The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) was Nazi Germany's order and recognized extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during the Third Reich period.
Knight's Cross (
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes)
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub)
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern)
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten)
Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten)
Wiki LinkRitterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten / Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds
The only Golden Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds holder, Hans Ulrich Rudel
Hans-Ulrich Rudel (July 2, 1916 – December 18, 1982) was a Stuka dive-bomber pilot during World War II. Rudel is famous for being the most highly decorated German serviceman of the war. Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the only person to be awarded the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.
Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions and successfully attacked many tanks, trains, ships, and other ground targets, claiming a total of 2,000 targets destroyed - including 800 vehicles, 519 tanks, 150 artillery guns, a destroyer, two cruisers, a battleship and 9 aircraft which he shot down.