Walther von Brauchitsch Wearing Leather Mantel

Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch (Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres) wearing ledermantel (leather jacket). He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 September 1939 as Generaloberst and Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres for his conduct in the German invasion of Poland.

Source :
https://fotoshop44.de/Fotos/Ordenstraeger
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=643&searchword=brauchitsch

Reinhard Günzel at the Front

Kampfflieger (bomber pilot) and Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) Major Reinhard Günzel (Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 27 [KG 27] "Boelcke") briefs his men at the front, while wearing a fliegerkombi. The picture was taken on january 1943, after he received the Eichenlaub #184 for his Ritterkreuz (21 January 1943). Previously, Günzel received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 17 September 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27) "Boelcke". His last rank in the war was Oberstleutnant. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Sperling.

Source:
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/31046/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=1992&searchword=guenzel
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnzel,_Reinhard_(1907)

Hans Christern and Peter Sauerbruch

Front seat of the Schützenpanzerwagen Sd.Kfz. 251/3 mittlerer Funkpanzerwagen, from left to right: Oberst Hans Christern (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 35 / 4.Panzer-Division) and Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Peter Sauerbruch (Ia [Erster Generalstabsoffizier] 4. Panzer-Division). The picture was taken in Kurland pocket in 1944. 4PzD fought in Latvia and Kurland from the summer of 1944 until January 1945 when it was transferred to West Prussia, where it surrendered to the Red Army in April 1945. 

Source :
http://www.axishistory.com/books/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3956-4-panzer-division
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Christern,_Hans

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony of 4. Panzer-Division

Award ceremony of 4. Panzer-Division, 12 August 1944. Divisionskommandeur Clemens Betzel (back to the camera) awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Bataillonsführer Kurt Schäfer (on the right facing Betzel). From left to right: Oberst Hans Christern (Kommandeur Panzer-Regiment 35), Generalmajor Clemens Betzel (Kommandeur 4. Panzer-Division), Oberstleutnant Gerlach von Gaudecker-Zuch (Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33), Oberstleutnant im Generalstab Peter Sauerbruch (Ia [Erster Generalstabsoffizier] 4. Panzer-Division), Hauptmann Wilhelm Westermann (Kommandeur Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4), Major der Reserve Fritz-Rudolf Schultz (Kommandeur II.Abteilung / Panzer-Regiment 35), unidentified officer, Hauptmann Kurt Schäfer (Führer I.Bataillon / Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33), and another unidentified officer.

Source :
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Datei:Ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger_der_14._Panzer-Division.jpg
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&start=14025

Award Ceremony at Berlin

Berlin, 20 May 1942 : Ritterkreuzträger Gefreiter Hans Krohn (Ritterkreuz on 6 April 1942 as Gefreiter and Richtschütze in 1.Kompanie / Panzerjäger-Abteilung 20 / 20.Infanterie-Division [motorisiert]) decorating the Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz ohne Schwertern to Franz Hahne, Obermeister in der Firma Rheinmetall -Altmärkische Kettenwerke (Alkett). At left is Hauptmann Leo Drossel (Ritterkreuz on 19 July 1940 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 102 / 24.Infanterie-Division) and Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Liebe (Ritterkreuz on 14 August 1940 and Eichenlaub on 10 June 1941, both as Kapitänleutnant and Kommandant U-38), while at right is SS-Hauptsturmführer Heinrich "Hein" Springer (Ritterkreuz on 12 January 1942 as SS-Hauptsturmführer and Führer 3.Kompanie I.Bataillon / SS-Infanterie-Regiment "LSSAH" [motorisiert] / Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler [motorisiert]).

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/48376/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&p=2110191#p2110191

Portrait Photo of U-Boat Ace Asmus Nikolai "Niko" Clausen

Kapitänleutnant Asmus Nikolai Clausen (2 June 1911 - 16 May 1943) pictured in March 1942. Clausen joined the Reichsmarine in October 1929 as a seaman. He spent the next few years on torpedo boats (T-185 and G-10) and on the Segelschulschiff (sailing school ship) Gorch Fock. In September 1935 he transferred to the new U-boat force and after some months of training, joined U-26 under Kapitänleutnant Werner Hartmann in April 1936. In March 1937 he entered Marineschule (Naval Academy) Mürwik and received several months of officer training. In the next two years he served on the battlecruiser Admiral Graf Spee and the minesweeper M-134. When war broke out in autumn 1939, his former commander Werner Hartmann requested his services, and Niko Clausen became the 1st Watch Officer (I WO) on U-37. He completed three patrols on U-37, mostly in the Atlantic, and on returning from the first patrol received his Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse from Karl Dönitz personally. He left U-37 in summer 1940 and in August commissioned the type IID U-boat U-142. After only two months he returned to U-37 to replace Victor Oehrn as commander. In May 1941 he left U-37, which then became a training boat. Three weeks later he commissioned the type IXC U-boat U-129. The first three patrols on U-129, mostly in the Atlantic, ended without success, but during the fourth patrol, in Caribbean waters, Niko Clausen sank seven ships with a total of 25,613 tons. During this patrol he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 March 1942. After returning from this patrol in May 1942 he turned over command of U-129 to Hans-Ludwig Witt. In July 1942 Kapitänleutnant Clausen commissioned U-182, another long range boat. On his first patrol, in the Indian Ocean, he sank five ships totalling 30,071 tons. On the return journey, U-182 was lost with all hands, sunk on 16 May 1943 by the American destroyers USS MacKenzie and Lamb.

This photo was taken in autumn 1941. Clausen, at the time commander of U-129, was on holidays with his crew in the Austrian Alps town of Pörtschach, the god-parent town of U-129. He was then 30 years old.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/2734/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://uboat.net/men/clausen.htm
http://collectinghistory.net/U-182/

Karl Ens at El Alamein

The working position of 5 cm Pak 38 (L/60) (5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 38 (L/60)) at El Alamein positions, October 1942. Ritterkreuzträger Oberstleutnant Karl Ens (left) checks the camouflaged netting works. He got the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 May 1941 as Major and Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 125 (motorisiert). During the First World War, Ens was Leutnant in the Baden Grenadier Regiment. During this war he received both 1914 Eisernes Kreuzes, Ritterkreuz des Königlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern, Baden Militär-Karl-Friedrich-Verdienstorden Ritterkreuz, Baden Orden vom Zähringer Löwen Ritterkreuz II. Klasse, and the Verwundetenabzeichen 1918 in Silber. Karl Ens finally reached the rank of Oberst during the Second World War. He was missing in action on 15 April 1945 and was formally declared dead by the AG Baiersbronn on 11 December 1957. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Dohm.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/1407/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_cm_Pak_38
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/30000/Ens-Karl.htm?c=aw

Three Ritterkreuzträger from 19. Infanterie-Division

October 1940: Three Ritterkreuzträger (the recipients of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) from Infanterie-Regiment 74 / 19.Infanterie-Division. From left to right: Oberfeldwebel Johann Pongratz (Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 74. Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940), Oberst Gustav Schmidt (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 74. Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940), and Oberleutnant der Reserve Gustav Hippler (Führer 5.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 74. Ritterkreuz on 4 September 1940). In the German invasion to the West on the summer of 1940, four member of 19. Infanterie-Division (changed to 19. Panzer-Division on 1 November 1940) received the coveted Ritterkreuz, which was given on the same day, 4 September 1940. Three of them (pictured above) comes from Infanterie-Regiment 74, while the last one, Feldwebel Karl Jürgens, was a Zugführer in 2.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 73.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35635/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Eichenlaub Award Ceremony for Josef Harpe

Generalmajor Josef Harpe (Kommandeur 12. Panzer-Division) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub #55 from the hand of Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), on the award ceremony held at Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze (Rastenburg/East Prussia), early January 1942. Harpe already got the award announcement from 31 December 1941. He had been awarded the Ritterkreuz previously on 13 August 1941 (as Generalmajor and Kommandeur 12. Panzer-Division), and would received the Schwerter #36 for his Ritterkreuz and Eichenlaub on 15 September 1943 as General der Panzertruppe and Kommandierender General XXXXI.Panzerkorps. This picture was first published in 'Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung', 21 January 1942 edition,

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35583/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=2127&searchword=harpe

Ritterkreuz Award Ceremony for Italo Gariboldi

5 April 1943: From left to right: Oberstleutnant Gerhard Engel (Adjutant des Heeres und Verbindungsoffizier des Heeres zu Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel (Chef des Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Generalleutnant Rudolf Schmundt (Chefadjutant des Heeres beim Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht), Generale di Brigata Efisio Marras (Head of the Italian Mission in connection with the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), Generale d'Armata Italo Gariboldi (Commander Italian Army in Russia), and unknown Italian Generale di Divizione. The picture was taken by Presse-Hoffmann photographer at the Ritterkreuz award ceremony for Gariboldi, held in Berghof Obersalzberg. Gariboldi already received the radio/telegram news for his award from 1 April 1943.

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/29865/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=75&t=231761&p=2107830#p2107830

Ritterkreuz Award ceremony for Heinz Strüning and Alfons Köster

From left to right: Hauptmann Paul Semrau (Staffelkapitän 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 2), Leutnant der Reserve Heinz Strüning (Flugzeugführer in 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1), Oberfeldwebel Alfons Köster (Flugzeugführer in 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 2), and Leutnant Wilhelm Beier (Flugzeugführer in 3.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Nachtjagdgeschwader 1) on 9 November 1942 on the occasion of the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes to Struning and Köster. They already received the news of their award via radio/telegram on 29 October 1942 previously. The picture comes from a collection of Hans-Jakob Schmitz.

Source :
Book "Nachtjagd Defenders of the Reich 1940-1943" by Martin W. Bowman

Veteran Aces from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52)

Six Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipients) and former Luftwaffe fighter aces from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) in front of the aircraft hangar in Ebern, Altenstein (Germany), 2002. From left to right: Günther Rall (275 victories. Ritterkreuz on 3 September 1942, Eichenlaub on 26 October 1942, and Schwerter on 12 September 1943), Friedrich "Fritz" Obleser (120 victories. Ritterkreuz on 23 March 1944), Peter "Bonifaz" Düttmann (152 victories. Ritterkreuz on 9 June 1944), Viktor Petermann (64 victories. Ritterkreuz on 29 February 1944), Walter Wolfrum (137 victories. Ritterkreuz on 27 July 1944), and Heinz "Esau" Ewald (84 victories. Ritterkreuz on 20 April 1945).

Source :
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Jagdgeschwader_52

11 Aces from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52)

"11 Männer 1676 Luftsiege" (11 Man 1676 Air Victory): Newspaper article from the end of 1944 about Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52). They were as follow: Oberstleutnant Dietrich "Dieter" Hrabak (Geschwaderkommodore Jagdgeschwader 52 with 126 victories. Ritterkreuz on 21 October 1940 and Eichenlaub on 25 November 1943), Oberleutnant Erich "Bubi" Hartmann (Staffelkapitän 7. Staffel with 303 victories. Ritterkreuz on 29 October 1943, Eichenlaub on 2 March 1944, Schwerter on 2 July 1944, and Brillanten on 25 August 1944), Major Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (Gruppenkommandeur II. Gruppe with 273 victories. Ritterkreuz on 23 August 1942, Eichenlaub on 11 March 1943, and Schwerter on 2 March 1944), Hauptmann Wilhelm "Willi" Batz (Gruppenkommandeur III. Gruppe with 208 victories. Ritterkreuz on 26 March 1944, Eichenlaub on 20 July 1944, and Schwerter on 21 April 1945), Oberleutnant Otto Vönnekold/Fönnekold (Staffelkapitän 5. Staffel with 134 victories. Ritterkreuz on 26 March 1944), Leutnant Franz Schall (Staffelkapitän 3. Staffel with 117 victories. Ritterkreuz on 10 October 1944), Leutnant Karl "Charlie" Gratz (Stab Jagdgeschwader 52 with 116 victories. Ritterkreuz on 1 July 1942), Hauptmann Adolf Borchers (Gruppenkommandeur I. Gruppe with 118 victories. Ritterkreuz on 22 November 1943), Oberleutnant Friedrich "Fritz" Obleser (Staffelkapitän 8. Staffel with 116 victories. Ritterkreuz on 23 March 1944), Leutnant Hans-Joachim Birkner (Staffelkapitän 9. Staffel with 101 victories. Ritterkreuz on 27 July 1944), and Leutnant Anton "Toni" Resch (Flugzeugführer in 3. Staffel with 64 victories. Ritterkreuz on 7 April 1945).

Source :
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Datei:Zeitung_luftsiege_JG52_Oktober_1944.jpg

Fritz Jäger with Other Officers of the Wehrmacht

Oberst Friedrich Gustav "Fritz" Jäger (center) with other officers of the Wehrmacht. He display a rare combination of Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz II.Klasse (ribbon) and I.Klasse (medal below the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse spange). Fritz Jäger received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 26 May 1940 as Major and Kommandeur II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 8 / 3.Infanterie-Division. He was a resistance fighter in Nazi Germany and a member of the 20 July Plot. On 20 July 1944, the day of the attempt on Hitler's life, Jäger was commander of the Panzer reserve troops in defence districts II (Stettin) and XXI (Kalisch). After the briefcase bomb exploded at the Wolf's Lair in East Prussia, Jäger received orders from Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg to arrest an SS Oberführer. Furthermore, he was also to arrest Joseph Goebbels and occupy the radio station in Masurenallee. After it became known that Hitler had survived the attempt on his life, however, the soldiers under his command would no longer take his orders. Jäger himself was arrested by his own army on the same day when the plot failed. On 21 August 1944, Friedrich Gustav Jäger was sentenced to death for treason by Roland Freisler at the Volksgerichtshof, and he was hanged later the same day at Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. His family's property was confiscated.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Gustav_Jaeger
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879&start=7680

Wilhelm Freuwörth with Hitlerjugend Boys

Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm "Willi" Freuwörth from Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) shares his experiences with the boys from the air section of the Hitlerjugend in Rossitten, East Prussia, 16 July 1944. In his sleeve is a cufftitle of "Jagdgeschwader Schlageter", the nickname of Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26), the first unit of Freuwörth. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 January 1943 as Feldwebel and Flugzeugführer in 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 52 after 53 air victories (his total is 58). The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Engel.

Source:
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/47757/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://www.jg52.net/ritterkreuztraeger/wilhelm-freuworth/

U-Boat Aces and Ritterkreuzträger from 29. U-Flottille

German submarine aces and Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipients) of 29. Unterseebootsflottille (29. U-Flottille) at La Spezia, Northern Italy, between August and September 1942. They were  all wearing Weißer Dienstrock (summer white uniform). From left to right:

1. Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Guggenberger (Kommandant U-81). 17 ships sunk (66,848 tons) from 10 patrols, 324 days at sea. Ritterkreuz on 10 December 1941 and Eichenlaub on 8 January 1943.

2. Kapitänleutnant Helmut Rosenbaum (Kommandant U-73). 9 ships sunk (57,863 tons) from 10 patrols, 265 days at sea. Ritterkreuz on 12 August 1942.

3. Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Schonder (Kommandant U-77). 15 ships sunk (29,368 tons) from 12 patrols, 291 days at sea. Ritterkreuz on 19 August 1942.

4. Kapitänleutnant Fritz Frauenheim (Flottillenchef 29. U-Flottille). 18 ships sunk (78,248 tons) from 9 patrols, 170 days at sea. Ritterkreuz on 29 August 1940.

5. Kapitänleutnant Hans-Werner Kraus (Kommandant U-83). 8 ships sunk (12,702 tons) from 10 patrols, 292 days at sea. Ritterkreuz on 19 June 1942.

Source:
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=29879&start=7680
https://uboat.net/flotillas/29flo.htm

Bruno Bogert and Walter Scheller

Two officers from the besieged German forces in Brest-Litovsk, Belarus, discussing the strategy, summer of 1944. From left to right: Hauptmann Bruno Bogert (Kommandeur Sicherungs-Bataillon 670) and Generalleutnant Walter Scheller (Kommandant Festung Brest-Litowsk). As can be seen from this picture, they were both Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipients): Bogert received it on 21 April 1944, while Scheller received it on 3 April 1943. Not long after this picture was taken, Scheller would be killed on 21 July 1944 in the fighting for the city during the Soviet Lublin–Brest Offensive.

Source :
https://www.emedals.com/europe/germany/german-documents-photos/third-reich-photos-postcards/a-wartime-period-photo-of-kc-recipient-lieutenant-general
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29879&start=13965
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/S/SchellerW.htm

Erhard Jähnert Color Portrait

Erhard Jähnert (17 August 1917 - 23 July 2006) showed an early interest in the aviation by joining the NSFK (Nationalsozialistisches Fliegerkorps) in his youth. In 1936 he joined the Luftwaffe, where he was trained as a pilot. In 1938 he attended the Militärflugzeugschule in Kaufbeuren. Then he was transferred to II.Gruppe / Schlachtgeschwader 122. In 1939 he participated in the invasion of Poland, after retrained on Junkers Ju 87 'Stuka'. In 1940 he then flew over France and England. From December 1940 he moved to the Mediterranean theater of war, where he flew missions against Malta and in North Africa. In the spring of 1943 he was transferred to the Eastern Front, and in here that Jähnert received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 18 May 1943 as Leutnant and Flugzeugführer in III.Gruppe / Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 (StG 3). He flew over 622 combat sorties with StG 3 and sank three Russian destroyers in a single day! He finally reached the rank of Major on May 1945. According to his own words, he was awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz on 30 April 1945. However, no evidence has been found yet. At the end of the war he was captured by British troops in Flensburg after flying with his unit from Courland Pocket. Jähnert then was released in July 1945. Other medals and decorations he receives: Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938; Flugzeugführerabzeichen; Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse (20 October 1939); Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse (2 July 1940); Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Silber (4 August 1941); Frontflugspange für Kampfflieger in Gold (25 August 1941); Italian Medaglia d'argento al Valore Militare (6 December 1941); Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg (18 March 1942); Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (17 June 1942)

Source :
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/KrackerDatabase/?q=j%C3%A4hnert%2C+erhard
http://www.historicalwarmilitariaforum.com/topic/6937-ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger-photos-in-color-thread/?page=37&tab=comments#comment-61026http://www.historicalwarmilitariaforum.com/topic/6937-ritterkreuztr%C3%A4ger-photos-in-color-thread/?page=9&tab=comments#comment-36907
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Erhard_J%C3%A4hnert.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/23517/J%E4hnert-Erhard.htm?c=aw

Adolf Hitler Receives Hubert Brinkforth

Adolf Hitler (Führer und Oberster Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht) receives Obergefreiter Hubert Brinkforth from Schützen-Regiment 25 / 12.Panzer-Division in the Reichskanzlei, Berlin, on Friday, 4 April 1941. Brinkforth is most notable for being the first enlisted man to be awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses). Prior to the restoration of the Eisernes Kreuz in 1939, most awards of German major medals for bravery were made to officers and the nobility. This award was designed to be given without regard rank or position. He was awarded the medal for his actions as a Schütze in 14.Kompanie (Panzerjäger) / III.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 25 (motorisiert) / 2.Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) on 27 May 1940 during the Battle of France, when he destroyed nine British tanks near Huppy using his PAK 36 anti-tank gun. This action earned him mention in the Wehrmachtbericht: "An der Südfront wurden einzelne mit Panzern geführte feindliche Angriffe an der unteren Somme abgewiesen. Dabei wurden dreißig feindliche Panzer vernichtet, allein neun hiervon durch den Schützen Brinkforth" (On the southern front, lone enemy attacks with tanks were repulsed on the lower Somme. Here thirty enemy tanks were destroyed, nine of them by Schütze Brinkforth). Promotion to Gefreiter and the immediate award of the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse followed. General der Infanterie Erich von Manstein (Kommandierender General XXXVIII. Armeekorps) nominated him for the Ritterkreuz, which was awarded on 7 March 1941 (received on 1 April 1941 from Generalmajor Josef Harpe, Commander of 12. Panzer-Division) along with the Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse and a promotion to Obergefreiter. Brinkforth later was killed in action on 5 June 1942 during a Soviet artillery attack near Pogostje, Leningrad Oblast. He was also awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, Panzerkampfabzeichen, Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Ostmedaille), and was promoted to Unteroffizier shortly before his death.

Source :
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-hitler-receives-corporal-brinkforth-36996841.html
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35548/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://das-ritterkreuz.de/index_search_db.php?modul=search_result_det&wert1=694&searchword=brinkforth
http://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Brinkforth,_Hubert
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=132226692

Helmut Lent Portrait Photo

Oberstleutnant Helmut Lent (Geschwaderkommodore Nachtjagdgeschwader 3) in a studio portrait, taken by bildberichter Doeffs. He is wearing the highly prestigious medal in his neck, the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds), which he received on 31 July 1944 after becoming the first pilot in history who scored the 100th night victory (15 June 1944)!

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/35484/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/

Otto Kretschmer Playing Curling during Winter

January 1941 : U-boat ace Kapitänleutnant Otto Kretschmer (Kommandant U-99) playing curling in the snow during vacation. Kretschmer, of the German Kriegsmarine, was the most successful submarine commander of any navy during the Second World War. In the first 18 months of the war he sank 44 ships totalling over 266,000 tons. His reward was celebrity status in Nazi Germany and he was awarded the coveted Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (Knight's Cross of the Iron Crosses with Oak Leaves and Swords).

Source :
https://audiovis.nac.gov.pl/obraz/31067/16681a180a83d321351d3a71c29af66e/
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-admiral-otto-kretschmer-1173919.html
https://uboat.net/men/kretschmer.htm