Hans-Karl Stepp

Hans-Karl Stepp (2 September 1914 – 12 December 2006) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Biography
Hans-Karl Stepp was born on 2 September 1914 in Gießen as son to a University professor. Stepp studied eight semesters of law in Tübingen, Breslau and Munich before joining the Luftwaffe as Fahnenjunker in 1936. He fought in the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France with Sturzkampfgeschwader 76. He also served in the Reichsluftwaffenministerium in Berlin.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class (15 June 1940)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 9 September 1941 as Oberleutnant
 * German Cross in Gold (15 October 1941) as Gruppen- and Geschwaderadjutant of Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 4 February 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./StG 2 "Immelmann" after 418 combat missions
 * 462nd Oak Leaves on 25 April 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of SG 2 "Immelmann" after over 800 combat missions