THE FIRST
The first Ritterkreuzträger from Jagdflieger
Werner Mölders was one of the most celebrated Jagdflieger of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War and became the first fighter pilot to receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. Serving initially with Jagdgeschwader 53 and later as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 “Mölders,” he achieved rapid success during the campaigns in Poland, Frankreich, and the Luftschlacht um England, earning recognition for his innovative air combat tactics and exceptional leadership. On 29 May 1940, as a Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of III./Jagdgeschwader 53, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes after attaining a remarkable number of aerial victories against Allied aircraft. Mölders later became the first member of the Wehrmacht to receive the Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, reflecting his extraordinary combat record and influence on German fighter aviation doctrine. By the time of his death in an air crash near Breslau on 22 November 1941, he had achieved 115 confirmed Luftsiege and had become a legendary figure among the Jagdflieger of the Luftwaffe.
Werner Mölders was one of the most celebrated Jagdflieger of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War and became the first fighter pilot to receive the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. Serving initially with Jagdgeschwader 53 and later as Geschwaderkommodore of Jagdgeschwader 51 “Mölders,” he achieved rapid success during the campaigns in Poland, Frankreich, and the Luftschlacht um England, earning recognition for his innovative air combat tactics and exceptional leadership. On 29 May 1940, as a Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of III./Jagdgeschwader 53, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes after attaining a remarkable number of aerial victories against Allied aircraft. Mölders later became the first member of the Wehrmacht to receive the Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, reflecting his extraordinary combat record and influence on German fighter aviation doctrine. By the time of his death in an air crash near Breslau on 22 November 1941, he had achieved 115 confirmed Luftsiege and had become a legendary figure among the Jagdflieger of the Luftwaffe.
The first Ritterkreuzträger from Kampfflieger
Martin Harlinghausen was the first Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) from the Kampfflieger, the bomber unit of the Luftwaffe, and received the award on 4 May 1940 as a Major i.G. and Chief of staff of the X. Fliegerkorps, for the sinking of the commercial ships of over 100,000 gross register tons undertaken by him in his own combat missions, and later he served in various units including the 10. Flieger-Division, the X. Fliegerkorps, and then as Kommodore of the Kampfgeschwader 26.
Martin Harlinghausen was the first Ritterkreuzträger (Knight's Cross recipient) from the Kampfflieger, the bomber unit of the Luftwaffe, and received the award on 4 May 1940 as a Major i.G. and Chief of staff of the X. Fliegerkorps, for the sinking of the commercial ships of over 100,000 gross register tons undertaken by him in his own combat missions, and later he served in various units including the 10. Flieger-Division, the X. Fliegerkorps, and then as Kommodore of the Kampfgeschwader 26.
The first Eichenlaubträger from Stukaflieger
Oskar Dinort (1901-1965) was one of the pioneering leaders of the Luftwaffe’s dive-bomber arm and became the first Stuka pilot to be awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. As Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" (StG 2), Dinort led his Ju 87 formations with distinction during the campaigns in Poland, Norway, the Low Countries, France, the Balkans, Greece, and Crete. He had already earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 June 1940 for his leadership and combat achievements during the western campaign, but his reputation continued to grow as StG 2 became one of the Luftwaffe’s most effective dive-bomber units. Under his command, the Geschwader provided decisive close air support to advancing German ground forces and carried out highly successful attacks against shipping and military targets. Dinort also demonstrated technical innovation, introducing the famous “Dinort-Stäbe,” extended fuse rods fitted to bombs to increase their blast effect against troops in the open. In recognition of his outstanding leadership, operational success, and the combat record achieved by StG 2 during the opening years of the war, Oberstleutnant Dinort received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 July 1941 as the 21st recipient of the award and the first Stuka pilot to be so honored, marking a significant milestone for the Luftwaffe’s Sturzkampf units. He later rose to the rank of Generalmajor, but his greatest distinction remained his role as the first representative of the Stuka arm to receive the prestigious Eichenlaub.
The first Luftwaffe combat aircrew to be mentioned by name in the Wehrmachtbericht
Walter Storp became the first Luftwaffe combat aircrew member to be mentioned by name in the Wehrmachtbericht through his leadership of a daring low-level bombing attack against targets in the English Midlands on 27 September 1940 while serving as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Kampfgeschwader 76 during the Battle of Britain. Flying a Junkers Ju 88 with his crew, Storp carried out a hazardous Tiefangriff (low-altitude attack) against heavily defended objectives in central England, an action that attracted the attention of the German High Command because of its boldness and effectiveness. The official Wehrmachtbericht bulletin specifically praised “the crew of a bomber aircraft under the leadership of Hauptmann Storp” for distinguishing itself in these attacks, making Storp and his crew the first Luftwaffe combat aircrew to be identified by name in the daily armed forces communiqué rather than being referred to only in general terms. This public recognition was highly significant, as the Wehrmachtbericht served as Germany’s principal wartime military news bulletin and mentions by name were reserved for exceptional achievements. Storp’s success brought him nationwide prominence and was followed by a second mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 4 November 1940 for successful attacks against British airfields and important targets in London. The prestige gained from these operations contributed to his receipt of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 October 1940 as commander of II./Kampfgeschwader 76, and he later earned the Eichenlaub on 14 July 1941 as Geschwaderkommodore of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210.
Oskar Dinort (1901-1965) was one of the pioneering leaders of the Luftwaffe’s dive-bomber arm and became the first Stuka pilot to be awarded the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes. As Geschwaderkommodore of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann" (StG 2), Dinort led his Ju 87 formations with distinction during the campaigns in Poland, Norway, the Low Countries, France, the Balkans, Greece, and Crete. He had already earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 June 1940 for his leadership and combat achievements during the western campaign, but his reputation continued to grow as StG 2 became one of the Luftwaffe’s most effective dive-bomber units. Under his command, the Geschwader provided decisive close air support to advancing German ground forces and carried out highly successful attacks against shipping and military targets. Dinort also demonstrated technical innovation, introducing the famous “Dinort-Stäbe,” extended fuse rods fitted to bombs to increase their blast effect against troops in the open. In recognition of his outstanding leadership, operational success, and the combat record achieved by StG 2 during the opening years of the war, Oberstleutnant Dinort received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 July 1941 as the 21st recipient of the award and the first Stuka pilot to be so honored, marking a significant milestone for the Luftwaffe’s Sturzkampf units. He later rose to the rank of Generalmajor, but his greatest distinction remained his role as the first representative of the Stuka arm to receive the prestigious Eichenlaub.
The first Luftwaffe combat aircrew to be mentioned by name in the Wehrmachtbericht
Walter Storp became the first Luftwaffe combat aircrew member to be mentioned by name in the Wehrmachtbericht through his leadership of a daring low-level bombing attack against targets in the English Midlands on 27 September 1940 while serving as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of II./Kampfgeschwader 76 during the Battle of Britain. Flying a Junkers Ju 88 with his crew, Storp carried out a hazardous Tiefangriff (low-altitude attack) against heavily defended objectives in central England, an action that attracted the attention of the German High Command because of its boldness and effectiveness. The official Wehrmachtbericht bulletin specifically praised “the crew of a bomber aircraft under the leadership of Hauptmann Storp” for distinguishing itself in these attacks, making Storp and his crew the first Luftwaffe combat aircrew to be identified by name in the daily armed forces communiqué rather than being referred to only in general terms. This public recognition was highly significant, as the Wehrmachtbericht served as Germany’s principal wartime military news bulletin and mentions by name were reserved for exceptional achievements. Storp’s success brought him nationwide prominence and was followed by a second mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 4 November 1940 for successful attacks against British airfields and important targets in London. The prestige gained from these operations contributed to his receipt of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 October 1940 as commander of II./Kampfgeschwader 76, and he later earned the Eichenlaub on 14 July 1941 as Geschwaderkommodore of Schnellkampfgeschwader 210.
The first Ritterkreuzträger from U-bootwaffe
Günther Prien, the daring commander of U-47, secured his place in history as the first member of the German U-boat arm to be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) following his audacious and highly successful raid on the British naval base at Scapa Flow in October 1939. By penetrating the heavily fortified harbor and sinking the battleship HMS Royal Oak, Prien achieved a significant psychological and strategic victory for the Kriegsmarine, transforming him into a national hero and the poster child of the U-boat offensive. His promotion to the rank of Korvettenkapitän and his subsequent fame underscored the critical role of the U-bootwaffe in the early stages of World War II, marking him as one of the most iconic, albeit ultimately ill-fated, figures in the annals of submarine warfare before he and his crew vanished in the North Atlantic in March 1941.
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THE LAST
The last living Ritterkreuzträger
Source :
https://www.tracesofwar.com/awards/83/ritterkreuz-des-eisernen-kreuzes.htm
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