List of Knight's Cross recipients 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Encyclopedia
The 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking. was a German
Waffen SS division recruited from foreign volunteers. During the course of World War II
, the division progressed from a motorised infantry
, Regiment
formation to a full-fledged Panzer division
. It saw action on the Eastern Front
during the war.
After the success of the Waffen SS during the early war campaigns in Poland and the West, it was decided to expand the number of Waffen SS divisions. Due to the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark
, Belgium
, the Netherlands
and Norway
, a decision was made to form a volunteer division.
This unit, originally organized as the Nordische Division (Nr.5), was to be made up of Nordic
volunteers mixed with ethnic German Waffen-SS veterans. To this end, the Germania motorised infantry regiment from the SS-Division Verfügungstruppe was removed from the division in late 1940. In December, Germania was dissolved and the troops were used as a basis for the formation of a new SS motorised formation, now to be designated SS-Division (mot.) Germania. During its formative period, the division's name was changed again, to SS-Division (mot.) Wiking. in January 1941.
The division was formed around three motorised infantry regiments: Germania, formed mostly from ethnic Germans; Westland, consisting mainly of Dutch and Flemish volunteers; and Nordland, composed mostly of Danes, Swedes and Norwegians. Command of the newly formed division was given to SS-Brigadeführer Felix Steiner
, the former commander of the Verfügungstruppe Deutschland Regiment.
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 September 1, 1939 instituted the Iron Cross
and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. As the war progressed some of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to 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 June 3, 1940. In 1941 two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of September 28, 1941 introduced the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the last and final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of December 29, 1944 concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.
First Class, though the Iron Cross I Class was awarded concurrently with the Knight's Cross in rare cases.
Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for exemplary conduct by the unit as a whole.
:
SS Panzerjäger
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Waffen SS division recruited from foreign volunteers. During the course of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the division progressed from a motorised infantry
Motorised infantry
In NATO and most other western countries, motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers, infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles...
, Regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
formation to a full-fledged Panzer division
Panzer Division
A panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
. It saw action on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
during the war.
After the success of the Waffen SS during the early war campaigns in Poland and the West, it was decided to expand the number of Waffen SS divisions. Due to the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, a decision was made to form a volunteer division.
This unit, originally organized as the Nordische Division (Nr.5), was to be made up of Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
volunteers mixed with ethnic German Waffen-SS veterans. To this end, the Germania motorised infantry regiment from the SS-Division Verfügungstruppe was removed from the division in late 1940. In December, Germania was dissolved and the troops were used as a basis for the formation of a new SS motorised formation, now to be designated SS-Division (mot.) Germania. During its formative period, the division's name was changed again, to SS-Division (mot.) Wiking. in January 1941.
The division was formed around three motorised infantry regiments: Germania, formed mostly from ethnic Germans; Westland, consisting mainly of Dutch and Flemish volunteers; and Nordland, composed mostly of Danes, Swedes and Norwegians. Command of the newly formed division was given to SS-Brigadeführer Felix Steiner
Felix Steiner
Felix Martin Julius Steiner was a German Reichswehr and Waffen-SS officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, the former commander of the Verfügungstruppe Deutschland Regiment.
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments
Coming into force
Coming into force or entry into force refers to the process by which legislation, regulations, treaties and other legal instruments come to have legal force and effect...
. The first enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of September 1, 1939 instituted the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. As the war progressed some of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to 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 June 3, 1940. In 1941 two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of September 28, 1941 introduced the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the last and final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of December 29, 1944 concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.
Prerequisites
To qualify for the Knight's Cross, a soldier had to already hold the 1939 Iron CrossIron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
First Class, though the Iron Cross I Class was awarded concurrently with the Knight's Cross in rare cases.
Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for exemplary conduct by the unit as a whole.
Grades
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was divided into five grades, excluding the Grand Cross of the Iron CrossGrand Cross of the Iron Cross
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was a decoration intended for victorious generals of the Prussian Army and its allies. It was the highest class of the Iron Cross. Along with the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the Grand Cross was founded on March 10, 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. It was...
:
- Knights Cross
- Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and swords
- Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
- Knights Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Knight's Cross with Diamonds
- Herbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto Gille was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during World War II...
, 19.04.1944 GruppenführerGruppenführerGruppenführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party, first created in 1925 as a senior rank of the SA.-SS rank:...
and Generalleutnant of Waffen SS Commander 5th SS Panzer Div Wiking
Knight's Cross with Swords
- August DieckmannAugust DieckmannAugust Dieckmann was a highly decorated Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 10.10.1943 ObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
Commander 10th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Hans DorrHans DorrHans Dorr was a German Waffen-SS Obersturmbannführer who served with the 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and was a commander of the SS-Regiment Germania. He was wounded 16 times during WWII and died at a Field hospital near Judenburg only a month before the war's end...
, 09.07.1944 SturmbannführerSturmbannführerSturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Commander 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Herbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto Gille was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during World War II...
, 20.02.1944 Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der W-SS Commander 5th SS Panzer Div Wiking
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
- August DieckmannAugust DieckmannAugust Dieckmann was a highly decorated Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 16.04.1943 SturmbannführerSturmbannführerSturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Commander I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Hans DorrHans DorrHans Dorr was a German Waffen-SS Obersturmbannführer who served with the 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and was a commander of the SS-Regiment Germania. He was wounded 16 times during WWII and died at a Field hospital near Judenburg only a month before the war's end...
, 13.11.1943 HauptsturmführerHauptsturmführerHauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
Commander I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Herbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto Gille was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during World War II...
, 01.11.1943 BrigadeführerBrigadeführerSS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
und Generalmajor der W-SS Commander SS Panzer Gren.Div Wiking - Franz HackFranz HackFranz Hack was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and the Close Combat Clasp in Gold....
, 18.04.1945 ObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
Commander 10th SS Panzer Gren.Rgt Westland - Johannes MühlenkampJohannes MühlenkampJohannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp was a Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS during the World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves on September 21, 1944.-Early life:...
, 21.09.1944 StandartenführerStandartenführerStandartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
Commander 5th SS-Panzer.Div Wiking - Walter SchmidtWalter Schmidt (SS officer)Walter Schmidt was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves, an award that recognized extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Walter Schmidt joined the...
, 14.05.1944 Hauptsturmführer Commander II./10th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Felix SteinerFelix SteinerFelix Martin Julius Steiner was a German Reichswehr and Waffen-SS officer who served in both World War I and World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 23.12.1942 GruppenführerGruppenführerGruppenführer was an early paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party, first created in 1925 as a senior rank of the SA.-SS rank:...
and Generalleutnant of Waffen SS Commander SS-Pz.Gren.Div Wiking - Fritz VogtFritz VogtFritz Vogt was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.Vogt volunteered for the SS in April 1935 and was posted to the Germania Regiment...
, 16.03.1945 Hauptsturmführer Commander I./23rd SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Norge
SS Panzer Regiment 5 Wiking
- Helmut BauerHelmut BauerHelmut Bauer was a Obersturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Helmut Bauer was born on the 2...
, 12.09.1943 OberscharführerOberscharführerOberscharführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between the years of 1932 and 1945. Translated as “Senior Squad Leader”, Oberscharführer was first used as a rank of the Sturmabteilung and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions required by growing SA membership...
platoon commander, 3rd company 5th SS Panzer Rgt Wiking - Fritz DargesFritz DargesFritz Darges was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 05.04.1945 Obersturmbannführer Commander 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Sepp DraxenbergerSepp DraxenbergerSepp Draxenberger was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 17.04.1945 HauptscharführerHauptscharführerHauptscharführer was a Nazi paramilitary rank which was used by the Schutzstaffel between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank was the highest enlisted rank of the SS, with the exception of the special Waffen-SS rank of Sturmscharführer....
platoon commander HQ company, 5th SS Pz.Rgt Wiking - Hans FlügelHans FlügelHans Flügel was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Hans Flügel was born on the 13...
, 16.10.1944 Hauptsturmführer Commander II./5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Alfred GroßrockAlfred GroßrockAlfred Großrock was a Obersturmführer , in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 12.08.1944 Untersturmführer platoon commander 6th Company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Willy Hein, 04.05.1944 Obersturmführer Commander 2nd Company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking
- Karl Heinz LichteKarl Heinz LichteKarl Heinz Lichte was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.Karl Heinz Lichte was awarded the Knight's Cross while in command of the 5th Company, 5th SS Panzer Regiment, 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking on the 25 March 1945.The...
, 06.05.1945 Hauptsturmführer Commandeer 5th Company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Johannes MühlenkampJohannes MühlenkampJohannes-Rudolf Mühlenkamp was a Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS during the World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves on September 21, 1944.-Early life:...
, 03.09.1942 Sturmbannführer Commander 5th Pz.Btn SS-Div Wiking - Karl Nicolussi-LeckKarl Nicolussi-LeckKarl Nicolussi-Leck was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.-Early life:Karl Nicolussi-Leck was born on the 14 March 1917, in Pfatten in South Tyrol...
, 09.04.1944 Obersturmführer Commander 8th Company, 5th SS.Pz.Rgt Wiking - Karl PicusKarl PicusKarl Picus was a Obersturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, 17.04.1945 Obersturmführer 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Hugo Ruf, 16.10.1944 Oberscharführer platoon commander 3rd Company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking
- Otto SchneiderOtto SchneiderOtto Schneider was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Schneider was awarded the Knight's Cross...
, 04.05.1944 Obersturmführer Commander 7th company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Kurt SchumacherKurt Schumacher (SS officer)Kurt Schumacher was a Obersturmfuhrer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Schumacher was awarded the Knights Cross...
, 04.05.1944 Untersturmführer Commander 3rd Company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking - Paul SenghasPaul SenghasPaul Senghas was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Paul Senghas was born on the...
, 11.12.1944 Obersturmführer Commander 1st Company, 5th SS-Pz.Rgt Wiking
SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 9 Germania
- Fritz BiegiFritz BiegiFritz Biegi was a Standartenoberjunker in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 16.06.1944 Oberscharführer platoon commander 5th Company, 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Karl Heinz BühlerKarl Heinz BühlerKarl Heinz Bühler was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Karl Heinz Bühler was born on the...
, 06.05.1945 Obersturmbannführer Commander 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - August DieckmannAugust DieckmannAugust Dieckmann was a highly decorated Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 23.04.1942 Sturmbannführer Commander I./SS-Rgt (mot) Germania - Hans DorrHans DorrHans Dorr was a German Waffen-SS Obersturmbannführer who served with the 5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and was a commander of the SS-Regiment Germania. He was wounded 16 times during WWII and died at a Field hospital near Judenburg only a month before the war's end...
, 27.09.1942 Hauptsturmführer Commander 4th Company, SS-Inf.Rgt Germania' - Fritz EhrathFritz EhrathFritz Ehrath was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Fritz Ehrath was born on...
, 23.02.1944 Obersturmbannführer Commander 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Markus FaulhaberMarkus FaulhaberMarkus Faulhaber was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was given to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Life:Markus Faulhaber was born on 22 July...
, 25.12.1942 Obersturmführer Commander 2nd Company, SS-Rgt (mot) Germania - Egon FranzEgon FranzEgon Franz was a Unterscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 16.10.1944 Unterscharführer platoon commander, 3rd Company, 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Franz HackFranz HackFranz Hack was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and the Close Combat Clasp in Gold....
, 14.05.1944 Sturmbannführer Commander III.(gp.)/9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Hans JuchemHans JuchemHans Juchem was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, 12.09.1943 Hauptsturmführer Commander II./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Soeren Kam, 07.02.1945 Untersturmführer Commander 1st Company, 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania
- Werner MeyerWerner Meyer (SS officer)Werner Meyer was a highly decorated German Waffen-SS Captain.He was one of 98 soldiers to have been awarded both the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and Close Combat Clasp in Gold....
, 04.06.1944 Obersturmführer Commander 1st Company, 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Heinz MurrHeinz MurrHeinz Murr was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Heinz Murr was born on the 3 July 1919, in...
, 21.09.1944 Hauptsturmführer Commander III./9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Helmut PförtnerHelmut PförtnerHelmut Pförtner was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Hauptsturmführer Helmut Pförtner was...
, Helmut 18.01.1942 Untersturmführer platoon commander, 2nd Company, SS-Rgt Germania - Gustav SchreiberGustav SchreiberGustav Schreiber was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, 02.12.1943 Hauptscharführer Commander 7th company, 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Hans SigmundHans SigmundHans Sigmund was a Untersturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Hans Sigmund was awarded the Knight's...
, 05.04.1945 Oberscharführer platoon commander, 11th Company, 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Josef StyrJosef StyrJosef Styr was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 05.04.1945 Hauptscharführer platoon commander, 10th Company. 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania - Jurgen WagnerJürgen WagnerJürgen Wagner was a Brigadeführer in the Waffen SS during World War II, he was the commander of the 23rd SS Volunteer Panzer Grenadier Division Nederland and was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.-Early life:Jürgen Wagner was born on 9 September 1901 in Strasbourg, and was the son of Ernst...
, 24.07.1943 Oberführer Commander 9th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Germania
SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 10 Westland
- Hans DrexelHans DrexelHans Drexel was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Hans Drexel was born on the 12...
, 14.10.1943 Obersturmführer Commander II./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Bruno HinzBruno HinzBruno Hinz was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.Bruno Hinz joined the 10th Company, SS-Standarte Deutschland in Munich in October 1936 and was part of the forces connected with the Anschluss of Austria and the occupation of...
, 02.12.1943 Untersturmführer Commander 2nd Company, 10th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Gerhard LotzeGerhard LotzeGerhard Lotze was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Gerhard Lotze was killed in action in...
, 01.02.1945 Obersturmführer Commander 5th Company, 10th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Albert MullerAlbert Müller (Waffen SS)Albert Müller was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Hauptscharführer Albert...
, 04.08.1943 Hauptscharführer Pak.platoon commander, 4th Company, 10th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Erwin ReichelErwin ReichelErwin H. Reichel was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Erwin Reichel was born on...
, 28.02.1943 Sturmbannführer Commander SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Walter SchmidtWalter Schmidt (SS officer)Walter Schmidt was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves, an award that recognized extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Walter Schmidt joined the...
, 04.08.1943 Hauptsturmführer Commander III./10th SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Günther SitterGünther SitterGünther Sitter was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Sturmbannführer Günther Sitter was...
, 13.09.1943 Hauptsturmführer Commander II./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland - Erich ZepperErich ZepperErich Zepper was a Untersturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Erich Zepper was born on the...
, 02.12.1943 Hauptscharführer Commander 2nd Company, SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Westland
SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Nordland
(assigned until march 1943)- Harry PolewaczHarry PolewaczHarry Polewacz was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 23.12.1942 Sturmbannführer Commander III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt Nordland - Fritz von ScholzFritz von ScholzFritz von Scholz, Edler von Rerancze, known as Fritz von Scholz was an Austrian Austro-Hungarian Army and later German Waffen SS officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars....
18.01.1942 Oberführer Commander SS-Rgt Nordland11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division NordlandThe 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, also known as Kampfverband Waräger, Germanische-Freiwilligen-Division, SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11 or 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland, was a Waffen SS, Panzergrenadier division recruited from foreign volunteers...
SS Panzer Grenadier Battalion Narwa
(III./Nordland until 06/43)- Georg EberhardtGeorg EberhardtGeorg Eberhardt was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Georg Eberhardt was born on...
, 04.08.1943 Sturmbannführer Commander SS-Pz.Gren.Btn Narwa
5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien
- Léon DegrelleLéon DegrelleLéon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle was a Walloon Belgian politician, who founded Rexism and later joined the Waffen SS which were front-line troops in the fight against the Soviet Union...
, 20.02.1944 Hauptsturmführer Commander 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade WallonienThe 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien was formed from the 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien which was a Belgian Waffen SS volunteer brigade comprising volunteers of Walloon background...
SS Panzer Artillery Regiment 5 Wiking
- Herbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto GilleHerbert Otto Gille was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during World War II...
, 08.10.1942 Oberführer Commander ArtRgt der SS-Div Wiking - Joachim RichterJoachim RichterJoachim Richter was a Standartenführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Standartenführer Joachim Richter was...
, 23.02.1944 Obersturmbannführer Commander 5th SS-Pz.Art Rgt Wiking - Karl SchlamelcherKarl SchlamelcherKarl Schlamelcher was a Standartenführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Standartenführer Karl Schlamelcher...
, 01.03.1942 Hauptsturmführer Commander III./5th SS-Art Rgt Wiking
SS PanzerjägerPanzerjägerPanzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
Battalion 5 Wiking
- Willi EßlingerWilli EßlingerWilli Eßlinger was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 19.06.1943 Hauptscharführer platoon commander, 3rd Battery, Pz.Jäg Btn, SS-Pz.Gren.Div Wiking - Gerhard FischerGerhard Fischer (Waffen SS)Gerhard Fischer was an Oberscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany.-World War II:...
, 04.05.1944 Unterscharführer platoon commander, 3rd Battery, 5th SS-Pz.Jäg Btn Wiking - Paul TrabandtPaul TrabandtPaul Trabandt was a Hauptscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II....
, 14.10.1943 Hauptscharführer platoon commander, 2nd Battery, SS-Pz.Jäg Btn Wiking
SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 5 Wiking
- Heinrich DebusHeinrich DebusHeinrich Debus was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Heinrich Debus was born on the 30 June...
, 04.05.1944 Obersturmführer Commander 5th SS-Pz.Reconnaissance Btn Wiking
SS Panzer Pionier Battalion 5 Wiking
- Hugo EichhornHugo EichhornHugo Eichhorn was an Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Hugo Eichorn was born on...
, 15.01.1943 Hauptsturmführer HQ's 5th Pi.Btn, SS-Div Wiking - Eberhard HederEberhard HederEberhard Heder was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, 18.11.1944 Hauptsturmführer Commander 5th SS.Pz.Pi.Btn Wiking - Max SchäferMax SchäferMax Schäfer was a Standartenführer in the Waffen-SS, during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 12.02.1943 Obersturmbannführer Commander 5th SS-Pi.Btn Wiking
SS Flak Battalion 5 Wiking
- Alois SchnaubeltAlois SchnaubeltAlois Schnaubelt is a former Oberscharführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Schnaubelt, was the commander of...
, 16.11.1944 Unterscharführer Geschützführer, 3rd Battery, 5th SS-Flak Btn Wiking