Hubert Brinkforth

Hubert Brinkforth (15 April 1916 – 5 June 1942) was a highly decorated Unteroffizier in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was the first enlisted soldier to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Hubert Brinkforth served as a Richtschütze (aiming gunner) during the Battle of France. In the heavy defensive battles in the vicinity of Abbeville, his regiment was ordered to take on an advanced position, securing the beachhead, six kilometers from the main battle line. At the southern rim of Huppy his gun repulsed a British tank attack on 27 May 1940. He succeeded in destroying nine enemy tanks during the course of the 20 minute battle. For this feat he was promoted to Gefreiter (private) and received the Iron Cross 2nd Class. General Erich von Manstein also nominated him for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Brinkforth received the Knight's Cross on 1 April 1941 from General Josef Harpe at the training grounds in the Tucheler Heide. Brinkforth was killed on 5 June 1942 by Soviet artillery near Pogostje, Russia.

Awards and decorations

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class
 * 1st Class
 * Wound Badge (1939)
 * in Black
 * Panzer Badge
 * Eastern Front Medal
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 7 March 1941 as Gefreiter and Pak gunner in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 25
 * Mention in the Wehrmachtbericht (28 May 1940)