Major Wilhelm Bach (1892-1942) was a highly decorated German officer and Lutheran pastor who served with distinction during the Second World War in the North African campaign. As Hauptmann der Reserve commanding the I./Schützen-Regiment 104 of the 5. leichte Division, he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 for his outstanding leadership in the successful defense of the Halfaya Pass against repeated British attacks, where his battalion held the strategically vital position through determined resistance and effective use of anti-tank weapons despite being heavily outnumbered. His heroic stand at what the Allies called "Hellfire Pass" not only inflicted significant losses on the enemy but also exemplified the courage and tactical skill that defined many German commanders in the desert war, leading to his promotion to Major around the same time as the award.
Major der Reserve Dr. Wolfgang Meinhold (1902-1945), born on 8 October 1902 in Neuruppin, served as a highly decorated officer in the Wehrmacht during World War II and rose to the rank of Major der Reserve, which was his last rank before he was killed in action on 3 April 1945. As Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef 8./Grenadier-Regiment 123 of the 50. Infanterie-Division, he distinguished himself during fierce defensive fighting at the Kuban bridgehead in March 1943, where he assembled remnants of his company and battalion reserves to launch a determined counterattack against a strong Soviet armored assault involving tanks and infantry; his leadership helped eliminate multiple enemy tanks and restore the frontline, earning him the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 May 1943 for extreme battlefield bravery and successful military leadership.
Major
der Reserve Hans Mohrmann (1899-1945) was a German officer who served
with distinction during the Second World War in the Heer. As Hauptmann
der Reserve and Kommandeur of the I. Bataillon / Grenadier-Regiment 892,
he demonstrated exceptional leadership and bravery in combat, which led
to him being awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June
1944. His last rank was Major der Reserve, and he was killed in
action in March 1945 near Banja Luka in Croatia.
Hauptmann der Reserve Erich Röseke (1921-1994), born on 24 January 1921 in Stuttgart, served as a highly decorated German officer during the Second World War, rising to the rank of Hauptmann der Reserve. In 1941 he was assigned to the Sonderverband 288 and participated in operations in North Africa, where he earned the Ärmelband Afrika for his service in the harsh desert campaigns aimed at advancing German interests toward the Middle East. Later transferring to the Jäger-Regiment 1 "Brandenburg", he demonstrated exceptional leadership in defensive actions on the Eastern Front. On 14 April 1945 he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Führer of the 9. Kompanie for his determined defense of Kutno in Poland, where with only two Kompanien he held the position long enough to allow the evacuation of civilians and a hospital from the Apatin bridgehead amid intense Soviet pressure.
Leutnant Günter Halm (1922-2017), a German infantryman serving with the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 104 of the 21. Panzer Division in the Deutsches Afrikakorps, became one of the youngest recipients of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes during the Second World War. On 21 July 1942, during the First Battle of El Alamein, the 19-year-old Grenadier and Richtschütze in the Pakzug of the Stabskompanie demonstrated extraordinary bravery when his anti-tank gun was attacked by a large British tank force; despite his gun shield being damaged and the sights being smashed, he coolly destroyed seven Allied tanks, including a command vehicle, playing a key role in halting the enemy breakthrough. For this action he was awarded both the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 29 July 1942. Halm later continued serving in North Africa and Europe, rising through the ranks to finish the war as Leutnant.
Stabsfeldwebel Ewald Mrusek (1911-1981) was a German Wehrmacht soldier who became known during the North African campaign for his leadership and combat service with Feldbataillon T1 (“Tunesien”) of the 5. Panzerarmee. As a Stabsfeldwebel, he distinguished himself in heavy fighting against Allied forces in Tunisia in 1943, where his determination, battlefield leadership, and effectiveness in defensive operations led to the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, one of Germany’s highest military decorations for bravery and command achievement during the Second World War. Contemporary wartime records and photographs show him already wearing several combat awards before receiving the Ritterkreuz, indicating extensive frontline experience, particularly on the Eastern Front and later in North Africa. His last known rank was Stabsfeldwebel.
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LUFTWAFFE
Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (1885-1960) was born on 30 November 1885 in Marktsteft in the Kingdom of Bavaria as the son of a schoolmaster, joined the Bavarian Army as a Fahnenjunker in the 2. Bayerisches Fußartillerie-Regiment in 1904, was commissioned Leutnant after attending the Military Academy, trained as a balloon observer in 1912, and during the First World War served on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, earning the Iron Cross First Class and rising to Hauptmann while serving on the General Staff without having attended the War Academy. After the war he remained in the Reichswehr, working in the Ministry of the Reichswehr on army organisation and secret rearmament, was discharged in 1933 to join the nascent Luftwaffe as head of the administrative department of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, learned to fly at the age of 48, served as Chief of Staff of the Luftwaffe from 1936 to 1938, and rose rapidly to General der Flieger and commander of Luftflotte 1. In the Second World War he directed Luftflotte 1 during the invasion of Poland, for which he was personally awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes by Adolf Hitler on 12 September 1939, then commanded Luftflotte 2 in the Western Campaign of 1940 (including the bombing of Rotterdam and operations over Dunkirk) and the Battle of Britain, earning promotion to Generalfeldmarschall on 19 July 1940; after supporting the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa he was appointed Oberbefehlshaber Süd in late 1941, overseeing Axis air and ground operations in the Mediterranean, North Africa and the siege of Malta. For his leadership of these campaigns he received the Eichenlaub on 25 February 1942 and the Schwerter on 18 July 1942; as commander in Italy from 1943 he conducted a prolonged and skilful defensive battle against the Allied advance, holding successive lines including the Gustav Line and delaying the capture of Rome and the advance into northern Italy for more than a year, for which he was awarded the Brillanten (the 14th recipient) on 19 July 1944. Seriously injured in a vehicle accident in October 1944, he later briefly commanded Heeresgruppe West in March 1945 before surrendering German forces in southern Germany on 7 May 1945; convicted of war crimes in 1947 for ordering the Ardeatine Caves massacre and other reprisals, his death sentence was commuted and he was released in 1952, thereafter publishing his memoirs and serving as honorary president of several veterans’ organisations until his death in Bad Nauheim on 15 July 1960.
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General der Flieger Stefan Fröhlich (1889-1978) was an Austrian-born officer who rose to the rank of General der Flieger in the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. After serving in the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War and later in the Austrian Bundesheer, he transferred into the Luftwaffe following the Anschluss of Austria in 1938. Fröhlich became known for his leadership in aerial operations during the early campaigns of the war, particularly while commanding Kampfgeschwader 76. For his successful command achievements and operational leadership during the campaigns in Western Europe, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 July 1940 as Generalmajor and Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 76. He later held several important commands including Fliegerführer Afrika, IX. Fliegerkorps, and Luftflotte 10, remaining in service until the collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945.
General der Fallschirmtruppe Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (1889-1968) was a highly decorated German general who rose to prominence as a commander in the Fallschirmjäger forces during the Second World War. Starting his military career in the Imperial German Navy before transferring to the army and later the Luftwaffe, he earned his first major recognition with the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 21 August 1941 as Oberst and commander of the Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment for his leadership in the Battle of Crete, where he assumed command of the Westgruppe after Generalmajor Meindl was wounded and helped secure victory by capturing Maleme airfield and Chania. He later commanded the Fallschirmjäger-Brigade Ramcke in North Africa, displaying notable resilience at El Alamein, which led to the award of the Eichenlaub on 13 November 1942. His final and highest honors came on 19 September 1944 while defending Festung Brest as Generalleutnant, where he received the Schwerter and Brillanten simultaneously to the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, making him one of only 27 recipients of the full Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwerter und Brillanten (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds).
Generalleutnant Martin Harlinghausen (1902-1986) was one of the Luftwaffe’s foremost specialists in maritime air warfare and a highly decorated officer whose combat achievements against Allied shipping earned him both the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes and the Eichenlaub. Having gained valuable experience with the anti-shipping unit AS 88 of the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War, Harlinghausen became Chief of Staff of X. Fliegerkorps at the outbreak of the Second World War while continuing to fly operational missions himself, an unusual practice for a senior staff officer! During the Norwegian Campaign and the early maritime operations of 1940, he personally led and participated in numerous attacks against Allied merchant shipping, developing innovative low-level anti-shipping tactics and contributing significantly to the Luftwaffe’s success at sea. By May 1940, as a Major i.G. and Chef des Stabes of X. Fliegerkorps, he had been credited with the destruction of large amounts of Allied tonnage and was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 May 1940 for his outstanding leadership and operational success in maritime warfare, particularly during the campaign against Allied shipping off Norway and in the North Sea. Harlinghausen continued these operations throughout 1940, flying combat sorties over the North Sea and the English Channel and personally participating in attacks that brought his total claimed sinkings to approximately twenty merchant vessels with a combined tonnage exceeding 100,000 BRT. His sustained success in disrupting British maritime traffic, together with his leadership of the anti-shipping forces of X. Fliegerkorps, led to the award of the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 January 1941 as Oberstleutnant i.G. and Chef des Stabes of X. Fliegerkorps, making him the 8th recipient of the Eichenlaub. Widely known by the nickname “Iron Gustav,” Harlinghausen was regarded as the Luftwaffe’s leading expert on anti-shipping operations and later commanded formations such as Fliegerführer Atlantik and Fliegerführer Tunesien. He survived the war, served in the post-war Bundesluftwaffe, and ultimately retired with the rank of Generalleutnant.
Generalleutnant Georg Neuffer (1895-1977) was a Luftwaffe general and recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes whose military career spanned the First World War, the Reichswehr era, the Spanish Civil War, and the Second World War. During the North African campaign he commanded the 20. Flak-Division (mot.), a highly mobile anti-aircraft formation tasked not only with protecting Axis forces from Allied air attacks but also with engaging enemy ground targets in support of field operations. Neuffer distinguished himself during the desperate fighting in Tunisia in 1942–1943, where German and Italian forces attempted to hold their positions against overwhelming Allied superiority in manpower, armor, artillery, and air power. Under his leadership, the units of 20. Flak-Division (mot.) displayed exceptional effectiveness in both air-defense and ground-combat roles, employing their heavy Flak guns against tanks and advancing Allied formations while maintaining cohesion under increasingly difficult conditions. His command's performance during the final stages of the Tunisian campaign contributed significantly to delaying Allied advances and earned him mention in the Wehrmachtbericht on 11 May 1943. In recognition of his successful military leadership and the combat achievements of his division during the North African fighting, Neuffer was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 1 August 1943 as Generalmajor and commander of 20. Flak-Division (mot.). Although he had already fallen into British captivity following the Axis surrender in Tunisia in May 1943, the award acknowledged the effectiveness of his leadership during one of the most challenging campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe's ground-based formations. His decorations included both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz, the Medalla de la Campaña de España, the Flak-Kampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe, the Ärmelband Afrika, and ultimately the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, the highest award he received during his long military career.
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Schmalz (1901-1983) was a Luftwaffe general who earned his first Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 28 November 1940 while serving as a Heer Major and commander of the I. Bataillon of Kavallerie-Schutzen-Regiment 11 for his leadership and bravery in combat operations. Later, as Oberst commanding Panzerbrigade z.b.V. der Panzer-Division "Hermann Goring", he distinguished himself particularly during the intense defensive battles in Sicily, which led to him being awarded the 358th Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 December 1943. His repeated displays of tactical skill and courage under fire throughout the campaigns on the Eastern Front and in the Mediterranean theater highlighted his significant contributions to German armored and motorized operations.
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Oberst Harry Herrmann (1909-1995) was a highly decorated German officer in the Fallschirmjäger who was born on 27 May 1909. He rose through the ranks and commanded the 5. Kompanie of the II. Bataillon, Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1 within the 7. Flieger-Division. For his leadership and exceptional bravery during the intense airborne assault and subsequent ground fighting in the Battle of Crete in May 1941, Herrmann was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 as an Oberleutnant. His courageous actions in capturing key objectives despite heavy resistance exemplified the bold spirit of the German paratroopers, contributing significantly to the eventual German victory on the island, though at a high cost. He later advanced to the rank of Oberst and commanded the 9. Fallschirmjäger-Division toward the end of the war.
Oberstleutnant Friedrich-August von der Heydte (1907-1994) was a highly decorated German paratrooper officer who distinguished himself through bold leadership and tactical skill during several major campaigns of World War II. As commander of the I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3, he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 for his courageous actions in the Battle of Crete, where his battalion stormed key objectives and became the first to enter Canea despite fierce resistance. Later, as Oberstleutnant and commander of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6, he received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 30 September 1944 in recognition of his outstanding performance on the Eastern Front and in subsequent defensive operations, where he repeatedly demonstrated exceptional bravery and command effectiveness under intense pressure. His achievements in airborne assaults and ground combat made him one of the most respected Fallschirmjäger leaders of the war.
Oberstleutnant Hermann Hogeback (1914-2004), a highly decorated Luftwaffe bomber pilot born on 25 August 1914, flew more than 100 operational sorties during the Spanish Civil War and over 500 during World War II, primarily with III.(Kampf)/LG 1. He was assigned to operations in North Africa as part of the Mediterranean theatre, where his unit supported the Afrika Korps with Ju 88 bombing missions against Allied targets. After completing 163 combat missions, Oberleutnant Hogeback received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 8 September 1941 from Fliegerführer Afrika Generalmajor Stefan Fröhlich at Derna in North Africa. He later earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub on 20 February 1943 for his leadership of III.(Kampf)/LG 1, and was eventually awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern while serving as Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 6.
Oberstleutnant Gerhard Kollewe (1912-1942) was born on 3 March 1912 in Deutsch-Kruschin in the Province of Posen and after completing his Abitur entered Infanterie-Regiment 7 of the Reichswehr in 1931 as a gunner, becoming an officer candidate in 1932 and receiving promotion to Leutnant in March 1934 before transferring to the Luftwaffe in the summer of 1935; he subsequently served with Stukageschwader units including I./St.G. 162 and St.G. 163, flew with J/88 of the Legion Condor in Spain in 1938 earning the Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwertern, and at the outbreak of war held the rank of Oberleutnant as Staffelkapitän of a dive-bomber Staffel that participated on 3 September 1939 in the sinking of the Polish destroyer ORP Wicher and minelayer ORP Gryf in the harbour of Gdynia. Promoted Hauptmann and appointed Gruppenkommandeur of II.(Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1, he led his Gruppe with distinction during the Battle of Crete and subsequent operations in the eastern Mediterranean, where on 15 June 1941 his aircraft contributed to the damaging of the British destroyers HMS Isis and HMS Ilex and where his command achieved further successes against enemy shipping that earned him a personal mention in the Wehrmachtbericht of 16 June 1941; for these achievements he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 July 1941 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1. Continuing operations against Allied naval and merchant traffic in the Mediterranean, II./LG 1 under his leadership sank approximately 148 000 GRT of merchant shipping together with two destroyers and damaged a further 203 500 GRT of merchant vessels as well as three battleships, eight heavy cruisers, five light cruisers and nine destroyers, for which Kollewe, now promoted Major, received the Eichenlaub (112th award) on 12 August 1942 as Gruppenkommandeur of II./Lehrgeschwader 1. On 17 October 1942, while flying a Ju 88 A-4 (Werknummer 141033, coded L1+YC) during an attack on Malta, he was shot down by fighters of Nos. 126 and 249 Squadrons RAF and crashed into the sea between Salina Bay and Valletta; his observer Feldwebel Bernhard Mähler was also killed while the remaining crew members were taken prisoner, and Kollewe, credited with roughly 250 combat missions, was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.
Major Rolf Mager (1917-1945) was a highly decorated officer in the German Fallschirmjäger during World War II, serving as commander of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6. Born on 1 December 1917, he distinguished himself through numerous combat actions across campaigns including Crete and North Africa before rising to the rank of Major. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 31 October 1944 as a Hauptmann for his outstanding leadership and bravery, particularly during intense defensive operations in the West where his battalion played a critical role in halting enemy advances through determined counterattacks and tenacious holding actions despite overwhelming odds. Mager was also awarded the Nahkampfspange in Gold for his close-quarters combat experience, though he tragically succumbed to wounds on 1 January 1945 at the age of 27 while in a U.S. military hospital near Antwerp.
Major Klaus Nöske (1911-1978), a highly decorated Luftwaffe officer, served as Staffelkapitän of the 1. Staffel, I. Gruppe in Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever" during the Second World War and was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 16 May 1941 as a Hauptmann after completing 117 combat sorties, before later rising to the rank of Major and commanding the I. Gruppe in the East where he received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 5 October 1942 and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern on 8 July 1941.
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Major im Generalstab Karl-Wolfgang Redlich (1914-1944) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace whose combat career spanned from the Spanish Civil War to the final years of the Second World War. Having gained valuable operational experience with Jagdgruppe 88 of the Condor Legion in Spain, Redlich entered the war as an experienced fighter pilot and quickly distinguished himself in aerial combat. Serving with Jagdgeschwader 27 during the Balkans Campaign and the opening stages of Operation Barbarossa, he steadily increased his victory total through aggressive leadership and tactical skill. The actions that led to the award of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes were primarily his outstanding performance during the campaigns of 1940–1941, particularly over Greece and the Soviet Union, where he repeatedly engaged numerically superior enemy formations and achieved a remarkable series of aerial victories. By early July 1941, Redlich had accumulated 26 confirmed victories, a significant achievement at that stage of the war, including numerous Soviet aircraft destroyed during intense combat operations in support of advancing German ground forces. His success as both a pilot and leader contributed directly to the effectiveness of his unit, and on 9 July 1941, while holding the rank of Oberleutnant and serving as Staffelkapitän of 7./Jagdgeschwader 27, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in recognition of his combat record, courage, and leadership. Redlich continued to add to his score throughout the war, eventually reaching 42 confirmed aerial victories, earning the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold and rising to the rank of Major. He was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of I./Jagdgeschwader 27 in May 1944, but only days later, on 29 May 1944, he was killed in action during combat with American bomber formations near Sankt Pölten, Austria, ending the career of one of the experienced fighter leaders who had first proven himself in the skies over Spain and later earned the Ritterkreuz through his exceptional achievements with Jagdgeschwader 27.
Major im Generalstab Arnold von Roon (1914-1990) was a highly decorated German officer who served as Oberleutnant and Chef of the 3. Kompanie in the I. Bataillon of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 during the Second World War. Born in Berlin on 19 July 1914, he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 for his outstanding leadership and bravery during the intense airborne assault on Crete in May 1941, where he skillfully directed his company in capturing several key objectives despite heavy resistance, contributing significantly to the success of the German operation in the face of fierce Allied opposition.
Major Horst Trebes (1916-1944), a highly decorated officer in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II, distinguished himself through bold leadership and personal bravery on the battlefield, ultimately earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 9 July 1941 as Oberleutnant and leader of the III./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment for his decisive actions during the intense fighting on Crete in Operation Merkur, where he led an assault on an Allied camp near Maleme airfield, relieved a surrounded German Zug, and captured numerous prisoners amid heavy resistance. Prior to this, he had already been awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse for his service in the Polish campaign and the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse during the invasion of Holland, reflecting his consistent combat effectiveness in airborne operations. Trebes later rose to the rank of Hauptmann and continued serving until his death in Normandy in 1944, with his Ritterkreuz recognition highlighting the elite status of the Fallschirmjäger units in high-risk missions.
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Hauptmann Lorenz Möller (1916-1944) was a Luftwaffe transport pilot who distinguished himself during the early campaigns of World War II. Serving as Staffelkapitän of the 2. Staffel in II./Kampfgruppe z.b.V. 1, Oberleutnant Möller earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 February 1942 for his outstanding performance in flying numerous supply and reinforcement missions under extreme winter conditions to support Heeresgruppe Mitte on the Eastern Front. Hermann Göring personally selected him as a representative to honor the collective efforts of all German transport pilots during the critical winter of 1941/1942. His last known rank was Hauptmann.
Oberleutnant Karl Wiegand (1918-2006) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for his outstanding actions during the fighting around Saunu in the African Theater on 9 May 1942 as Oberleutnant und Chef der 2. Batterie des Flak-Regiments 18 motorisiert where he directed anti-aircraft fire to destroy numerous British tanks and artillery enabling the successful German offensive; the unit name and all medals are retained in their original German designations and his last rank as documented was Oberleutnant.
Kapitän zur See der Reserve Dipl.-Ing. Gustav Freiherr von Liebenstein (1891-1967), a veteran of the Kaiserliche Marine who later served in the Kriegsmarine as Fregattenkapitän der Reserve, distinguished himself during the intense operations in the Mediterranean theater of World War II, particularly as Chef der 2. Landungs-Division and Seetransportführer Messina-Straße. Tasked with the critical responsibility of supplying German and Italian forces on Sicily and subsequently orchestrating the large-scale evacuation of troops and equipment across the Strait of Messina under heavy Allied air and naval pressure in the summer of 1943, he led his naval transport units with exceptional skill, determination, and organizational prowess, ensuring the successful withdrawal of tens of thousands of men and vital materiel despite overwhelming challenges. For these outstanding achievements in maintaining logistical lifelines and executing a masterful retrograde operation, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 3 September 1943.
Kapitän zur See Viktor Schütze (1906-1950) was one of the most
successful U-boat commanders of the Second World War, serving initially
in the Reichsmarine aboard torpedo boats from 1925 before transferring
to the U-boat arm in 1935 and rising through commands of U 19, U 11, and
U 25 prior to taking over the Type IXB boat U 103 of the 2.
Unterseebootsflottille in July 1940. As Kommandant of U 103 he conducted
multiple patrols in the North Atlantic and off the African coast,
during which his cumulative successes across five patrols earned him the
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 11 December 1940 for sinking 19
ships totaling 91,953 gross register tons and damaging one additional
vessel. He continued aggressive operations, and over the course of two
further patrols in the first half of 1941 he sank another 16 ships for
88,120 gross register tons while damaging one more, actions that
directly resulted in the award of the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des
Eisernen Kreuzes on 14 July 1941 as the 23rd recipient of the Oak
Leaves. By the time he relinquished command of U 103 in mid-1941 to
become Flottillenchef of the 2. Unterseebootsflottille and later Führer
der U-Boote Ausbildungsflottillen, Schütze’s personal final tally as a
front-line commander stood at 35 ships sunk for a total of 180,073 gross
register tons plus two vessels damaged for 14,213 gross register tons,
placing him among the elite aces of the Battle of the Atlantic before he
transitioned to training and staff roles until the end of the war.
Korvettenkapitän Wirich von Gartzen (1909-1993) was a distinguished officer in the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War, born on 20 August 1909. As Korvettenkapitän and Chef of the 10. Torpedobootsflottille, he earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 24 June 1944 for his exceptional leadership and successful command of torpedo boat operations in the face of intense enemy activity, particularly following his earlier award of the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold while commanding Torpedoboot T-25. His actions exemplified the courage and tactical skill required in high-risk escort and combat missions within the Kriegsmarine's surface fleet.
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