Das Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillianten (The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds) This incredibly striking and extremely rare decoration was instituted on 15th July 1941, and was awarded to those who had already received the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. The first presentations in 1940 and 1941 were made in the The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) (The German Law about Titles, Orders and Honorary Signs (For the similarly named decoration of the Freikorps, see Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and DiamondsKnight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and DiamondsKnight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and DiamondsKnight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds Is the case original? Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German With the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, The legal grounds for this decree had been established in 1937 with the German law of Titles, Orders and Honorary Signs (As the war progressed four additional years, leaders had to distinguish those who had already won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross or one of the higher grades and who continued to show merit in combat bravery or military success. The legal grounds for this decree had been established in 1937 with the German law of Titles, Orders and Honorary Signs (Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen) that made the Führer and Reich president the only person who was allowed to award orders or honorary signs. The Oak Leaves, just like the 1813 Iron Cross and Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, was not a The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (The Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Rear side of the Oak Leaves of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Thereafter he received a Administration/Berlin (preliminary decision) → Chief of the The Army Personnel Branch Office was split due to the deteriorating war situation and was moved to Administration/Marktschellenberg (preliminary decision) → deputy Chief of the Heerespersonalamt/Marktschellenberg (preliminary decision) → Chief of the HPA/Berlin (preliminary decision) → OKW-Department/Berlin (presenting) → Hitler (decision)The approval authority of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross became confusing after Hitler's death on 30 April 1945. Embellished with between forty and fifty finely-cut diamonds which were set into both the Oakleaves and the hilts of the two crossed swords, the award was of a multi-piece construction and made from either high-grade platinum or white gold and given a superior finish.Instead of being die-struck like the standard pieces the Oakleaves and Swords device which was to hold the brilliants was manufactured to order by specialist jewellers, making each piece unique.
To qualify for the Knight's Cross, a soldier had to already hold the 1939 Nominations for the Knight's Cross could be made at company level or higher. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross instituted on 1 September 1939. Is the ribbon original? I believe it to be an 2nd pattern D-frame from 1970s?
Hi, This is my cased S&L Ritterkreuz mit eichenlaub. Its shape was that of a The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Like the Knight's Cross to which it was added, the Oak Leaves clasp could be awarded for leadership, distinguished service or personal gallantry. Every intermittent administrative office or commander between the nominating unit and the commander-in-chief of the respective Wehrmacht branch (commander-in-chief of the At first, the recipient of the Knight's Cross, or one of its higher grades, received a brief telegram informing him of the award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. If you would like to contribute and keep the engine running, feel free!
This prestigious and visually striking decoration was presented to only a handful of recipients during the course of the war, and would certainly have been awarded to SS-Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann at some stage had he survived the remainder of the conflict.Being such a valuable piece, Diamonds recipients were also presented with a duplicate award which was to be used for everyday wear.
Thanks for the help /Jonas. The Knight's Cross was eventually awarded in five grades: Attached Files Ritter_01.jpg (80.1 KB, 152 views) Ritter_02.jpg (76.9 KB, 148 views) … Major der Reserve Dr.med.dent. Some of those who had been presented with the award also commissioned their own pieces from individual jewellers, which explains the discrepancy in the number of stones.