(Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten)

Date Instituted

29 December 1944

Requirements

* Awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
* Repeated acts of bravery above and beyond the call of duty (or a single act if it was of great importance)

This award was to be presented to the twelve most deserving germans after the war had been won by the Axis nations. Only one exception was made (the Stuka ace Hans-Ulrich Rudel) and this was to be the only one presented.

Number Awarded

1

Recipients

Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel

Known makers/markings

K

Comments

Photo courtesy of Peter

Sources used

Christopher Ailsby - World War 2 German medals and political awards
John R. Angolia - For Führer and Fatherland: Military awards of the Third Reich
David Littlejohn - Orders, decorations, medals and badges of the Third Reich

Reference material on this award

Dietrich Maerz - The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Stephen Thomas Previtera - The Iron Time: A History of the Iron Cross
Gordon Williamson - The Iron Cross
Gordon Williamson - The Iron Cross of 1939