serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date rank image article_title name
1934 -- 45 '' luftwaffe '' -lrb- 1935 -- 45 -rrb- heer '' -lrb- 1934 -- 35 -rrb- '' i. kg 54 / kg 4 iii . / kg 76 uelzen 23 april 2003 finsterwalde nazi germany kg 100 kg 4 kg 76 kg 54 knight leaves 's cross of the iron cross with oak world war ii 13 january 1914 oberstleutnant hansgeorg bätcher.jpg hansgeorg bätcher
 hansgeorg bätcher
hansgeorg bätcher

hansgeorg bätcher -lrb- 13 january 1914 -- 23 april 2003 -rrb- was a highly decorated oberstleutnant bomber pilot in the luftwaffe during world war ii , and one of only 882 recipients of the knight 's cross of the iron cross with oak leaves .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross and its higher grade oak leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
hansgeorg bätcher was captured by american troops in may 1945 .
