War Merit Cross
There was one extra grade of the War Merit Cross, which was created at the suggestion of Albert Speer: "The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold" (), but this was never officially placed on the list of national awards as it came about in late 1944 and there was no time to officially promulgate the award before the war ended. The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold (without swords) was awarded 'on paper' to two recipients on 20 April 1945: Franz Hahne and Karl-Otto Saur.