These recipients are listed in the 1986 edition of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945]. Fellgiebel was the former chairman and head of the order commission of the AKCR. In 1996, the second edition of this book was published with an addendum delisting 11 of these original recipients. Author Veit Scherzer has cast doubt on a further 193 of these listings. The majority of the disputed recipients had been nominated for the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of Germany during the final days of World War II left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.[4]
Listed here are the 437 Knight's Cross recipients of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS whose last name is in the range "Ha–Hm".[5] Fellgiebel himself delisted one and Scherzer has challenged the validity of 15 more of these listings.[6][7] This is the first of two lists of all 661 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients whose last name starts with "H". The recipients whose last name is in the range "Hn–Hz" are listed at List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Hn–Hz).[8] The recipients are initially ordered alphabetically by last name. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded.
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.[9] As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.[10] 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).[11] 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.[12]
Recipients
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ha–Hm)
Service
Number of presentations
Posthumous presentations
Heer
276
23
Kriegsmarine
17
0
Luftwaffe
116
9
Waffen-SS
27
1
The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists for the Waffen-SS and for each of the three military branches, the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), and Luftwaffe (Air Force). Within each of these lists a unique sequential number was assigned to each recipient. The same numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades of the Knight's Cross, one list per grade.[13] Of the 437 awards made to servicemen whose last name is in the range "Ha–Hm", 40 were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, 12 the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and one the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds; 33 presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 276 of the medals; 17 went to the Kriegsmarine, 117 to the Luftwaffe, and 27 to the Waffen-SS.[5] The sequential numbers greater than 843 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and 143 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are denoted in parentheses.[14]
This along with the + (plus) indicates that a higher grade of Knight's Cross was awarded as well.
This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
This along with the ! (exclamation mark) indicates that author Walther-Peer Fellgiebel has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.
This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that author Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.
^The recommendation for Franz Hack's Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross was submitted to the Heerespersonalamt by the Division sometime between 16 and 19 April 1945 and approved by the commander of the IV. SS-Korps Herbert Otto Gille. Missing is the approval from the 6. Armee and Heeresgruppe Süd. There is no indication whether the recommendation was approved. The response from the Reichsführer-SS was prepared but missing is a date and signature. The existing card is not contemporary. There is no indication in the press that the award was presented. According to Fellgiebel Hack received the Oak Leaves from SS-Obergruppenführer and General of the SS Herbert-Otto Gille, commanding general IV. SS-Panzerkorps. The sequential number "844" and date of award were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[20]
^According to Scherzer 109th Oak Leaves on 7 August 1942 and 78th Swords on 12 July 1944.[17]
^ abcdefThe brackets around the doctor title [Dr.] denotes that the academic title was attained after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded.
^According to Scherzer in the 2./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5.[29]
^ abcAccording to Scherzer last name is spelled "Hahlbeck" and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded as Oberleutnant and company chief in Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment 901.[26]
^According to Scherzer as chief of the 1./Pionier-Bataillon 59.[29]
^No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Presumably Desiderius Hampel received the Knight's Cross the same day as Karl Liecke and Hans Hanke. Letter from Ernst-Günther Krätschmer to Von Seemen dated 7 August 1980. According to Von Seemen presumably presented by General Maximilian de Angelis.[33] The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed Hampel's case in 1980 and Fellgiebel decided: Knight's Cross yes, 3 May 1945. In his book he noted: "A justification for the presentation was not given". Hampel was member of the AKCR.[34][35]
^No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Hans Hanke, according to Ernst-Günther Krätschmer, was informed of the award by SS-BrigadeführerDesiderius Hampel and SS-ObersturmbannführerKarl Liecke. Both Hampel and Liecke supposedly received the Knight's Cross the same day—Letter from Krätschmer to Von Seemen dated 7 August 1980. Mr Meentz of the German Federal Archives stated on 20 July 2004 that it cannot be verified that Hanke received the Knight's Cross. According to Von Seemen the Knight's Cross was awarded by General Maximilian de Angelis. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed the case in 1980 and Fellgiebel decided: "Knight's Cross yes, 3 May 1945". Nevertheless Fellgiebel noted: No justification for the award.[34][35]
^No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Ernst-Günther Krätschmer—letter dated on 7 August 1980 to Gerhard von Seemen— the presentation was made in conjunction to the Oak Leaves presentation to Matthias Kleinheisterkamp and was announced via radio transmission on 28 April 1945 from the Führer Headquarters in Berlin to the 9. Armee (9th Army) in the Halbe pocket. The radio transmissions received by the AOK 9 (Armeeoberkommando 9 — high command of the 9th Army) in April 1945 were not retained. All communication to the Führerbunker in Berlin were out of order as of 5AM on 28 April. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed Kurt Hartrampf's case in 1980 and decided solely relying on the letter from Krätschmer: "Knight's Cross yes, 28 April 1945", Hartrampf was a member of the AKCR.[20]
^Johann Harzenetter's nomination by his unit was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 13 April 1945 and approved by MajorJoachim Domaschk on 14 April. A Heerespersonalamt-Verleihungsvorschlag (HPA-VV—Army Staff Office Nomination Recommendation) Nr. 5089 was created and forwarded on 21 April. There is no evidence that the nomination was approved or further processed. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.[45]
^ abAccording to Scherzer as Major im Generalstab (in the General Staff) and Ia (operations officer)/commander of the fortress Schneidemühl.[44]
^No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Walther-Peer Fellgiebel the presentation was made by FeldmarschallFerdinand Schörner, who at the time was not authorized to do so. Von Seemen references the history of the division. Also mentioned are exceptional actions and deeds which led to the presentation of the Knight's Cross (e.g. Knight's Cross for Hans Schönebeck on 23 March 1945). Rudolf Hasenputsch is mentioned twice in the history of the division. The chapter "Auseinanderfall der Division-The falling apart of the division" states that "the bridge company (Leutnant Hasenputsch), as a small pocket, returned to the German lines, and secondly in the section listing the Knight's recipients with a vague presentation date of April 1945. The history of the division does not describe the actions nor the presentation. A member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR), who could not find any evidence in the German Federal Archives regarding the presentation to Hasenputsch, wrote to Fellgiebel asking "Do you happen to have details and documents?". Fellgiebel responded on 6 May 1986 stating that "Hasenputsch, 27 April 1945, is noted under the recipients of Army Group Centre before 3 May 1945, therefore without authorization." Fellgiebel knew that the presentation, even if it occurred, was illegal. The question why Fellgiebel accepted and listed Hasenputsch as a Knight's Cross recipient is answered by the statement "Hasenputsch has been a member of the AKCR since the early beginnings".[46]
^According to Scherzer as commander of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment (12).[47]
^According to Scherzer name is spelled Edgar Hauckelt and no evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Krätschmer—letter dated on 7 August 1980 to Von Seemen— the presentation was made in conjunction to the Oak Leaves presentation to Matthias Kleinheisterkamp and was announced via radio transmission on 28 April 1945 from the Führer Headquarters in Berlin to the 9. Armee (9th Army) in the Halbe pocket. The radio transmissions received by the AOK 9 (Armeeoberkommando 9 — high command of the 9th Army) in April 1945 were not retained. All communication to the Führerbunker in Berlin were out of order as of 5AM on 28 April. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed Hauckelt's case in 1980 and decided solely relying on the letter from Krätschmer: "Knight's Cross yes, 28 April 1945".[49]
^According to Scherzer as adjutant in the Infanterie-Regiment 77.[47]
^The nomination by his unit was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) via teleprinter on 6 April 1945. This can be verified in the book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) and file card. A HPA nomination was never created or was not retained and according to the file card the nomination was numbered Nr. 5023 and forwarded for further processing. The file card indicates no further information. The presentation date according to Ernst-Günther Krätschmer was the 6 May 1945. Mr Meentz of the German Federal Archives stated on 20 July 2004 that it cannot be verified that Hans Havik (Johann Havik according to Scherzer) received the Knight's Cross. The presentation date 9 May 1945 was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.[53]
^Hans Heiland's nomination by his unit was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 12 April 1945 via teleprinter message. There is no file card in the archives. The book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) states an entry date of 12 April 1945. In the comment field is a short entry "follow-up on 10 May". Scherzer speculates that the approvals of the command chain were missing and had to be requested just like in many similar cases. The nomination was to be presented again to MajorJoachim Domaschk on 10 May. The nomination was never finalized and was left unfinished by the end of the war. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel. Heiland was a member of the AKCR.[59]
^According to Fellgiebel his name is spelled Conrad-Oskar Heinrichs, while Scherzer spells his name Konrad-Oskar Heinrichs, firstname with a "K" and not "C".[61][64]
^Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg, in connection with the 20 July plot, a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, was sentenced to death by the Reichskriegsgericht on 21 November 1944 and executed on 2 February 1945. The dishonourable discharge deprived him of all honours, ranks and orders.[59]
^According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 "Danmark".[66]
^According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Flieger-Ersatz-Bataillon Luftwaffen-Kommando Don.[66]
^According to Scherzer as captain of MS "Osorno" (Blockadebrecher (blockade runner)).[67]
^According to Scherzer as chief of the 6./SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 49 "De Ruiter".[67]
^According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 3.(F)/122.[70]
^According to Scherzer as chief of the 8./Flak-Lehr-Regiment (motorized).[70]
^According to Scherzer as leader battalion Hempel/Abschnitt Mitte in the fortress Kolberg.[70]
^Richard Hengstler's second version of the nomination by his unit was sent to the Oberkommando des Heeres/Heerespersonalamt P 5 (OKH/HPA P 5—Army Staff Office of the Supreme High Command of the German Army) on 6 April 1945 via the command chain of Heeresgruppe H and OB West. MajorJoachim Domaschk received this nomination on 26 April 1945 and forwarded it on 30 April to the responsible Luftwaffepersonalamt (LPA—Air Force Staff Office). The first version of the nomination was sent by the Heeresgruppe H to the Fallschirm AOK 1 on 6 April, which arrived via the command chain at the LPA on 24 April. The LPA sent this nomination with a courier to the adjutancy of the Reichsmarschall on 25 April and requested "Please present to the Reichsmarschall". Göring had been under arrest by the SS on the Obersalzberg since 23 April, this was evidently unknown to the LPA. Therefore the courier couldn't reach him. General Rudolf Meister, who had been authorized to make presentations of Knight's Cross on 28 April, decided against Hengstler and rejected his nomination. The non-contemporary file card states: "rejected ... Meister, General der Flieger and chief of the Luftwaffe PA 28 April 1945 see German Cross in Gold file card". Scherzer assumes that Hengstler received the German Cross instead. The presentation date stated by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel is that of the rejection note.[71]
^According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1.[72]
^According to Scherzer as commander of Pionier-Landungs-Regiment Stab (motorized) 770.[72]
^According to Scherzer as leader of the II./Werfer-Regiment 70 (for achievements as leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 99.[72]
^According to Scherzer as commander of Infanterie-Regiment 57.[72]
^According to Scherzer as adjutant in Panzergrenadier-Regiment 126.[74]
^According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 8./Infanterie-Regiment 418.[75]
^According to Scherzer as Leutnant des Beurlaubtenstandes (of the reserve status).[75]
^According to Scherzer exact date is unknown, stated is sometime 1945.[75]
^According to Scherzer as commander of Kampfgruppe "von Herff" (Schützen-Regiment 115).[78]
^Otto Herfurth, in connection with the 20 July plot, a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler, was deprived of all honours, ranks and orders and dishonourably discharged from the Heer on 14 August 1944. The civilian Herfurth was sentenced to death by the Volksgerichtshof on 29 September 1944 and executed the same day.[79]
^According to Scherzer as leader of the 4./schwere Flak-Abteilung 192 (deployable).[85]
^The nomination by his unit—which had only been approved by the division and the corps—was received by the main office of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 22 April 1945. It had been addressed to the liaison officer of the Reichsführer-SS with the HPA/P 5 and reached the department P 5 on 28 April. No file card was created. The book "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) states an entry date 28 April 1945. Additionally it contains the approval from MajorJoachim Domaschk "Knight's Cross yes". There is no further information regarding its presentation. According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The presentation date was assigned by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel.[79]
^According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 2.(F)/123.[85]
^According to Walther-Peer Fellgiebel Hermann Hessler is delisted without reason.[6]
^A lawful presentation via the chain of command to the chief of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) Wilhelm Burgdorf in Berlin submitted nomination is possible. Also possible is a direct presentation by Adolf Hitler. However no evidence of the award made to Heinz Heuer can be found in the German Federal Archives. The author Veit Scherzer argues that this is strange because Burgdorf had verifiably informed the HPA of direct presentations made in Berlin up to 26 April (including). Scherzer was denied access to files, which could help clarify the case, of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) on the grounds of the Bundesarchivgesetz (German Archive Law). The head of the order commission of the AKCR, Walther-Peer Fellgiebel, wrote in a letter to Heuer dated 24 November 1985: "evidently dubious, to put it mildly." Heuer was a member of the AKCR.[79]
^According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 4.(F)/14.[86]
^According to Scherzer as Richtschütze (gunner) in the 9./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 59.[86]
^ abAccording to Scherzer on 24 June 1944 as commander of Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment "Hermann Göring".[89]
^According to Scherzer as chief of the 4./Grenadier-Regiment 377.[89]
^According to Scherzer as commander of Flak-Bataillon (motorized) 609.[96]
^Otto Hitzfeld's nomination was rejected by MajorJoachim Domaschk on 30 April 1945 and commented: "This is not a nomination!" (Only leadership and organisational achievements, no personal bravery) he additionally noted: "missing in cauldron AOK 11". The nomination was thus assessed as insufficient as well as postponed according to AHA 44 Ziff. 572. The entry date noted on the nomination list for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross is 28 April 1945. The list indicates a note "deferred". The approval cannot be proven. The order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) handled the case in 1981 and decided: Swords yes, 9 May 1945. The AKCR claims that the award was presented in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "158" and presentation date was assigned by the AKCR. Hitzfeld was member of the AKCR.[98]
^"Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 849; 3 June 1940"(PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer[in German] (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN978-3-7909-0284-6.
Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN978-3-938845-17-2.
Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN978-3-7909-0051-4.