List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (D)

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards given to the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded for a wide range of achievements and across all ranks, ranging from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of extreme gallantry.^[1] A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945.^{[Note 1]} This number is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich.^[3]

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 received the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of Germany in the final days of World War II in Europe left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.^[4]

Listed here are the 238 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "D".^[5] Scherzer has challenged the validity of six of these listings.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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).^[9] 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.^[10]

Recipients

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (D)

Service	Number of presentations	Posthumous presentations
Heer	149	18
Kriegsmarine	7	0
Luftwaffe	57	5
Waffen-SS	25	1

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists, one for each of the three military branches, Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air Force) and Waffen-SS. 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.^[11] Of the 238 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "D", 20 were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, six the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and one, Josef Dietrich, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds; 24 presentations were made posthumously. One hundred and forty-nine Heer members received the medal, seven went to the Kriegsmarine, 57 to the Luftwaffe, and 25 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 therefore denoted in parentheses.^[12]

  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 ? (question mark) indicates that historian Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.

Name	Service	Rank	Role and unit[Note 2]	Date of award	Notes	Image
Paul-Heinrich Dähne	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[13]	Staffelkapitän of the 12./Jagdgeschwader 11 (previously 2./Jagdgeschwader 52)[14][Note 3]	6 April 1944[Note 3]	—	—
Walther Dahl+	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[13]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[13][14]	11 March 1944[13]	Awarded 724th Oak Leaves 1 February 1945[13]	—
Hermann Dahlke	Waffen-SS	09-WSS-Oberscharführer[13]	Company troop leader in the 3./1. SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[13][15]	3 March 1943[13]	—
Kurt Dahlmann+	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[13]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Schnellkampfgeschwader 10[13][14]	11 June 1944[13]	Awarded 711th Oak Leaves 24 January 1945[13]	—
Hugo Dahmer	Luftwaffe	10-LOberfeldwebel[13]	Pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5[14][Note 4]	1 August 1941[Note 4]	—	—
Paul Dahms	Heer	14-HHauptmann[16]	Leader of Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 286[14][16]	3 November 1944[16]	—	—
Werner Dallmann	Waffen-SS	12-WSS-Untersturmführer[16]	Regiment adjutant of SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 53 "Florian Geyer"[17][Note 5]	17 January 1945[16]	—	—
Josef Dallmeier	Heer	12-HLeutnant[16]	Leader of Panzer-Jäger-Kompanie 1183[16][18]	28 March 1945[16]	—	—
Hans Dally	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[16]	Deputy commander of gemischte (joint) Flak-Abteilung 5 (L) (motorized)[16][17]	11 June 1944[16]	—	—
Friedrich-Karl Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[16]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[16][17]	21 July 1940*[16]	Killed in action 9 July 1940[17]	—
Dieter Damerius	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[16]	Leader of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 273[16][17]	24 February 1945[16]	—	—
Otto Damm	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[16]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 10./Grenadier-Regiment 216[16][17]	4 August 1943*[16]	Killed in action 16 July 1943[17]	—
Heinrich Dammeier	Kriegsmarine	11-MStabsobermaschinist[16]	Chief mechanic on U-270[16][17]	12 August 1944[16]	—	—
Hans Dammers	Luftwaffe	09-LFeldwebel[16]	Pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52[17][Note 6]	23 August 1942[16]	—	—
Werner Damsch	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[16]	Commander of the I./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25 "Hitlerjugend"[17][Note 7]	17 April 1945[16]	—	—
Paul Danhauser	Heer	17-HOberst[16]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 427[16][17]	10 February 1942[16]	—	—
Richard Daniel+	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[16]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 391[16][17]	25 July 1942[16]	Awarded (857th) Oak Leaves 30 April 1945[16]	—
Alexander Edler von Daniels	Heer	18-HGeneralmajor[19]	Commander of the 376. Infanterie-Division[17][19]	18 December 1942[19]	—	—
Alfred Dannebaum	Heer	14-HRittmeister[19]	Leader of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 24[18][19]	17 September 1944[19]	—	—
Franz Danowski	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[19]	Leader of the 10./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111[17][Note 8]	18 October 1944*[19]	Died of wounds 10 October 1944[17]	—
Hermann Danzer	Heer	12-HLeutnant[19]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 57[17][19]	21 December 1940*[19]	Killed in action 20 June 1940[17]	—
Fritz Darges	Waffen-SS	16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer[19]	Leader of SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"[17][Note 9]	5 April 1945[19]	—	—
Walter Dargies	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[19]	Battalion leader in Grenadier-Regiment 418[17][Note 10]	11 January 1943[19]	—	—
Wolfgang Darius	Heer	14-HHauptmann[19]	Commander of Panzer-Abteilung 21[17][19]	22 August 1943[19]	—	—
Paul-Friedrich Darjes	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[19]	Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Schlachtgeschwader 1[17][19]	14 October 1942[19]	—	—
Erich Darnedde	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[19]	Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 277[17][19]	8 February 1943[19]	—	—
Edmund Daser	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[19]	Staffelkapitän of the 1./Kampfgeschwader 40[17][19]	21 February 1941[19]	—	—
Karl Daske	Heer	14-HHauptmann[19]	Commander of Divions-Füsilier-Bataillon 12[17][19]	14 April 1945[19]	—	—
Rudi Dassow	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[19]	Pilot in the II./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"[17][19]	5 September 1944*[19]	Killed in action 25 August 1944[17]	—
Friedrich Dath	Heer	10-HOberwachtmeister[20]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 286[20][21]	9 December 1944[20]	—	—
Dr.-jur. Henning Daubert	Heer	17-HOberst[20]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 426[20][21]	5 March 1945[20]	—	—
Hans Daumiller	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[20]	Chief of the 11./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98[20][21]	29 September 1940[20]	—	—
Klaus Dauner	Heer	17-HOberst[20]	Commander of Jäger-Regiment 737[20][21]	16 November 1944[20]	—	—
Hans Dauser	Waffen-SS	09-WSS-Oberscharführer[20]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[20][21]	4 June 1944[20]	—	—
Ernst David	Heer	04-HObergefreiter[20]	Machine gunner in the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 118[20][21]	16 August 1943*[20]	Killed in action 11 August 1943[21]	—
Herbert Dawedeit	Luftwaffe	10-LOberfeldwebel[20]	Pilot in the 8./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[20][21]	29 February 1944[20]	—	—
Leo-Otto Debiel	Heer	10-HOberwachtmeister[20]	Battery officer in the 2./Artillerie-Regiment 253[20][21]	19 November 1944*[20]	Killed in action 9 October 1944[21]	—
Heinrich-Anton Deboi	Heer	18-HGeneralmajor[20]	Commander of the 44. Infanterie-Division[20][21]	10 September 1942[20]	—
Heinrich Debus	Waffen-SS	13-WSS-Obersturmführer[20]	Deputy leader of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5 "Wiking"[21][Note 11]	4 May 1944[20]	—	—
Otto Debus	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[20]	Observer in the 1.(H)/Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 12[21][Note 12]	5 April 1944[20]	—	—
Karl Decker+	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[20]	Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 3[20][21]	13 June 1941[20]	Awarded 466th Oak Leaves 4 May 1944[20] (149th) Swords 26 April 1945?[Note 13]	—
Bruno Dederichs	Heer	15-HMajor[24]	Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 409[21][24]	14 April 1945[24]	—	—
Johannes Deegener	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant im Generalstab[24]	Leader of Jäger-Regiment 49[21][24]	22 August 1943*[24]	Killed in action 31 July 1943[21]	—
Günther Degen	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[24]	Leader of the I./SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 11 "Reinhard Heydrich"[21][24]	7 October 1944[24]	—
Hans Degen	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[24]	Commander of the 2. Gebirgs-Division[21][24]	11 March 1945[24]	—	—
Franz Degl	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[24]	Group leader in the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 62[21][24]	23 October 1944[24]	—	—
Léon Degrelle+	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[Note 14]	Leader of SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade "Wallonien"[21][Note 14]	20 February 1944[24]	(no number) Oak Leaves 27 August 1944[24]
Ernst Dehmel	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[24]	Deputy leader of SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 3 "Totenkopf"[21][Note 15]	15 August 1943[24]	—
Ernst Dehner	Heer	18-HGeneralmajor[24]	Commander of the 106. Infanterie-Division[21][24]	18 October 1941[24]	—
Kurt Deichen	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[24]	Commander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3[24][25]	10 September 1943[24]	—	—
Paul Deichmann	Luftwaffe	19-LGeneralleutnant[24]	Commanding general of the II. Fliegerkorps[25][Note 16]	26 March 1944[24]	—	—
Hermann Deisenberger	Heer	15-HMajor[24]	Commander of the II./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 16[24][25]	20 October 1944[24]	—	—
Dr.-jur. Eduard Deisenhofer	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[26]	Commander of a Kampfgruppe in the 3. SS-"Totenkopf"-Division[27][Note 17]	8 May 1942[26]	—	—
Egon Delica	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[26]	Deputy leader of Sturmgruppe "Granit" in the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch"[26][27]	12 May 1940[26]	—
Paul Delius	Heer	15-HMajor[26]	Ia (operations officer) with the fortress commander Abschnitt 44 (section 44) general Matterstock[27][Note 18]	11 March 1945[26]	—	—
Waldemar Demand	Heer	12-HLeutnant[26]	Leader of the 1./Füssilier-Regiment 22[25][26]	17 March 1945*[26]	Killed in action 21 February 1945[25]	—
Rudolf Demme+	Heer	17-HOberst[26]	Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 59[25][26]	14 August 1943[26]	Awarded 537th Oak Leaves 28 July 1944[26]	—
August Dempke	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[26]	Messenger squadron leader in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 24[25][26]	17 March 1945[26]	—	—
Siegfried Deneke	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[26]	Group leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 166[25][26]	9 June 1944*[26]	Killed in action 16 March 1944[25]	—
Gustav Denk	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[26]	Pilot in the Stab II./Jagdgeschwader 52[25][26]	14 March 1943*[26]	Killed in action 13 February 1943[25]	—
Wilhelm Denk	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[26]	Leader of the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 74[25][26]	14 May 1944[26]	—	—
Walter Denkert	Heer	17-HOberst[26]	Deputy leader of the 19. Panzer-Division[25][26]	14 May 1944[26]	—	—
Oskar-Hubert Dennhardt+	Heer	15-HMajor[26]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 11 and regiment leader[25][Note 19]	17 March 1944[26]	Awarded (870th) Oak Leaves 9 May 1945?[Note 20]	—
Rudolf Denninger	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[26]	Chief of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 439[25][26]	1 September 1943[26]	—	—
Dipl.-Ing. Franz Denzinger	Heer	17-HOberst[29]	Commander of the regiment Stab Artillerie-Regiment 553 z.b.V.[25][Note 21]	5 September 1944[29]	—	—
Hans-Werner Deppe	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[29]	Chief of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 58[25][29]	14 August 1943[29]	—	—
Otto Deßloch+	Luftwaffe	18-LGeneralmajor[29]	Commanding general of the II. Flakkorps[25][29]	24 June 1940[29]	Awarded 470th Oak Leaves 10 May 1944[29]
Erich Dethleffsen	Heer	17-HOberst im Generalstab[29]	Chief of the Generalstab of the XXXIX. Panzerkorps[25][29]	23 December 1943[29]	—	—
Theodor Detmers	Kriegsmarine	16-MFregattenkapitän[29]	Commander of auxiliary cruiser Kormoran (HSK-8)[25][29]	4 December 1941[29]	—
Werner Dettenberg	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[Note 22]	Chief of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 852[25][29]	18 September 1944*[29]	Died of wounds 12 September 1944[25]	—
Oskar Dettke	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[29]	Staffelkapitän of the 9./Kampfgeschwader 55[29][30]	7 April 1945[29]	—	—
Ferdinand Deutsch?[Note 23]	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves	Leader of a Kampfgruppe[30]	6 May 1945	—	—
Heinz Deutsch	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant of the Reserves[29]	Leader of the 3./Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12[30][Note 24]	28 April 1945[29]	—	—
Erich Deutschländer	Heer	14-HHauptmann[29]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 328[29][30]	26 March 1944[29]	—	—
Siegfried Deutschmann	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[29]	Leader of the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 463[29][30]	11 December 1944[29]	—	—
Hugo Deventer	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[29]	Group leader of the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 31[29][30]	30 July 1943[29]	—	—
Hans-Werner Devers	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[29]	Chief of the 3./Aufklärungs-Abteilung 101[29][30]	2 June 1943[29]	—	—
Eckhardt von Dewitz	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[31]	Adjutant of the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143[30][31]	17 August 1943[31]	—	—
Anton Dicke	Heer	04-HObergefreiter[31]	Group leader in the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 3[30][31]	21 February 1943*[31]	Killed in action 26 January 1943[31]	—
Adolf Dickfeld+	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[31]	Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52[30][31]	19 March 1942[31]	Awarded 94th Oak Leaves 19 May 1942[Note 25]	—
Diddo Diddens+	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[31]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 185[30][31]	18 March 1942[31]	Awarded 501st Oak Leaves 15 June 1944[31]	—
August Dieckmann+	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[31]	Commander of the I./SS-Regiment "Germania"[30][Note 26]	23 April 1942[31]	Awarded 233rd Oak Leaves 16 April 1943 39th Swords 10 October 1943[31]
Josef Diefenthal	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[Note 27]	Commander of the III.(gepanzert)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[30][31]	5 February 1945[31]	—	—
Erwin Diekwisch	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[31]	Pilot in the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[30][Note 28]	15 October 1942[31]	—	—
Horst Dieling	Heer	12-HLeutnant[Note 29]	Leader of the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 434[30][31]	18 January 1944[31]	—	—
Otto Diem	Heer	09-HWachtmeister[31]	Gun leader in the 3.(schwere)/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 9[30][31]	23 September 1943*[31]	Killed in action 8 August 1943[30]	—
Erich Dienenthal	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[31]	Leader of the 2.(Radfahr)/Divisions-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 45[30][Note 30]	14 December 1941[31]	—	—
Johannes Dienhold	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant of the Reserves[31]	Chief of the 3./Flak-Regiment 23 (motorized)[30][31]	14 June 1941[31]	—	—
Max Diepold	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[32]	Staffelkapitän of the 10.(Panzer)/Schlachtgeschwader 77[30][32]	28 March 1945[32]	—	—
Hans Diergarten	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[32]	Ia (operartions officer) of the 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division "Florian Geyer"[30][32]	16 January 1944[32]	—	—
Karl-Heinz Dierks	Heer	14-HHauptmann[32]	Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 42[30][32]	13 January 1945[32]	—	—
Joachim Diesener	Heer	14-HHauptmann[32]	Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33[30][32]	9 June 1944[32]	—	—
Ulrich Diesing	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[32]	Geschwaderkommodore of Zerstörergeschwader 1[32][33]	6 September 1942[32]	—	—
Erich Diestel	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[32]	Commander of the 346. Infanterie-Division[32][33]	8 October 1944[32]	—	—
Eduard Dietl+	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[32]	Commander of the 3. Gebirgs-Division[32][33]	9 May 1940[32]	Awarded 1st Oak Leaves 19 July 1940 72nd Swords 1 July 1944[32]
Walter Dietlen	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[32]	Commander of Kradschützen-Bataillon 54[32][33]	4 December 1941[32]	—	—
Gerhard Dietrich	Luftwaffe	09-LFahnenjunker-Feldwebel[32]	Pilot in the Stab/Kampfgeschwader 55[32][33]	9 June 1944[32]	—	—
Johann Dietrich	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[32]	Chief of the 2./Flak-Regiment 49 (motorized)[32][33]	23 December 1942[32]	—	—
Josef Dietrich+	Waffen-SS	20-WSS-Obergruppenführer and General of the Waffen-SS[32]	Commander of SS-Infanterie-Regiment (motorized) "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[32][34]	4 July 1940[32]	Awarded 41st Oak Leaves 31 December 1941 26th Swords 14 March 1943 16th Diamonds 6 August 1944[32]
Karl-Heinz Dietrich	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[35]	Commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3[33][35]	26 June 1944[35]	—	—
Wilhelm Dietrich	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer and Hauptmann of the Schupo[35]	Leader of the III./SS-Polizei-Schützen-Regiment 1[34][35]	15 October 1944[35]	—	—
Bernhard Dietsche	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[35]	Commander of the II./SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 2[33][Note 31]	17 July 1943[35]	—	—
Edwin-Oskar Dietz	Heer	12-HLeutnant[35]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the I./Schützen-Regiment 11[33][35]	15 August 1940[35]	—	—
Valentin Dietz	Heer	14-HHauptmann[35]	Commander of the I./Jäger-Regiment 204[33][35]	30 December 1943[35]	—	—
Constantin Baron Digeon von Monteton	Heer	18-HGeneralmajor[Note 32]	Commander of the Armee-Waffenschule Panzer AOK 3[33][35]	14 August 1944*[35]	Killed in action 27 June 1944[33]	—
Bruno Dilley+	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[35]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[33][35]	4 June 1942[35]	Awarded 174th Oak Leaves 8 January 1943[35]	—
Fritz Dilz	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[35]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5[33][35]	18 January 1945[35]	—	—
Joseph Dimming	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[35]	Group leader in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Divisions-Gruppe 112[33][Note 33]	21 February 1944[35]	—	—
Fritz Dinger	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[35]	Staffelführer of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 53[33][35]	23 December 1942[35]	—	—
Ulrich Dinkelaker	Heer	17-LOberst[35]	Commander of Artillerie-Regiment 36 (motorized)[33][35]	9 December 1943[35]	—	—
Oskar Dinort+	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[36]	Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[33][Note 34]	20 June 1940[36]	Awarded 21st Oak Leaves 14 July 1941[36]	—
Wilhelm Dipberger	Luftwaffe	10-LFahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[36]	Observer in the Stab/Kampfgeschwader 6[36][37]	9 January 1945[36]	—	—
Josef Dirkmorfeld	Heer	04-HObergefreiter[36]	Group leader in the 2./Pionier-Bataillon 208[36][37]	12 March 1943[36]	—	—
Dr. Oskar Dirlewanger	Waffen-SS	17-WSS-Oberführer of the Reserves[36]	Commander of SS-Brigade "Dirlewanger"[37][Note 35]	30 September 1944[36]	—
Hans Ditter	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[36]	Company troop leader in the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7[36][37]	11 December 1944[36]	—	—
Johannes Dittfeld	Heer	15-HMajor[36]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 466[37][Note 36]	11 July 1944[36]	—	—
Heinrich Dittlof	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[36]	Chief of the 9./Grenadier-Regiment 422[36][38]	10 September 1944[36]	—	—
Joachim Dittmer	Heer	14-HHauptmann[36]	Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3[36][37]	3 April 1943[36]	—	—
Dr.-jur. Stefan Dittrich	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[36]	Chief of the 4./leichtes Artillerie-Regiment 46[36][37]	4 June 1944[36]	—	—
Kurt Dix	Heer	09-HFeldwebel[36]	Company troop leader in the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 510[36][37]	31 March 1943[36]	—	—
Karl Dixius	Heer	14-HHauptmann[36]	Commander of the I./Jäger-Regiment 229[36][37]	26 November 1944[36]	—	—
Hans Dobberkau	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[36]	Leader of the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 284[36][37]	21 September 1944[36]	—	—
Werner Dobberstein	Kriegsmarine	14-MKapitänleutnant[39]	Chief of the 5. Räumbootflottille[37][39]	4 September 1941[39]	—	—
[Dr.] Kurt Dobratz[Note 37]	Kriegsmarine	17-MKapitän zur See[39]	Commander of U-1232[37][39]	23 January 1945[39]	—	—
Anton Döbele	Luftwaffe	10-LOberfeldwebel[39]	Pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 54[37][Note 38]	26 March 1944*[39]	Killed in action 11 November 1943[37]	—
Hans Döbrich	Luftwaffe	09-LFeldwebel[39]	Pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5[37][39]	19 September 1943[39]	—	—
Diethelm von Doemming?[Note 39]	Heer	15-HMajor[27]	Commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9[27]	30 April 1945*[27]	Killed in action 29 April 1945[27]	—
Fritz Doench	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[39]	Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 30[37][39]	14 June 1940[Note 40]	—	—
Hans-Günther Doenicke	Heer	14-HHauptmann[39]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 71 (motorized)[37][39]	27 July 1944*[39]	Killed in action 1 July 1944[37]	—
Karl Dönitz+	Kriegsmarine	18-MKonteradmiral[39]	Befehlshaber der U-Boote (B.d.U.)[37][39]	21 April 1940[39]	Awarded 223rd Oak Leaves 6 April 1943[39]
Jost Dörfel	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[39]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Infanterie-Regiment 439[37][39]	4 March 1942[39]	—	—
Georg Dörffel+	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[39]	Staffelkapitän of the 5.(S)/Lehrgeschwader 2[37][39]	21 August 1941[39]	Awarded 231st Oak Leaves 14 April 1943[39]
Walter Dörflinger	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[39]	Deputy leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 332[37][39]	7 April 1944[39]	—	—
Hans-Joachim Doergens	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[39]	Leader of Pionier-Bataillon 225[39][40]	26 June 1944[39]	—	—
Alfred Doering	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[39]	Leader of the 11./Grenadier-Regiment 6[39][40]	2 February 1944[39]	—	—
Arnold Döring	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[41]	Pilot in the 10./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3[40][41]	17 April 1945[41]	—	—
Bernd von Doering	Heer	15-HMajor[41]	Commander of the II./Schützen-Regiment 79[40][41]	30 November 1940[41]	—	—
Ernst Doering	Heer	14-HRittmeister[41]	Commander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 329[40][41]	16 March 1944[41]	—	—
Johann Döring	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[41]	Messenger squadron leader in the I./Grenadier-Regiment 958[40][41]	5 April 1945[41]	—	—
Wilhelm Döring	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[41]	Observer in the 2./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[40][41]	19 February 1943	—	—
Hans-Wilhelm Doering-Manteuffel	Luftwaffe	17-LOberst[41]	Commander of Flak-Regiment 101 (motorized)[40][Note 41]	10 September 1944[41]	—	—
Friedrich Dörmann	Heer	14-HHauptmann zur Verwendung (for disposition)[41]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 528[40][41]	18 January 1944[41]	—	—
Karl Dörmann	Heer	12-HLeutnant[41]	Leader of the 9./Artillerie-Regiment 1542[40][41]	9 February 1945[41]	—	—
Werner Dörnbrack+	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[41]	Staffelkapitän of the 4.(S)/Lehrgeschwader 2[40][Note 42]	21 August 1941[41]	Awarded 660th Oak Leaves 25 November 1944[41]	—
Heinrich Dörnemann	Heer	15-HMajor[41]	Commander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 16[40][41]	28 November 1943[41]	—	—
Helmut Dörner+	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer and Major of the Schupo[41]	Commander of the II./SS-Polizei-Schützen-Regiment 2[40][41]	15 May 1942[41]	Awarded 650th Oak Leaves 16 November 1944 129th Swords 1 February 1945[41]	—
Franz Dörr	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[Note 43]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 5[40][Note 43]	19 August 1944[42]	—	—
Helmut Dörries	Luftwaffe	10-LFahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[42]	Observer in the 2.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 123[40][Note 44]	27 July 1944[42]	—	—
Josef Dörries	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[42]	Group leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 87[40][42]	5 April 1944[42]	—	—
Franz Doff	Heer	03-HGefreiter[42]	Group leader of the 10./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98[40][42]	20 July 1942[42]	—	—
Herbert Dohle	Heer	14-HHauptmann[42]	Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 317[40][42]	28 November 1943[42]	—	—
Friedrich Dollmann+	Heer	20-HGeneral der Artillerie[42]	Commander-in-chief of the 7. Armee[40][42]	24 June 1940[42]	Awarded 518th Oak Leaves 1 July 1944[42]
René Dollwet	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[42]	Leader of the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 485[40][42]	29 February 1944[42]	—	—
Erich Domaschk	Heer	14-HHauptmann[42]	Leader of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 103[42][43]	3 November 1942[42]	—	—
Joachim Domaschk+	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[42]	Leader of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108[40][42]	12 October 1943[42]	Awarded 496th Oak Leaves 11 June 1944[42]	—
Kurt Dombacher?[Note 45]	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant	Pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[40]	8 April 1945	—	—
Kurt Dombrowski	Heer	15-HMajor[Note 46]	Commander of the II./Sicherungs-Regiment 360[42][45]	17 December 1944[42]	—	—
Hans Dominik	Kriegsmarine	16-MFregattenkapitän[42]	Chief of the 9. Torpedobootflottille[42][45]	28 December 1944[42]	—	—
Otto Dommeratzky+	Luftwaffe	10-LOberfeldwebel[46]	Pilot in the 8./Schlachtgeschwader 1[45][46]	5 January 1943[46]	Awarded 665th Oak Leaves 25 November 1944[46]	—
Wilhelm Dommes	Kriegsmarine	14-MKapitänleutnant[46]	Commander of U-431[45][46]	2 December 1942[46]	—	—
Otto Domrich	Heer	14-HHauptmann[46]	Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2[45][46]	8 August 1943[46]	—	—
Gottfried Donat	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[46]	Chief of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 519[45][46]	24 April 1943[46]	—	—
Georg Donhauser	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[46]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Infanterie-Regiment 501[46][47]	26 September 1941[46]	—	—
Anton Donnhauser	Heer	14-HHauptmann[46]	Commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111[45][46]	18 July 1943[46]	—	—
Rudolf Donth	Luftwaffe	09-LFeldwebel[46]	Leader of the 6./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 4[45][46]	14 January 1945[46]	—
Paul Dorenbeck	Heer	17-HOberst[46]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 170[45][46]	4 June 1944[46]	—	—
Hans Dorfmeister	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[46]	Chief of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 355[45][46]	16 October 1944[46]	—	—
Hermann Dormann	Heer	14-HHauptmann[46]	Commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64[45][Note 47]	4 January 1943[46]	—	—
Heinrich Dorn	Heer	17-HOberst[46]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 7[45][46]	16 November 1944[46]	—	—
Otto Dorow	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[46]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 514[45][46]	3 April 1942[46]	—	—
Hans Dorr+	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[48]	Chief of the 4./SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Germania"[45][48]	27 September 1942[48]	Awarded 327th Oak Leaves 13 November 1943 77th Swords 9 July 1944[48]	—
Walter Dorsch	Heer	09-HFeldwebel[48]	Company troop leader in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 544[45][48]	14 April 1945[48]	—	—
Hans Dortenmann	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[48]	Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[45][48]	20 April 1945[48]	—	—
Paul Dose	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[48]	Staffelkapitän of the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[45][48]	4 May 1944[48]	—	—
Otto Doser	Heer	06-HOberjäger[48]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Jäger-Regiment 75[45][48]	14 March 1943[48]	—	—
Willi Dous	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[48]	Pilot in the 8./Kampfgeschwader 3 "Lützow"[45][48]	5 July 1941[48]	—	—
Paul Dowerk	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[48]	Chief of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 215[45][48]	15 January 1942[48]	—	—
Günther Drange	Heer	17-HOberst[48]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 428[45][48]	16 October 1944[48]	—	—
Johannes Dratwa	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[48]	Chief of the 2./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 184[45][48]	5 March 1945[48]	—	—
Sepp Draxenberger?[Note 48]	Waffen-SS	10-WSS-Hauptscharführer	Platoon leander in the Stabskompanie/SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"[47]	17 April 1945	—	—
Moritz von Drebber	Heer	17-HOberst[48]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 523[48][50]	30 June 1942[48]	—	—
Gerhard Drechsler	Heer	09-HFeldwebel[48]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 14[48][50]	11 April 1944[48]	—	—
Karl-Heinz Drees	Heer	03-HGefreiter[51]	Richtschütze (gunner) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 552[50][Note 49]	8 February 1944[51]	—	—
Johann Dreher	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[51]	Pilot in the 5./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[50][51]	5 April 1944[51]	—	—
Franz-Joseph Dreike?[Note 50]	Waffen-SS	14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves	Commander of SS-Flak-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"[50]	6 May 1945	—	—
Dipl.-Ing. Paul Drekmann	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[51]	Commander of the 252. Infanterie-Division[50][51]	28 March 1945[51]	—	—
Georg-Wilhelm Drescher	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant of the Reserves[51]	Chief of the Stabskompanie/Jäger-Regiment 24 (L)[50][51]	1 February 1945[51]	—	—
Otto Drescher	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[51]	Commander of the 267. Infanterie-Division[50][51]	6 April 1944[51]	—	—
Bernhard Dresel	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[51]	Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 326[50][51]	3 November 1944[51]	—	—
Albert Dressel	Heer	09-HFeldwebel[51]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Panzer-Abteilung 160[50][51]	13 October 1942[51]	—	—
Dr.-jur. Heinrich Heinrich Drewes	Heer	15-HMajor of the Reserves[51]	Commander of Kradschützen-Bataillon 10[50][51]	24 April 1943[51]	—	—
Martin Drewes+	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[51]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[50][Note 51]	27 July 1944[51]	Awarded 839th Oak Leaves 17 April 1945[51]
Wilhelm Drewes+	Heer	14-HHauptmann[51]	Leader of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13[50][51]	27 October 1943[51]	Awarded 458th Oak Leaves 20 April 1944[51]	—
Hans Drexel	Waffen-SS	13-WSS-Obersturmführer[51]	Deputy leader of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Westland"[51][52]	14 October 1943[51]	—	—
Johann Drexel	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[51]	Gun leader of the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 408[50][Note 52]	23 August 1943[51]	—	—
Josef Drexel	Heer	17-HOberst of the Reserves[53]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 436[50][53]	27 August 1944[53]	—	—
Hans Drexler	Heer	15-HMajor[53]	Commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 232[50][53]	14 August 1943[53]	—	—
Hans Drexler	Heer	14-HHauptmann[53]	Chief of the 4./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 129[50][53]	12 January 1945[53]	—	—
Oskar Drexler?[Note 53]	Waffen-SS	16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer	Commander of the SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 12 "Hitlerjugend"[50]	6 May 1945	—	—
Walter Drexler	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[53]	Commander of SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 8 "Florian Geyer"[50][Note 54]	11 December 1944[53]	—	—
Georg Dreyer	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[53]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1053[50][53]	5 November 1944[53]	—	—
Kurt Drössiger	Heer	03-HGefreiter[53]	Machine gunner in the 4./Infanterie-Regiment 415[50][53]	10 February 1942[53]	—	—
Herbert Droitsch	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[53]	Chief of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 187[53][55]	25 January 1945[53]	—	—
Hubertus Drolshage	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[53]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 41 (self-motorized)[55][Note 55]	6 April 1944[53]	—	—
Franz Drolshagen	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[53]	Group leader of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 698[53][55]	16 October 1944[53]	—	—
Hermann Dropmann	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[53]	Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 1050[53][55]	12 July 1944[53]	—	—
Leo Drossel	Heer	14-HHauptmann[53]	Commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 102[53][55]	19 July 1940[53]	—	—
Hans Droste	Heer	12-HLeutnant[53]	Shock troops leader in the 7./Infanterie-Regiment 124[53][55]	13 June 1941[53]	—	—
Hans Drude	Heer	10-HOberfeldwebel[56]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 14[55][56]	10 February 1945[56]	—	—
Wilhelm Drüke	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[56]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 294[55][56]	30 December 1944[56]	—	—
Ernst-Georg Drünkler	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[56]	Staffelkapitän of the 1./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5[55][56]	20 March 1945[56]	—	—
Alfred Druffner+	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[56]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 519[55][56]	6 April 1943[56]	Awarded 343rd Oak Leaves 30 November 1943[56]	—
Alfred Druschel+	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[56]	Staffelkapitän of the 2.(S)/Lehrgeschwader 2[55][Note 56]	21 August 1941[56]	Awarded 118th Oak Leaves 3 September 1942 24th Swords 19 February 1943[56]
Albert Dubicki	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[56]	Vorgeschobener Beobachter (artillery observer) in the 1./Werfer-Regiment 14[55][56]	12 August 1944[56]	—	—
Karl Dubigk	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[56]	Leader of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 131[56][57]	18 November 1944[56]	—	—
Gerhard Dudeck	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[56]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Transportgeschwader 2[55][56]	9 June 1944[56]	—	—
Rolf Düe	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[56]	Chief of the 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 19[55][56]	23 March 1945[56]	—	—
Ernst Düllberg	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[56]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 27[55][56]	20 July 1944[56]	—	—
Friedrich Dünkel	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[56]	Pilot in the 2./Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe "Tannenberg"[55][Note 57]	28 April 1945[56]	—	—
Edgar Dünker	Heer	14-HHauptmann[58]	Commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 336[55][58]	31 December 1941*[58]	Died of wounds 29 December 1941[55]	—
Joachim Dünkler	Heer	15-HMajor[58]	Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7[55][58]	18 February 1945[58]	—	—
Lothar Dünser	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[58]	Chief of the 8./Flak-Regiment 38 (motorized)[55][58]	26 August 1943*[58]	Died of wounds 14 August 1943[55]	—
Herbert Düppenbecker	Heer	14-HHauptmann[58]	Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 79[55][58]	4 October 1944[58]	—	—
Wilhelm Dürbeck	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[58]	Staffelkapitän of the 8.(K)/Lehrgeschwader 1[55][58]	3 December 1940[58]	—	—
Emil Dürr	Waffen-SS	06-WSS-Unterscharführer[58]	Gun leader in the 4.(schweres)/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 "Hitlerjugend"[55][58]	23 August 1944*[58]	Killed in action 27 June 1944[55]	—
[Dr.] Alfred Dürrwanger[Note 37]	Heer	14-HHauptmann[58]	Chief of the 10.(schweres)/Jäger-Regiment 83[58][59]	10 July 1942[58]	—	—
Alwin Düskow	Heer	14-HHauptmann[Note 58]	Commander of the II./Artillerie-Regiment 295[58][59]	21 March 1942[58]	—	—
Peter Düttmann	Luftwaffe	12-LLeutnant[58]	Pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52[58][59]	9 June 1944[58]	—	—
Walter Düvert	Heer	18-HGeneralmajor[58]	Commander of the 13. Panzer-Division[58][59]	30 July 1941[58]	—	—
Klaus Düwell	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[58]	Chief of the 12./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 137[58][59]	19 November 1941[58]	—	—
Günther Dumke	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[60]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 283[59][60]	6 March 1944*[60]	Killed in action 28 January 1944[59]	—
Andreas Dumßner	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[60]	Group leader in the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 423[59][60]	16 January 1945[60]	—	—
Christoph Duncker	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[60]	Leader of the 2./Pionier-Bataillon 158[59][60]	21 November 1942[60]	—	—
Konrad Dunkel	Heer	15-HMajor[60]	Commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 1542[59][60]	28 February 1945*[60]	Died of wounds 20 February 1945[60]	—
Wilhelm Durchdenwald	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[60]	Leader of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 544[59][60]	13 November 1942*[60]	Killed in action 17 August 1942[59]	—
Franz Dutter	Heer	15-HMajor[60]	Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 2[59][60]	20 March 1944[60]	—	—
Werner Duve	Heer	15-HMajor[60]	Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 183[59][60]	2 February 1945[60]	—	—
Adam Dyroff	Heer	15-HMajor[60]	Commander of the III./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 115[59][60]	11 December 1944[60]	—	—

Notes

1. Großadmiral and President of Germany Karl Dönitz, Hitler's successor as Head of State (Staatsoberhaupt) and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, had ordered the cessation of all promotions and awards as of 11 May 1945 (Dönitz-decree). Consequently the last Knight's Cross awarded to Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves Georg-Wolfgang Feller on 17 June 1945 must therefore be considered a de facto but not de jure hand-out.^[2]
2. For an explanation of the various naming schemes used by the Luftwaffe, Heer, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS refer to nomenclature used by the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS.
3. According to Scherzer on 8 April 1944 as Staffelkapitän of the 2./Jagdgeschwader 52.^[13]
4. According to Scherzer on 30 July 1941 as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 77.^[13]
5. According to Scherzer as adjutant in SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 53.^[16]
6. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52.^[16]
7. According to Scherzer as commander of the I./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25.^[16]
8. According to Scherzer as leader of the 10.(Pionier)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111.^[19]
9. According to Scherzer as leader of SS-Panzer-Regiment 5.^[19]
10. According to Scherzer as leader of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 418.^[19]
11. According to Scherzer as deputy leader of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5.^[20]
12. According to Scherzer as observer in the Aufklärungs-Staffel 11.(H)/12.^[20]
13. The German Federal Archives hold no records for the presentation of the Swords to Karl Decker. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) assumes that the presentation fell into the timeframe 20 April 1945 to 29 April 1945. It is assumed that the nomination was approved on 26 April 1945.^[22] Scherzer states that the assumption is based on a statement from Decker's widow. She claimed that she had been informed that her husband had received the award. The date and sequential number "149" were assigned by the AKCR.^[23]
14. According to Scherzer as SS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves and leader of the 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade "Wallonien".^[24]
15. According to Scherzer as deputy leader of SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 3.^[24]
16. According to Scherzer as commander of the 1. Flieger-Division.^[24]
17. According to Scherzer as commander of the I./SS-"Totenkopf"-Infanterie-Regiment 1.^[26]
18. According to Scherzer as Ia (operations officer)/commander fortress Abschnitt 44 (section 44).^[26]
19. According to Scherzer as leader of Grenadier-Regiment 11.^[26]
20. Major Joachim Domaschk, who processed the nomination at the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) from the troop, had sent a message to the AOK Ostpreußen on 28 March 1945 requesting an approval from the Armeekorps and the Armee. This approval was never received before the end of hostilities. Oskar-Hubert Dennhardt is not listed in the book for the "nominations for the higher grades of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross" nor in the nomination book for Knight's Cross (starting with Nr. 5100). According to the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) the award was present in accordance with the Dönitz-decree. This is illegal according to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) and lacks legal justification. The sequential number "870" and the presentation date were assigned by the AKCR. Dennhardt was a member of the AKCR.^[28]
21. According to Scherzer as commander of the Artillerie-Regiments Stab z.b.V. 553.^[29]
22. According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.^[29]
23. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Walther-Peer Fellgiebel the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to Ferdinand Deutsch by Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner in accordance with the accreditation of 3 May 1945. The author Veit 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). Deutsch was a member of the AKCR.^[28]
24. According to Scherzer as leader of the 1./Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 12.^[29]
25. According to Scherzer on 18 May 1942.^[31]
26. According to Scherzer as commander of the I./SS-Regiment (motorized) "Germania".^[31]
27. According to Scherzer as SS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves.^[31]
28. According to Scherzer as adjutant in the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1.^[31]
29. According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.^[31]
30. According to Scherzer as leader of the 2.(Radfahr)/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 45.^[31]
31. According to Scherzer as commander of the II./SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 2 "Prinz Eugen".^[35]
32. According to Scherzer as Oberst.^[35]
33. According to Scherzer as group leader in the 14./Divisions-Gruppe 112.^[35]
34. According to Scherzer as Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann".^[36]
35. According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Regiment "Dirlewanger".^[36]
36. According to Scherzer as commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 466.^[36]
37. The brackets around the doctor title [Dr.] denotes that the academic title was attained after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded.
38. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54.^[39]
39. According to Scherzer the spelling of his last name is "von Doemming" and not "von Demming". There is no evidence in the German Federal Archives nor in the files of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). The presentation was made by the former commander of the 26. Panzer-Division Generalleutnant Viktor Linnarz in the prisoner of war camp at Ghedi, in Italy, which makes it an unlawful presentation.^[28]
40. According to Scherzer on 19 June 1940.^[39]
41. According to Scherzer as commander of Flak-Regiment (motorized) 10.^[41]
42. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 6.(S)/Lehrgeschwader 2.^[41]
43. According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 5.^[42]
44. According to Scherzer as observer in the Aufklärungsstaffel 2.(F)/123.^[42]
45. Kurt Dombacher's nomination by the troop was processed by the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe/Auszeichnung und Disziplin (OKL/AuD—Air Force High Command/Award and Discipline) on 15 April 1945. This nomination, now recommending approval, was forwarded on 16 April with a Luftwaffenpersonalamt-Verleihungsvorschlag (LPA-VV—Air Force Staff Office Nomination Recommendation) Nr. 1576 to the adjutancy of Hermann Göring. The nomination was never finalized and was left unfinished by the end of the war. A presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross cannot be verified. The presentation date of 7 April 1945 as listed by Ernst Obermaier, author of Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945—The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Fighter Force 1939–1945, must be incorrect.^[44] The presentation date of 8 April 1945 as listed by the Walther-Peer Fellgiebel is an assumption of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients.^[28]
46. According to Scherzer as Major of the Reserves.^[42]
47. According to Scherzer as commander of the II.(gepanzert)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 64.^[46]
48. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. Draxenberger was a member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).^[49]
49. According to Scherzer as Richtschütze (gunner) in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 552.^[51]
50. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. The award was unlawfully presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich. The date is taken from the announcement made by the 6. SS-Panzerarmee. Franz Josef Dreike was a member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).^[49]
51. According to Scherzer as leader of the III./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1.^[51]
52. According to Scherzer as gun leader of the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 408.^[51]
53. No evidence of the award can be found in the German Federal Archives. Presumably the award was presented by SS-Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich which would make it an unlawful presentation. The date was assumed by Fellgiebel. Von Seemen also states the 6 May 1945.^[54] The author Veit 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). Oskar Drexler was a member of the AKCR.^[49]
54. According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 8.^[53]
55. According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 41.^[53]
56. According to Scherzer as Staffelkapitän of the 4.(S)/Lehrgeschwader 2.^[56]
57. According to Scherzer as pilot in the 2./Nahaufklärungs-Gruppe 12.^[56]
58. According to Scherzer as Hauptmann of the Reserves.^[58]

References

Citations

1. Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3–4.
2. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 4.
3. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 113–460, 483, 485–487, 492, 494, 498–499, 501, 503, 509.
4. Scherzer 2007, pp. 117–186.
5. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 156–167.
6. Scherzer 2007, pp. 126–127.
7. "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 1573; 1 September 1939" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
8. "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.
9. "Reichsgesetzblatt Teil I S. 613; 28 September 1941" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
10. "Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11; 29 December 1944" (PDF). ALEX Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 21 February 2008.
11. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 112.
12. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 49–51, 102–111.
13. Scherzer 2007, p. 264.
14. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 156.
15. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 156, 489.
16. Scherzer 2007, p. 265.
17. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 157.
18. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 157, 489.
19. Scherzer 2007, p. 266.
20. Scherzer 2007, p. 267.
21. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 158.
22. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 49–50.
23. Scherzer 2007, p. 125.
24. Scherzer 2007, p. 268.
25. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 159.
26. Scherzer 2007, p. 269.
27. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 159, 489.
28. Scherzer 2007, p. 126.
29. Scherzer 2007, p. 270.
30. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 160.
31. Scherzer 2007, p. 271.
32. Scherzer 2007, p. 272.
33. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 161.
34. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 161, 489.
35. Scherzer 2007, p. 273.
36. Scherzer 2007, p. 274.
37. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 162.
38. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 162, 489.
39. Scherzer 2007, p. 275.
40. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 163.
41. Scherzer 2007, p. 276.
42. Scherzer 2007, p. 277.
43. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 163, 489.
44. Obermaier 1989, p. 102.
45. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 164.
46. Scherzer 2007, p. 278.
47. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 164, 489.
48. Scherzer 2007, p. 279.
49. Scherzer 2007, p. 127.
50. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 165.
51. Scherzer 2007, p. 280.
52. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 165, 489.
53. Scherzer 2007, p. 281.
54. Von Seemen 1976, p. 114.
55. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 166.
56. Scherzer 2007, p. 282.
57. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 166, 489.
58. Scherzer 2007, p. 283.
59. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 167.
60. Scherzer 2007, p. 284.

Bibliography

• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. 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. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
• 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. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• 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. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
• Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2004). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1939–40. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-641-6.

External links

• "Das Bundesarchiv". Military Archive – Freiburg im Breisgau. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.