List of living Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients

Gazen, Waldemar vonWaldemar von Gazen

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Awarded by Nazi Germany
Type	Neck order
Eligibility	Military personnel
Awarded for	Awarded to holders of the Iron Cross to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership
Campaign	World War II
Status	Obsolete
Statistics
Established	1 September 1939
First awarded	30 September 1939
Last awarded	11 May 1945 / 17 June 1945
Precedence
Next (higher)	Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
Next (lower)	Iron Cross 1st Class

The following is a list of living Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients.

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments. The first enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of September 1, 1939 instituted the Iron Cross and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

As the war progressed some of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of June 3, 1940.

In 1941 two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of September 28, 1941 introduced the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.

At the end of 1944 the last and final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of December 29, 1944 concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.

The total number of recipients of the Knight's Cross is 7,366. Of these 890 individuals received Oak Leaves; 160 received Oak Leaves and Swords. Only 27 men were awarded the Diamonds grade of the Knight's Cross; Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the only recipient of the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

The only non-German or Austrian living recipients are Harald Nugiseks and Søren Kam, both former Waffen-SS foreign volunteers.

Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds

• Last living and only recipient: Hans-Ulrich Rudel, 1916–1982

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds

• Last living recipient: Adolf Galland, 1912–1996

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (2 of 160)

• Last living Waffen-SS recipient: Otto Kumm, 1909–2004
• Last living Kriegsmarine recipient: Erich Topp, 1914–2005
• Last living Heer recipient: Waldemar von Gazen, 1917-2014
• Last living Luftwaffe recipient: Erich Rudorffer, 1917-2016

Image	Current residence	Name	Birth date and age	Nationality	Force served	Notes
File:Waldemar von Gazen.jpg	Germany	Gazen, Waldemar vonWaldemar von Gazen	000000001917-12-06-00006 December 1917 (age 106)	German	13th Panzer Division
	Germany	Rudorffer, ErichErich Rudorffer	000000001917-11-01-00001 November 1917 (age 106)	German	Luftwaffe	Highest scoring living fighter ace in the world

Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (13 of 890)

• Last living non-German recipient: Léon Degrelle, 1906–1994
• Last living recipient of Waffen-SS: Walter Girg, 1919–2010

Image	Current residence	Name	Birth date and age	Nationality	Force served	Notes
	Germany	Carius, OttoOtto Carius	000000001922-05-27-000027 May 1922 (age 101)	German	502nd Heavy Tank Battalion	Awarded for actions at the Battle of Narva. Destroyed over 150 tanks. Highest-scoring living tank ace in the world.
	Germany	Dahlmann, KurtKurt Dahlmann	000000001918-03-04-00004 March 1918 (age 106)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Dennhardt, Oskar-HubertOskar-Hubert Dennhardt	000000001915-06-30-000030 June 1915 (age 108)	German	14th Infantry Division	General in the Bundeswehr
	Germany	Greiner, HermannHermann Greiner	000000001920-01-02-00002 January 1920 (age 104)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Hardegen, ReinhardReinhard Hardegen	000000001913-03-18-000018 March 1913 (age 111)	German	Kriegsmarine	Attacked New York City harbour with U-123 in December 1941. Also, highest scoring U-Boat ace still living.
	Germany	Hermichen, RolfRolf Hermichen	000000001918-07-25-000025 July 1918 (age 105)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Lange, Hans-GüntherHans-Günther Lange	000000001916-09-28-000028 September 1916 (age 107)	German	Kriegsmarine
	Germany	Rökker, HeinzHeinz Rökker	000000001920-10-20-000020 October 1920 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe	with 64 victories, is highest scoring living night-fighter ace
	Germany	Ruhl, HeinrichHeinrich Ruhl	000000001915-08-31-000031 August 1915 (age 108)	German	122nd Infantry Division	Awarded for actions at the Courland Pocket
	Germany	Schuck, WalterWalter Schuck	000000001920-07-20-000020 July 1920 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Schwerdfeger, JohannJohann Schwerdfeger	000000001914-11-24-000024 November 1914 (age 109)	German	101st Jäger Division	Only remaining NCO oakleaves recipient. Probably served as role model for the film Cross of Iron
	Germany	Simons, GerhardGerhard Simons	000000001921-02-05-00005 February 1921 (age 103)	German	170th Infantry Division	Son of American professor and officer Hans Simons, grandson of temporary German president Walter Simons
	Germany	Zorner, PaulPaul Zorner	000000001920-03-31-000031 March 1920 (age 104)	German	Luftwaffe

Knight's Cross (105 of 7384)

This list is not complete. People listed are alive or survived the war but their fate is unknown.

Image	Current residence	Name	Birth date and age	Nationality	Force served	Notes
	Germany	Altermann, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Altermann	000000001922-06-04-00004 June 1922 (age 101)	German	Panzer Grenadier Regiment 25
	Germany	Angelmaier, HeinzHeinz Angelmaier	000000001918-07-22-000022 July 1918 (age 105)	German	Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 279
	Germany	Axthammer, ErichErich Axthammer	000000001920-12-03-00003 December 1920 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe	Schlachtgeschwader 10
	Germany	Barths, Karl-LudwigKarl-Ludwig Barths	000000001920-05-13-000013 May 1920 (age 103)	German	Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 393
	Germany	Bauer, LudwigLudwig Bauer	000000001923-02-16-000016 February 1923 (age 101)	German	Heer	I./PzRgt 33
	Germany	Bayer, FranzFranz Bayer	000000001920-02-03-00003 February 1920 (age 104)	Austrian	Heer	I./PzRgt 39
	Germany	Becker, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Becker	000000001920-10-02-00002 October 1920 (age 103)	German	2nd Jäger Regiment 228
	Germany	Becker-Neetz, ArturArtur Becker-Neetz	000000001920-12-31-000031 December 1920 (age 103)	German	3rd Panzer Division
	Germany	Biehl, JohannJohann Biehl	000000001917-01-29-000029 January 1917 (age 107)	German	Heer	2./InfRgt 124
	Germany	Bierbauer, GüntherGünther Bierbauer	000000001922-05-20-000020 May 1922 (age 101)	German	Luftwaffe	KG 27 "Boelcke
	Germany	Boosfeld, JoachimJoachim Boosfeld	000000001922-06-01-00001 June 1922 (age 101)	German	8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer	Awarded for actions at the Siege of Budapest
	Germany	Braake, GünterGünter Braake	000000001921-04-10-000010 April 1921 (age 103)	German	Führer I. / Grenadier-Regiment 422 / 126. Infanterie-Division
	Germany	Brandenburg, MaxMax Brandenburg	000000001919-09-06-00006 September 1919 (age 104)	German	Luftwaffe	KG 101
	Germany	Brinckmann, FriedrichFriedrich Brinckmann	000000001920-07-28-000028 July 1920 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Broch, HugoHugo Broch	000000001922-01-06-00006 January 1922 (age 102)	German	Luftwaffe	Jagdgeschwader 54
	Germany	Buck, FriedrichFriedrich Buck	000000001922-01-30-000030 January 1922 (age 102)	German	8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer	Also awarded the rare Close Combat Clasp in Gold
	Germany	Büssecke, ArthurArthur Büssecke	000000001918-07-08-00008 July 1918 (age 105)	German	Luftwaffe	2./Flak-Regiment 49 (mot.) Awarded for action during the Battle of Stalingrad
	Germany	Carl, FriedrichFriedrich Carl	000000001916-09-24-000024 September 1916 (age 107)	German	Heer	II./Artillerie-Regiment 269 / 269. Infanterie-Division
	Germany	Damerius, DieterDieter Damerius	000000001924-04-17-000017 April 1924 (age 100)	German	93. Infanterie-Division
	Germany	Drescher, Georg WilhelmGeorg Wilhelm Drescher	000000001920-02-15-000015 February 1920 (age 104)	German	12. Luftwaffe Feld Division
	Germany	Eick, AlfredAlfred Eick	000000001916-03-09-00009 March 1916 (age 108)	German	Kriegsmarine
	Germany	Euling, Karl HeinzKarl Heinz Euling	000000001919-08-16-000016 August 1919 (age 104)	German	10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg	Awarded for actions at the Battle of Arnhem
	Germany	Fasel, WalterWalter Fasel	000000001919-06-07-00007 June 1919 (age 104)	German		14.PanzerJäger/FüsRgt 26
	Germany	Fischer, GerhardGerhard Fischer	000000001922-11-12-000012 November 1922 (age 101)	German	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking	Awarded for actions at the Cherkassy Pocket
	Germany	Fischer, GerhardGerhard Fischer	000000001915-12-04-00004 December 1915 (age 108)	German	23rd Panzer Division
	Germany	Freyer, SiegfriedSiegfried Freyer	000000001917-02-11-000011 February 1917 (age 107)	German	24.Panzer-Division
	Germany	Fries, HerbertHerbert Fries	000000001925-03-01-00001 March 1925 (age 99)	German	Fallschirmjäger	Fallschirm-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1 Awarded for actions during the Battle of Monte Cassino
	Germany	Gapp, FranzFranz Gapp	000000001919-07-08-00008 July 1919 (age 104)	German	Luftwaffe	Kampfgeschwader 6 Franz Gapp completed 400 missions in the Ju-88 fighter-bomber in IV./LG-1, III./KG (J)-6 and ended up flying the Me-262, scoring several aerial victories over B-24s and downed one P-38 Lightning.
	Germany	Gläsche, DieterDieter Gläsche	000000001920-09-01-00001 September 1920 (age 103)	German	PzGrenRgt 11
	Germany	Glätzer, KarlKarl Glätzer	000000001915-02-01-00001 February 1915 (age 109)	German	Führer I./GrenRgt 426
	Germany	Hagena, GottfriedGottfried Hagena	000000001912-08-31-000031 August 1912 (age 111)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Halm, GünterGünter Halm	000000001922-08-27-000027 August 1922 (age 101)	German	21st Panzer Division	Awarded for actions at El Alamein
	Germany	Hammerschmidt, JosefJosef Hammerschmidt	000000001923-02-27-000027 February 1923 (age 101)	German	Heer (Panzer)	8./PzArtRgt 74
	Germany	Hase, Karl-Günther vonKarl-Günther von Hase	000000001917-12-15-000015 December 1917 (age 106)	German	Heer (Panzer)	German ambassador in London 1970–1977
	Germany	Heder, EberhardEberhard Heder	000000001918-06-30-000030 June 1918 (age 105)	German	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking	Former officer of the Estonian Legion.
	Germany	Heim, HerbertHerbert Heim	000000001924-03-08-00008 March 1924 (age 100)	German	Heer	Truppführer 1./GrenRgt 116
	Germany	Heinemann, AntonAnton Heinemann	000000001921-01-21-000021 January 1921 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe	Nachtjagdgeschwader 2
	Germany	Hermes, OthmarOthmar Hermes	000000001925-11-25-000025 November 1925 (age 98)	German	Grenadier-Regiment 464	Knight's Cross awarded as a Private. After the war he served with the Bundeswehr from May 11, 1946 until September 30, 1982. Here he finally reached the rank of Oberstleutnant.
	Germany	Hönig, JustinJustin Hönig	000000001917-07-09-00009 July 1917 (age 106)	German	Heer	3./PzGrenRgt 41
	Germany	Hümmerich, Wilhelm "Willi"Wilhelm "Willi" Hümmerich	000000001917-07-22-000022 July 1917 (age 106)	German	14th PanzerJäger/Infantry Rgt 80	Retired from the Bundeswehr as an Oberstleutnant
	Germany	Jeserer, HelmutHelmut Jeserer	000000001914-11-30-000030 November 1914 (age 109)	German	Heer	II./SturmRgt 215
	Germany	ter Jung, DietrichDietrich ter Jung	000000001916-02-19-000019 February 1916 (age 108)	Germany	Panzer Grenadier Regiment 79
	Austria	Kainz, KarlKarl Kainz	000000001916-09-27-000027 September 1916 (age 107)	Austrian	Heer	11./Jäger-Regiment 25
	Germany	Kam, SørenSøren Kam	000000001921-11-02-00002 November 1921 (age 102)	Danish	5th SS Panzer Division Wiking	The last living Danish recipient. Charged with "war crimes", but acquitted for lack of actual evidence.
	Germany	Keppel, WilhelmWilhelm Keppel	000000001921-09-29-000029 September 1921 (age 102)	German	Heer-Artillery	Hilfs VB 7./ArtRgt 227
	Germany	Klaus, Johann-AlfredJohann-Alfred Klaus	000000001918-09-04-00004 September 1918 (age 105)	German	Luftwaffe	Schlachtgeschwader 1
	Germany	Kleffel, Paul-GeorgPaul-Georg Kleffel	000000001920-09-07-00007 September 1920 (age 103)	German	3rd Panzer Division	General in the Bundeswehr
	Germany	Krems, GerhardGerhard Krems	000000001920-05-04-00004 May 1920 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe	Kampfgeschwader 27
	Germany	Kressmann, ErwinErwin Kressmann	000000001918-06-02-00002 June 1918 (age 105)	German	Heer	Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 519
	Germany	Krettek, HeinzHeinz Krettek	000000001919-05-01-00001 May 1919 (age 104)	German	212 Infantry Division
	Germany	Krink, HeinzHeinz Krink	000000001919-03-25-000025 March 1919 (age 105)	German	Luftwaffe	Fallschirmjäger Regiment 3
	Germany	Krohn, HansHans Krohn	000000001919-10-11-000011 October 1919 (age 104)	German	Luftwaffe	Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
	Germany	Kröhne, WilhelmWilhelm Kröhne	000000001914-08-15-000015 August 1914 (age 109)	German	Sturmgeschütz Brigade 190
	Germany	Laage, Karl-ErnstKarl-Ernst Laage	000000001920-06-09-00009 June 1920 (age 103)	German	I. / Artillerie-Regiment 66
	Germany	Lange, GüntherGünther Lange	000000001923-04-17-000017 April 1923 (age 101)	German	2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich
	Namibia	Leipzig, Hellmut vonHellmut von Leipzig	000000001921-07-18-000018 July 1921 (age 102)	German	Heer (Panzer)	Field Marshal Rommel's driver
	Germany	Lindemann, Karl-WilhelmKarl-Wilhelm Lindemann	000000001924-04-01-00001 April 1924 (age 100)	German	Zugführer 5./Panzer-Regiment 29
	Germany	Linke, GottfriedGottfried Linke	000000001918-04-07-00007 April 1918 (age 106)	German	Kommandeur Pionier Bataillon 44
	Germany	Lutze, HellmutHellmut Lutze	000000001917-07-05-00005 July 1917 (age 106)	German	14th Panzer Division
	Germany	Mangels, HermannHermann Mangels	000000001921-03-18-000018 March 1921 (age 103)	German	Pioneer Battalion 189
	Germany	Mertens, EwaldEwald Mertens	000000001914-08-14-000014 August 1914 (age 109)	German	Heer	Infanterie Regiment 204
	Germany	Meyer, GünterGünter Meyer	000000001920-07-13-000013 July 1920 (age 103)	German	3rd Panzer Division
	Germany	Munser, RudolfRudolf Munser	000000001914-09-19-000019 September 1914 (age 109)	German	208th Infantry Division
	Germany	Neumayr, LorenzLorenz Neumayr	000000001926-11-10-000010 November 1926 (age 97)	German	334th Infantry Division	Awarded as Private. Presumably youngest Knight's Cross winner alive.
	Estonia	Nugiseks, HaraldHarald Nugiseks	000000001921-10-22-000022 October 1921 (age 102)	Estonian	Estonian Legion	The last living Estonian recipient. Awarded for actions at the Battle of Narva.
	Germany	Oster, DieterDieter Oster	000000001918-01-15-000015 January 1918 (age 106)	German	Luftwaffe	I. / Flak-Regiment 8
	Austria	Peter, RudolfRudolf Peter	000000001923-12-21-000021 December 1923 (age 100)	Austrian	2./Genadier-Regiment 307
	Germany	Polz, HeinzHeinz Polz	000000001916-11-06-00006 November 1916 (age 107)	German	Luftwaffe	Flak-Sturm-Regiment 241
	Germany	Preiß, JosefJosef Preiß	000000001922-06-24-000024 June 1922 (age 101)	German	Heer	15./JägRgt 227
	Germany	Probst, HeinzHeinz Probst	000000001925-04-19-000019 April 1925 (age 98)	German	Luftwaffe	Falschirmjaeger PzGrenRgt 1 Hermann Göring Division
	Germany	Prössl, ErwinErwin Prössl	000000001915-04-04-00004 April 1915 (age 109)	German	Luftwaffe 4.(H)/AufklGrp 31
	Germany	Prochazka, Robert Freiherr vonRobert Freiherr von Prochazka	000000001916-12-06-00006 December 1916 (age 107)	German	Heer	Abteilungsführer Werfer-Regiment 55
	Austria	Raab, AlexanderAlexander Raab	000000001921-07-12-000012 July 1921 (age 102)	Austrian	Luftwaffe	KG 77
	Germany	Radermacher, KarlKarl Radermacher	000000001922-12-12-000012 December 1922 (age 101)	German	21st Infantry Division	Awarded as Private
	Germany	Rafoth, HeinzHeinz Rafoth	000000001923-01-06-00006 January 1923 (age 101)	German	Führer 2. / Grenadier-Regiment 48	Heinz Rafoth served after the Second world War with the Bundeswehr from 4 May 1956 until 31 March 1982 and finally reached the rank of Oberst im Generalstab.
	Germany	Regeniter, Dr. AlfredDr. Alfred Regeniter	000000001922-01-13-000013 January 1922 (age 102)	German	Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 276
	Germany	Rehbein, MaxMax Rehbein	000000001918-12-09-00009 December 1918 (age 105)	German	24th Panzer Division	Successful documentary film director after the war
	Germany	Remmert, Heinz-HermannHeinz-Hermann Remmert	000000001922-03-28-000028 March 1922 (age 102)	German	Heer	6. / Grenadier-Regiment 464
	Germany	Reschke, WilliWilli Reschke	000000001922-02-03-00003 February 1922 (age 102)	German	Luftwaffe	Jagdgeschwader 301
	Germany	Ribbentrop, Rudolf vonRudolf von Ribbentrop	000000001921-05-11-000011 May 1921 (age 102)	German	1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS	Son of German foreign minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. Awarded for actions at the Battle of Kursk.
	Germany	Rinkowski, LeoLeo Rinkowski	000000001924-09-14-000014 September 1924 (age 99)	German	Heer	MG-Gunner 5./GrenRgt 670
	Germany	Ritter, KlausKlaus Ritter	000000001918-09-28-000028 September 1918 (age 105)	German	Heer	II./GrenRgt 67
	Germany	Sachs, HansHans Sachs	000000001923-09-03-00003 September 1923 (age 100)	German	Großdeutschland Division	5./PzFüsRgt "Großdeutschland"
	Austria	Sametreiter, KurtKurt Sametreiter	000000001922-04-09-00009 April 1922 (age 102)	Austrian	1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS	Awarded for actions at the Battle of Kursk
	Austria	Scharff, HeinrichHeinrich Scharff	000000001920-12-17-000017 December 1920 (age 103)	Austrian	Heer	1./Grenadier-Regiment 109
	Germany	Schleinhege, HermannHermann Schleinhege	000000001916-02-21-000021 February 1916 (age 108)	German	Luftwaffe	JG 54
	Germany	Schmelzinger, BrunoBruno Schmelzinger	000000001922-01-31-000031 January 1922 (age 102)	German	Heer	4./GrenRgt 544
	Germany	Sekund, AlfredAlfred Sekund	000000001919-08-10-000010 August 1919 (age 104)	German	Heer	VB 6./ArtRgt 11
	Austria	Spadiut, HubertHubert Spadiut	000000001922-03-29-000029 March 1922 (age 102)	Austrian	Luftwaffe	5./Kampfgeschwader 76
	Germany	Timpe, HeinzHeinz Timpe	000000001923-12-23-000023 December 1923 (age 100)	German	Heer	1./SturmGeschBrig 300
	Germany	Titel, GeorgGeorg Titel	000000001914-02-27-000027 February 1914 (age 110)	Germany	Grenadier Regiment 757
	Germany	Trummer, JohannJohann Trummer	000000001923-12-23-000023 December 1923 (age 103)	German	Luftwaffe	SG 5
	Germany	Vehse, FritzFritz Vehse	000000001924-04-23-000023 April 1924 (age 99)	German	342nd Infantry Division	Awarded as Private
	Germany	Voss, ReimerReimer Voss	000000001920-03-30-000030 March 1920 (age 104)	German	Luftwaffe	KG 26
	Germany	Wanhöfer, GünterGünter Wanhöfer	000000001916-11-18-000018 November 1916 (age 107)	German	4th SS Panzergrenadier Brigade Nederland
	Germany	Weber, FranzFranz Weber	000000001921-11-30-000030 November 1921 (age 102)	German	Heer	8./JägRgt 28
	Germany	Wehking, HermannHermann Wehking	000000001914-09-09-00009 September 1914 (age 109)	German	Artillerie-Regiment 146 (mot.)
	Germany	Wieselhuber, HelmutHelmut Wieselhuber	000000001922-11-28-000028 November 1922 (age 101)	German	I./s.WerferRgt 1	Reached the rank of Oberst (Colonel) in the Bundeswehr by the time he retired in 1982.
	Germany	Wilfling, GüntherGünther Wilfling	000000001922-12-21-000021 December 1922 (age 101)	Germany	Grenadier Regiment 501
	Germany	Wilke, Karl-HeinzKarl-Heinz Wilke	000000001923-04-07-00007 April 1923 (age 101)	German	Luftwaffe
	Germany	Witzel-Kirn, DietrichDietrich Witzel-Kirn	000000001917-02-22-000022 February 1917 (age 107)	German	Heer (Infantry)	Served on a special mission in Afghanistan 1941–1942
	Austria	Wutzel, OttoOtto Wutzel	000000001918-06-17-000017 June 1918 (age )	Austrian	Grenadier Regiment 81
	Austria	Zastrow, MaxMax Zastrow	000000001922-10-12-000012 October 1922 (age 101)	Austrian	2. / Pionier-Battalion 81/45th Infantry Division
	Germany	Zinsser, LudwigLudwig Zinsser	000000001914-12-21-000021 December 1914 (age 109)	German	8. / Artillery-Regiment 148
	Austria	Zoppoth, GerhardGerhard Zoppoth	000000001923-06-02-00002 June 1923 (age 100)	Austrian	Heer (Infantry)	General in the Austrian army after the war