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.
Listed here are the 457 recipients whose last name is in the range "Sa–Schr". Scherzer has challenged the validity of 11 of these listings. This is the first of two lists of all 1,060 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients whose last names start with "S". The recipients whose last name is in the range "Schu–Sz" are listed at List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (Schu–Sz). The recipients are 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. 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. 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). 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.
Recipients
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Sa–Schr)
Service
Number of presentations
Posthumous presentations
Heer
294
23
Kriegsmarine
23
0
Luftwaffe
109
3
Waffen-SS
31
2
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 for the 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. Of the 457 awards made to servicemen whose last name is in the range "Sa–Schr", 47 were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, four the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and three the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds; 28 presentations were made posthumously. Heer members, including the Volkssturm, received 294 of the medals; 23 went to the Kriegsmarine, 109 to the Luftwaffe, and 31 to the Waffen-SS and Allgemeine SS. The sequential numbers greater than 843 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.
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 author Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.
15-LMajor Horst Schiller was shot down on September 12th 1943, him and 9 comrades were taken hostage. 2 managed to escape but upon returning with a German regiment they were unable to find them. He was killed in Ukraine June 02 1943. He was also awarded the Deutsche Kreuz in gold on Jan 02, 1942. Posthumously he was promoted to sgt.
Befehlshaber der Aufklärungs-Streitkräfte und Führer der Kampfgruppe Bergen—commander of the reconnaissance forces and leader of the battle group Bergen
↑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.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of Marinegruppenkommando West.
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 4./Infanterie-Regiment 445.
↑According to Scherzer as Oberleutnant des Beurlaubtenstandes (of the reserve status).
↑According to Scherzer as chief of the 2./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.
↑According to Scherzer as grenade-thrower Vorgeschobener Beobachter (forward observer) in the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 176.
↑No evidence of the award to Johann Sailer can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Walther-Peer Fellgiebel it was presumably awarded by SS-OberstgruppenführerSepp Dietrich, which would make it an unlawful presentation. The sources for this assumption are H. Buch and W. Kment. According to Buch—note from 25 June 2005—he had nothing to do with this presentation. According to Scherzer, Kment cannot be the source, since Buch stated that Kment died in the early 1970s. If indeed Kment was the source then von Seemen would have listed Sailer in either the first or second edition of his book, which is not the case. Sailer himself states in his book "Kriegslebenslauf" (war diary) that he received the award on 4 May 1945. Fellgiebel dated the award on 6 May 1945. He may have done this to justify this as a Dietrich award. Ernst-Günther Krätschmer lists Sailer for the first time in the 3rd edition of his book without referencing a source. Sailer also claims to have received the German Cross in Gold on 19 March 1945, which also cannot be verified. Author Manfred Dörr was allowed access to Sailer's pay book and noticed that the Knight's Cross entry was formally incorrect. The entry thus does not appear to be authentic. Sailer was a member of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).
↑According to Scherzer as department doctor of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of gemischte Flak-Sturm-Abteilung 802 (deployable).
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 1.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of the II./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler".
↑According to Scherzer as leader of Infanterie-Regiment "Riedel"/Infanterie-Division Pommernland.
↑According to Scherzer as chief of the battery "Lausitz" in the Marine-Flak-Abteilung 259.
12345678910The brackets around the doctor title [Dr.] denotes that the academic title was attained after the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded.
↑No evidence of the award to Jordan Sauter can be found in the German Federal Archives. According to Von Seemen verified by his pay book and written communication with the German Federal Archives. The presentation should have been made via the Army Group Vistula and subsequently via the Außenstelle of the Heerespersonalamt (HPA/A—Branch of the Army Staff Office). Sauter however is not listed in the records of the HPA/A. 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). Sauter was a member of the AKCR.
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 3.
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14./Infanterie-Regiment 505.
↑According to Scherzer the Knight's Cross was awarded on 7 October 1942.
↑According to Scherzer in the 3./Flak-Regiment 40.
↑According to Scherzer as ammunitions squadron leader in the 4./SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 2.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the 2./SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 8.
12According to Scherzer his full name was Hans-Marcel von Schack, and he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as leader of SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 16.
↑Karl Schäfer's nomination by his unit 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. 1575 to the adjutancy of Hermann Göring. The nomination was never finalized and remained pending at the end of the war. A presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross cannot be verified. The presentation date stated by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel is the forwarding date to the adjutancy of the Reichsmarschall.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 5.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of Grenadier-Regiment 3.
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 24.
↑Heinrich Schatten's nomination was submitted to the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 19 April 1945. The book of "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) contains an entry under Nr. 5176 stating the entry date 19 April 1945 and MajorJoachim Domaschk approval "Knight's Cross yes". The file contains no further evidence of the approval or presentation of the award. The registry containing the approved or rejected nominations or deferred nominations contains his file card. 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.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the 1./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 320.
↑Siegfried Scheibe's nomination was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 2 April 1945, the number 5047 had been created and according to the file card forwarded for further processing on 11 April 1945. No further comments or notes indicate that the nomination was finalized. Mr Meentz of the German Federal Archives stated on 20 July 2004 that it cannot be verified that Scheibe received the Knight's Cross. Walther-Peer Fellgiebel assigned the presentation date of 11 May 1945. Krätschmer claims that the award was approved on 9 May 1945.
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 174.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of Festungs-Infanterie-Regiment "C" (Divisions Stab z.b.V. 444).
↑According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/122.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of the 6. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Langemark".
↑From August 1944 to May 1945 the Soviets successfully managed to deceive the Oberkommando des Heeres and let them believe that a cut off German battle group under the leadership of OberstleutnantHeinrich Scherhorn was encircled at the Berezina. Scherhorn however had been taken prisoner of war in July 1944 and knew nothing of this operation. The deceit was so successful that the Germans continued to resupply the encircled troops by air. The last mission was flown on 17 April 1945. Hitler had awarded Scherhorn the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 March which was dropped into the pocket on this last mission. The presentation is illegal since it was based on an illusion created by the NKVD. Furthermore, Scherhorn refused to accept the award after the war.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the I./SS-Panzer-Regiment 10.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the 2./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 31 (A.A.).
↑According to Scherzer as chief of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2.
↑According to Scherzer as Kanonier (gunner) in the 19./Fallschirm-Flak-Regiment "Hermann Göring".
↑The Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) received Walter Schlags-Koch's nomination via wireless communication on 6 April 1945. MajorJoachim Domaschk requested via wireless communication the advisory opinion of the 2. Armee. Presumably this statement was not received yet on 28 April because Domaschk decided to postpone the decision and ordered the re-presentation for 8 May, which was never processed. The entry date for the wireless nomination of 6 April 1945 is noted on the nomination list of the higher grade of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. However no other date is listed, the section comments states "unprocessed". The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed this case in 1973 and decided: "877 Oak Leaves". Scherzer claims that this decision was not approved by Gerhard von Seemann—author of various publications regarding the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross—since Schlags-Koch is not listed as an Oak Leaves recipient in his book Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 (2nd edition from 1976). The presentation number was later changed by Walther-Peer Fellgiebel to "876". However Schlags-Koch is listed by Von Seemen as the 876th Oak Leaves recipient. The presentation date was assigned by Fellgiebel. Schlags-Koch was a member of the AKCR.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the III./SS-Artillerie-Regiment 5.
↑According to Scherzer as Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 2.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of Panzer-Abteilung 507.
↑The Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) received Erich Schmitt's nomination on 24 March 1945. MajorJoachim Domaschk noted three days later: "Insufficient for the Oak Leaves!". Nevertheless an HAP entry nomination without a nomination number was created on 29 March and presented to General Wilhelm Burgdorf. Burgdorf noted on 31 March: "Request advisory opinion from the commanding general!" and returned the nomination to the HPA. Major Domaschk requested via teleprinter the statement of the XXXIX. Panzerkorps. The Panzerkorps answered on 5 April via teleprinter that they were not responsible since the respective division was only subordinated to the corps for a very short time and never in action. Domaschk then requested an advisory opinion from the LVII. Panzerkorps on 8 April, which was not received by 28 April. On this day Domaschk noted "Wait" and ordered the re-presentation for 5 May. The nomination remained unprocessed after this date. The nomination list of the higher grade of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves notes the entry date of 24 March and that the nomination was forwarded to General Burgdorf on 29 March 1945. A presentation date is not stated and a comment says "further enquiry". The Order Commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) processed this case in 1982 and decided: "Oak Leaves yes, 9 May 1945". It appears that the AKCR had questioned a witness, the former adjutant of the Army to the Commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht Willy Johannmeyer. He wrote to the AKCR on 29 March 1968, stating: "By all means, I cannot remember a pick-up of the Oak Leaves for Mr Oberleutnant Erich Schmidt". The presentation number "876" was assigned by the AKCR. The presentation date was assigned by the Walther-Peer Fellgiebel. Schmidt was a member of the AKCR.
↑According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 1.(F)/Nacht.
↑According to Scherzer name is spelled Lorenz Schmid.
↑According to Scherzer as Korück 556 and commander of the German-Italian forces in Bardia(Bardīya)/Libya (mostly members of the resupply units of the 21. Panzer-Division).
↑According to Scherzer as pilot in the Aufklärungsstaffel 2.(F)/11.
↑According to Scherzer as aide-de-camp in Stab/Grenadier-Regiment 217.
↑Ernst-Friedrich Schmude's nomination was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 19 April 1945. A Heerespersonalamt-Verleihungsvorschlag (HPA-VV—Army Staff Office Nomination Recommendation) with number 5090 was created and approved on 21 April. It was sent to Wilhelm Burgdorf in Berlin as a teleprinter message on 26 April and had not been finalized 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.
↑According to Scherzer as stellvertretender Befehlshaber der Aufklärungs-Streitkräfte und Führer der Kriegschiffgruppe 3 (Zielhafen Bergen)—(deputy commander of the reconnaissance forces and leader of the warship group 3 (destination Bergen)).
↑According to Scherzer as Chef des Stabes der Seekriegsleitung und Chef des Marinekommando Amt im OKM.
↑Herbert Schnocks's Heerespersonalamt-Verleihungsvorschlag (HPA-VV—Army Staff Office Nomination Recommendation) was ready for signature at 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.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the 3.(motorized)/Pionier-Bataillon 8.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 1.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 1242.
↑According to Scherzer as Höherer Artilleriekommandeur 314 and commander of Kampfgruppe "Scholz".
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the 7./SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 49 "De Ruiter" (niederl. Nr. 2).
↑Karl Scholz's nomination was received by the Heerespersonalamt (HPA—Army Staff Office) on 19 April 1945. There is no file card in the German Federal Archives. The book of "Verliehene Ritterkreuze" (Awarded Knight Crosses) contains his entry under Nr. 5144 which was approved by MajorJoachim Domaschk on 28 April 1945. He is listed in the files for rejected or unfinished nominations. 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. Scholz was a member of the AKCR.
↑According to Scherzer as commander of Lehr-Regiment (motorized) 901.
↑According to Scherzer as leader of the 7./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania".
↑According to Scherzer as Richtschütze (gunner) in the 2./6. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Langemarck".
↑"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.
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