz+ | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant | Commander of Panzer-Regiment 25 | 6 August 1943 | Awarded 9th Diamonds 14 December 1943; KIA 28 January 1944 |
| 34 | Günther Rall | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 12 September 1943 | — |
| 35 | Hermann Hoth | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of 4. Panzerarmee | 15 September 1943 | — |
| 36 | Josef Harpe | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of XXXXI Panzerkorps | 15 September 1943 | — |
| 37 | Walter Nowotny+ | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Jagdgeschwader 54 | 22 September 1943 | Awarded 8th Diamonds 19 October 1943; KIA 8 November 1944 |
| 38 | Waldemar von Gazen, called von Gaza | Heer | 15-HMajor | Leader of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 66 | 3 October 1943 | — |
| 39 | August Dieckmann | Waffen-SS | 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer | Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 "Westland" | 10 October 1943* | KIA 10 October 1943 |
| 40 | Günther Hans von Kluge | Heer | 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall | Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Mitte | 29 October 1943 | Committed suicide 19 August 1944 |
| 41 | Gerhard Graf von Schwerin | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 16. Panzergrenadier-Division | 4 November 1943 | — |
| 42 | Hans-Ulrich Rudel+ | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" | 25 October 1943 | Awarded 10th Diamonds 29 March 1944; 1st Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944 |
| 43 | Hajo Herrmann | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Inspekteur der deutschen Luftverteidigung | 23 January 1944 | — |
| 44 | Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 | 23 January 1944* | KIA 21 January 1944 |
| 45 | Erich Bärenfänger | Heer | 15-HMajor | Commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment. 123 | 23 January 1944 | Committed suicide 2 May 1945 |
| 46 | Dietrich von Saucken+ | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 4. Panzer-Division | 31 January 1944 | Awarded 27th Diamonds 8 May 1945 |
| 47 | Herbert Otto Gille+ | Waffen-SS | 19-WSS-Gruppenführer and Generalleutnant of the Waffen-SS | Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier Division "Wiking" | 20 February 1944 | Awarded 12th Diamonds 19 April 1944 |
| 48 | Hermann Breith | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of III. Panzerkorps | 21 February 1944 | — |
| 49 | Dr. med.dent. Franz Bäke | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves | Commander of Panzer-Regiment 11 | 21 February 1944 | — |
| 50 | Hasso-Eccard von Manteuffel+ | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 7. Panzer-Division | 22 February 1944' | Awarded 24th Diamonds 18 February 1945 |
| 51 | Egon Mayer | Luftwaffe | 16-LOberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" | 2 March 1944* | KIA 2 March 1944 |
| 52 | Gerhard Barkhorn | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 2 March 1944 | — |
| 53 | Franz Griesbach | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 399 | 6 March 1944 | — |
| 54 | Werner Streib | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 | 11 March 1944 | — |
| 55 | Richard Heidrich | Luftwaffe | 19-LGeneralleutnant | Commander of 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division | 25 March 1944 | — |
| 56 | Hinrich Schuldt | Waffen-SS | 17-WSS-Oberführer | Commander of 2. lett. SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade | 25 March 1944* | KIA 15 March 1944 |
| 57 | Georg-Wilhelm Postel | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 320. Infanterie-Division | 26 March 1944 | — |
| 58 | Wend von Wietersheim | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 11. Panzer-Division | 26 March 1944 | — |
| 59 | Erich von Lewinski, called von Manstein | Heer | 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall | Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Süd | 30 March 1944 | — |
| 60 | Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist | Heer | 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall | Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe A | 30 March 1944 | — |
| 61 | Alwin Boerst | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" | 6 April 1944* | KIA 30 March 1944 |
| 62 | Dr. jur. Ernst Kupfer | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Former Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 | 11 April 1944* | Killed in flying accident 6 November 1943 |
| 63 | Hans Kreysing | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Gebirgstruppe | Commanding general of XVII. Armeekorps | 13 April 1944 | — |
| 64 | Hans Jordan | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commanding general of VI. Armeekorps | 20 April 1944 | — |
| 65 | Hermann Prieß | Waffen-SS | 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS | Commander of 3. SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf" | 24 April 1944 | — |
| 66 | Albrecht Brandi+ | Kriegsmarine | 14-MFregattenkapitän | Commander of U-380 | 9 May 1944 | Awarded 22nd Diamonds 24 November 1944 |
| 67 | Ludwig Heilmann | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3 | 15 May 1944 | — |
| 68 | Georg-Hans Reinhardt | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of 3. Panzerarmee | 26 May 1944 | — |
| 69 | Horst Niemack | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" | 4 June 1944 | — |
| 70 | Alfons König | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves | Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 199 "List" | 9 June 1944 | — KIA 8 July 1944 |
| 71 | Michael Wittmann | Waffen-SS | 14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer | Chief of the 2./schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 | 22 June 1944 | KIA 8 August 1944 |
| 72 | Eduard Dietl | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of 20. Gebirgsarmee | 1 July 1944* | Killed in flying accident 23 June 1944 |
| 73 | Josef Priller | Luftwaffe | 16-LOberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" | 2 July 1944 | — |
| 74 | Friedrich Lang | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 1 | 2 July 1944 | — |
| 75 | Erich Hartmann+ | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 4 July 1944 | Awarded 18th Diamonds 25 August 1944 |
| 76 | Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 26. Panzer-Division | 4 July 1944 | — |
| 77 | Hans Dorr | Waffen-SS | 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer | Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania" | 9 July 1944 | Died of wounds 17 April 1945 |
| 78 | Anton Hackl | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 11 | 9 July 1944 | — |
| 79 | Reiner Stahel | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of Fester Platz Wilna | 18 July 1944 | — |
| 80 | Theodor Tolsdorff+ | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant | Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1067 and leader of a Kampfgruppe | 18 July 1944 | Awarded 25th Diamonds 18 March 1945 |
| 81 | Fritz Bayerlein | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of Panzer-Lehr-Division | 20 July 1944 | — |
| 82 | Johannes Steinhoff | Luftwaffe | 16-LOberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 77 | 28 July 1944 | — |
| 83 | Hermann Fegelein? | Waffen-SS | 19-WSS-Gruppenführer | Commander of 8. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer" | 30 July 1944 | Executed 28 April 1945 |
| 84 | Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer+ | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 | 30 July 1944 | Awarded 21st Diamonds 16 October 1944 |
| 85 | Fritz von Scholz Edler von Rarancze | Waffen-SS | 19-WSS-Gruppenführer | Commander of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland" | 8 August 1944* | KIA 28 July 1944 |
| 86 | Felix Steiner | Waffen-SS | 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS | Commanding general of III. germanische SS-Panzerkorps | 10 August 1944 | — |
| 87 | Walter Fries | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 29. Panzergrenadier Division | 11 August 1944 | — |
| 88 | Kurt Bühligen | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" | 14 August 1944 | — |
| 89 | Dr. rer. pol., Dr. Ing. Johannes Mayer | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 329. Infanterie-Division | 23 August 1944 | — |
| 90 | Paul Hausser | Waffen-SS | 21-WSS-Oberstgruppenführer and Generaloberst of the Waffen-SS | Commander-in-chief of 7. Armee | 28 August 1944 | — |
| 91 | Kurt Meyer | Waffen-SS | 17-WSS-Standartenführer | Commander of 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" | 27 August 1944 | — |
| 92 | Robert Ritter von Greim | Luftwaffe | 21-LGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of Luftflotte 6 | 28 August 1944 | — |
| 93 | Ferdinand Schörner+ | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Nord | 28 August 1944 | Awarded 23rd Diamonds 1 January 1945 |
| 94 | Theodor Wisch | Waffen-SS | 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS | Commander of 1. SS-Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" | 30 August 1944 | — |
| 95 | Otto Baum | Waffen-SS | 17-WSS-Standartenführer | Commander of 2. SS-Panzer Division "Das Reich" | 2 September 1944 | — |
| 96 | Hans Kroh | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Leader of 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division | 12 September 1944 | — |
| 97 | Wilhelm Wegener | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commanding general of L. Armeekorps | 17 September 1944 | KIA 24 September 1944 |
| 98 | Theodor Nordmann | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Schlachtgeschwader 1 | 17 September 1944 | — |
| 99 | Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke+ | Luftwaffe | 19-LGeneralleutnant | Commander of fortress Brest | 19 September 1944 | Awarded 20th Diamonds simultaneously with the Swords 19 September 1944 |
| 100 | Otto von Knobelsdorff | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of XXXX. Panzerkorps | 21 September 1944 | — |
| 101 | Dr. med. dent. Karl Mauss+ | Heer | 18-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 7. Panzer-Division | 23 October 1944 | Awarded 26th Diamonds 15 April 1945 |
| 102 | Werner Ziegler | Heer | 15-HMajor | Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 186 | 23 October 1944 | — |
| 103 | Fritz Feßmann | Heer | 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves | Commander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 | 23 October 1944* | KIA 11 October 1944 |
| 104 | Hermann Recknagel | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commanding general of XXXXII. Armeekorps | 23 October 1944 | KIA 23 January 1945 |
| 105 | Maximilian Reichsfreiherr von Edelsheim | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 24. Panzer-Division | 23 October 1944 | — |
| 106 | Hans Källner | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 19. Panzer-Division | 23 October 1944 | KIA 18 April 1945 |
| 107 | Werner Mummert | Heer | 17-HOberst of the Reserves | Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 103 | 23 October 1944 | — |
| 108 | Josef Wurmheller | Luftwaffe | 14-LHauptmann | Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" | 24 October 1944* | KIA 22 June 1944 |
| 109 | Dr. rer. pol. Hermann Hohn | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 72. Infanterie-Division | 31 October 1944 | — |
| 110 | Hans von Obstfelder | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commanding general of LXXXVI. Armeekorps | 5 November 1944 | — |
| 111 | Ernst-Günther Baade | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 90. Panzergrenadier Division | 16 November 1944 | KIA 8 May 1945 |
| 112 | Karl-Lothar Schulz | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Leader of 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division | 18 November 1944 | — |
| 113 | Otto Kittel | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 2./Jagdgeschwader 54 | 25 November 1944 | KIA February 14/16 1945 |
| 114 | Georg Freiherr von Boeselager | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant | Leader of 3. Kavallerie-Brigade | 28 November 1944* | KIA 26 August 1944 |
| 115 | Helmuth Weidling | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Artillerie | Commanding general of XXXXI. Panzerkorps | 28 November 1944 | — |
| 116 | Heinz Harmel | Waffen-SS | 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS | Commander of 10. SS-Panzer Division "Frundsberg" | 15 December 1944 | — |
| 117 | Traugott Herr | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of LXXVI. Panzerkorps | 18 December 1944 | — |
| 118 | Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt | Heer | 19-HGeneralleutnant | Commander of 98. Infanterie-Division | 24 December 1944 | — |
| 119 | Joachim Peiper | Waffen-SS | 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer | Commander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" | 11 January 1945 | — |
| 120 | Walter Krüger | Waffen-SS | 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS | Commanding general of VI. Waffen-Armeekorps der SS | 11 January 1945 | Committed suicide 22 May 1945 |
| 121 | Wolfgang Kretzschmar | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of Jäger-Regiment 24 (L) | 12 January 1945* | KIA 27 December 1944 |
| 122 | Dr. jur. Lothar Rendulic | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of 20. Gebirgs-Armee | 18 January 1945 | — |
| 123 | Maximilian Wengler | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 227. Infanterie-Division | 21 January 1945 | KIA 25 April 1945 |
| 124 | Walther Nehring | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of XXIV. Panzerkorps | 22 January 1945 | — |
| 125 | Hermann Hogeback | Luftwaffe | 16-LOberstleutnant | Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 6 | 26 January 1945 | — |
| 126 | Erich Rudorffer | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 54 | 26 January 1945 | — |
| 127 | Friedrich Kirchner | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of LVII. Panzerkorps | 26 January 1945 | — |
| 128 | Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commanding general of LXVIII. Armeekorps | 27 January 1945 | — |
| 129 | Helmut Dörner | Waffen-SS | 17-WSS-Oberführer | Leader of a Kampfgruppe in the 4. SS-Polizei Panzergrenadier Division | 1 February 1945 | KIA 11 February 1945 |
| 130 | Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert | Luftwaffe | 13-LOberleutnant | Staffelkapitän of the 14./Jagdgeschwader 27 | 1 February 1945 | — |
| 131 | Erich Walther | Luftwaffe | 17-LOberst | Leader of Fallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring" | 1 February 1945 | — |
| 132 | Max Sachsenheimer | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 17. Infanterie-Division | 6 February 1945 | — |
| 133 | Gerd von Rundstedt | Heer | 22-HGeneralfeldmarschall | OB West | 18 February 1945 | — |
| 134 | Dietrich von Müller | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 16. Panzer-Division | 20 February 1945 | — |
| 135 | Friedrich Schulz | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commander-in-chief of 17. Armee | 26 February 1945 | — |
| 136 | Gotthard Heinrici | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | Commander-in-chief of 1. Panzerarmee | 3 March 1945 | — |
| 137 | Heinz-Georg Lemm | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant | Commander of Füsilier-Regiment 27 | 15 March 1945 | — |
| 138 | Otto Kumm | Waffen-SS | 18-WSS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS | Commander of 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen" | 17 Mar 1945 | — |
| 139 | Walter Hartmann | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Artillerie | Commanding general of VIII. Armeekorps | 18 March 1945 | — |
| 140 | Georg Bochmann | Waffen-SS | 17-WSS-Oberführer | Leader of 18. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel" | 30 March 1945 | — |
| 141 | Arthur Jüttner | Heer | 17-HOberst | Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 164 | 5 April 1945 | — |
| 142 | Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 20. Panzer-Division | 17 April 1945 | — |
| 143 | Hellmuth Mäder | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of Führer-Grenadier Division | 18 April 1945 | — |
| (144) | Werner Schröer | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" | 19 April 1945 | — |
| (145) | Wilhelm Batz | Luftwaffe | 15-LMajor | Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 52 | 21 April 1945 | — |
| (146) | Johannes Blaskowitz | Heer | 21-HGeneraloberst | OB Niederlande | 24 April 1945 | — |
| (147) | Hermann Niehoff? | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commander of fortress Breslau | 26 April 1945 | — |
| (148) | Hermann-Heinrich Behrend | Heer | 18-HGeneralmajor | Commander of 490. Infanterie-Division | 26 April 1945 | — |
| (149) | Karl Decker? | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of XXXIX. Panzerkorps | 26 April 1945* | Committed suicide 21 April 1945 |
| (150) | Otto Weidinger? | Waffen-SS | 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer | Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4 "Der Führer" | 6 May 1945 | — |
| (151) | Günther-Eberhardt Wisliceny? | Waffen-SS | 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer | Commander of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland" | 6 May 1945 | — |
| (152) | Sylvester Stadler? | Waffen-SS | 17-WSS-Oberführer | Commander of 9. SS-Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen" | 6 May 1945 | — |
| (153) | Wilhelm Bittrich? | Waffen-SS | 20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS | Commanding general of II. SS-Panzerkorps | 6 May 1945 | — |
| (154) | Fritz-Hubert Gräser? | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commander-in-chief of 4. Panzerarmee | 8 May 1945 | — |
| (155) | Eugen Meindl? | Luftwaffe | 20-LGeneral der Fallschirmtruppe | Commanding general of II. Fallschirm-Korps | 8 May 1945 | — |
| (156) | Karl Alfred Thieme? | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant | Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111 | 9 May 1945 | — |
| (157) | Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz? | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Panzertruppe | Commanding general of XXXXVII. Panzerkorps | 9 May 1945 | — |
| (158) | Otto Hitzfeld? | Heer | 20-HGeneral der Infanterie | Commanding general of LXVII. Armeekorps | 9 May 1945 | — |
| (159) | Josef Bremm? | Heer | 16-HOberstleutnant | Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 990 | 9 May 1945 | — |
| | Isoroku Yamamoto | Imperial Japanese Navy | 22-MFleet Admiral | Commander-in-chief of the IJN Combined Fleet | 27 May 1943* | KIA 18 April 1943 |
| Rank on day of award | Heer | Waffen-SS | Kriegsmarine | Luftwaffe | Foreigners | Totals |
| Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral | 4 | | | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Generaloberst / Generaladmiral | 8 | 1 | | 1 | | 10 |
| General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral | 21 | 4 | | 1 | | 26 |
| Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral | 13 | 3 | | 2 | | 18 |
| Generalmajor / Konteradmiral | 12 | 4 | | | | 16 |
| Oberst / Kapitän zur See | 7 | 6 | | 7 | | 20 |
| Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän | 8 | 4 | | 6 | | 18 |
| Major / Korvettenkapitän | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | | 18 |
| Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant | 1 | | 4 | 15 | | 20 |
| Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See | | 1 | | 5 | | 6 |
| Leutnant / Leutnant zur See | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Totals | 77 | 24 | 5 | 53 | 1 | 160 |

## 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. A total of 7 awards were made in 1940; 50 in 1941; 111 in 1942; 192 in 1943; 328 in 1944, and 194 in 1945, giving a total of 882 recipients—excluding the 8 foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
The number of 882 Oak Leaves recipients is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Author Veit Scherzer has challenged the validity of 27 of these listings. With the exception of Hermann Fegelein, all 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 the nominations unfinished in various stages of the approval process.
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1940–1941)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1942)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1943)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1944)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves recipients (1945)
| Rank on day of award | Heer | Waffen-SS | Kriegsmarine | Luftwaffe | Foreigners | Totals |
| Generalfeldmarschall / Großadmiral | 6 | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| Generaloberst / Generaladmiral | 11 | | | 3 | 1 | 15 |
| General der Infanterie etc. / Admiral | 50 | 8 | 2 | 4 | | 64 |
| Generalleutnant / Vizeadmiral | 77 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 91 |
| Generalmajor / Konteradmiral | 43 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 59 |
| Oberst / Kapitän zur See | 78 | 12 | 5 | 8 | | 103 |
| Oberstleutnant / Fregattenkapitän | 47 | 19 | 3 | 19 | | 88 |
| Major / Korvettenkapitän | 73 | 9 | 11 | 53 | 1 | 147 |
| Hauptmann / Kapitänleutnant | 68 | 6 | 24 | 76 | | 174 |
| Oberleutnant / Oberleutnant zur See | 19 | 4 | 5 | 40 | | 68 |
| Leutnant / Leutnant zur See | 11 | 1 | | 21 | | 33 |
| Stabsfeldwebel / Stabswachtmeister | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Oberfeldwebel / Oberwachtmeister | 17 | | | 7 | | 24 |
| Feldwebel / Wachtmeister | 5 | | | 4 | | 9 |
| Unteroffizier / Oberjäger | 3 | | | | | 3 |
| Totals | 509 | 74 | 53 | 246 | 8 | 890 |

## 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 September 1, 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation of the renewing of the Iron Cross).
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (A)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Ba–Bm)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Bn–Bz)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (C)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (D)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (E)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (F)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (G)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Ha–Hm)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Hn–Hz)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (I)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (J)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Ka–Km)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Kn–Kz)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (L)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (M)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (N)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (O)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (P)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Q)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (R)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Sa–Schr)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Schu–Sz)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (T)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (U)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (V)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (W)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (X)
* List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Z)
| Beginning letter | Recipients According to AKCR | Additional recipients According to Veit Scherzer | Delisted According to AKCR | Disputed According to Veit Scherzer |
| A | 118 | — | 1 | 3 |
| Ba–Bm, Bn–Bz | 368 + 357 = 725 | — | 1 | 13 + 8 = 21 |
| C | 82 | — | — | — |
| D | 238 | — | — | 6 |
| E | 188 | — | — | 3 |
| F | 280 | — | 1 | 12 |
| G | 380 | — | 1 | 11 |
| Ha–Hm, Hn–Hz | 437 + 224 = 661 | — | 1 | 15 + 14 = 29 |
| I | 26 | — | — | — |
| J | 142 | — | 1 | 4 |
| Ka–Km, Kn–Kz | 289 + 428 = 717 | — | 1 | 4 + 8 = 12 |
| L | 386 | — | — | 16 |
| M | 457 | — | 1 | 7 |
| N | 145 | — | 2 | 2 |
| O | 82 | — | — | 2 |
| P | 324 | — | 1 | 5 |
| Q | 7 | — | — | — |
| R | 447 | 1 | — | 11 |
| Sa–Schr, Schu–Sz | 457 + 603 = 1,060 | — | — | 11 + 14 = 25 |
| T | 182 | — | — | 5 |
| U | 32 | — | — | 1 |
| V | 92 | — | — | 5 |
| W | 446 | — | — | 11 |
| X | 1 | — | — | — |
| Z | 103 | — | — | 2 |
| Totals | 7,321 | 1 | 11 | 193 |

### Non-existent recipients

Since the end of World War II, numerous people have claimed to be unrecognised recipients of the Knight's Cross. The majority of these "recipients" are lacking any evidence to sustain their claims and are thus denied the right to consider themselves "legal recipients". There are two cases where the legal proof of the award exists even though the recipients do not. These two "legally correct" recipients are Günther Nowak and Heinrich Scherhorn.
Günther Nowak, Hitlerjugend, was awarded the Knight's Cross on 14 February 1945 for the destruction of eleven tanks in Hindenburg, Oberschlesien. It was always assumed that he was the youngest recipient of the Knight's Cross; however, Günther Nowak never really existed — a deserting Commander of the Volkssturm named Sachs was caught and claimed that, after the retreat of the Wehrmacht, he had destroyed five tanks single-handedly. Because of this, he was taken to a Gauleiter. Fearing that his lie would be unveiled, he created the story of Günther Nowak in order to lessen his own "feat". This report was then sent to Reichsleiter Martin Bormann. Bormann immediately awarded the German Cross in Gold to the Volkssturm-Commander Sachs and the Knight's Cross to Nowak.

## Foreign recipients

Foreign servicemen who did not serve in the German Wehrmacht or the Waffen-SS during World War II and were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross or its higher grade the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves are listed in the List of foreign recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.