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