Knights Cross Recipients Who Are Still Living

[Huntzman]

I'm not sure if this topic has been posted before. If it has I missed it, and would appreciate a re-direct.

I was doing some research on Knight's Cross Recipients and was wondering how many are still alive today.

This list is now based upon numerous contributions by several members. Any corrections / updates / revisions are greatly appreciated.

Note: I will monitor the entries & try to keep this first post updated as revisions are posted.

Last Update: 03/14/13 <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>
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Combined Totals: (116)<o></o>
<o></o>
KC w/ OL & S (02)<o></o>
KC w/ OL (14)<o></o>
KC (100)<o></o>
<o></o>
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords: - Alphabetical <o></o>
<o></o>
Waldemar von Gazen (Heer)<o></o>
Erich Rudorffer (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
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Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves: - Alphabetical <o></o>
<o></o>
Otto Carius (Heer)<o></o>
Kurt Dahlmann (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Oskar Hubert Dennhardt (Heer)<o></o>
Martin Drewes (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Hermann Greiner (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Reinhard Hardegen (Kriegsmarine)<o></o>
Rolf Hermichen (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Hans Gunther Lange (Kriegsmarine)<o></o>
Heinz Rökker (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Heinrich Ruhl (Heer)<o></o>
Walter Schuck (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Johann Schwerdfeger (Heer)<o></o>
Gerhard Simons (Heer)<o></o>
Paul Zorner (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
<o></o>
Knight's Cross: - Alphabetical <o></o>
<o></o>
Heinz Angelmaier (Heer)<o></o>
Erich Axthammer (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
<o></o>
Karl-Ludwig Barths (Heer)<o></o>
Ludwig Bauer (Heer)<o></o>
Franz Bayer ( Heer)<o></o>
Artur Becker- Neetz (Heer)<o></o>
Karl Heinz Becker (Heer)<o></o>
Dr. Anton Benning (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Alfons Bialetzki (Heer)<o></o>
Gunther Bierbrauer (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Karl Bleckl (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Hans Ekkehard Bob (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Joachim Boosfeld (SS)<o></o>
Gunther Braake (Heer)<o></o>
Paul Brasack (Kriegsmarine) <o></o>
Hugo Broch (Luftwaffe) <o></o>
Friedrich Buck (SS)<o></o>
Arthur Büssecker (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
<o></o>
Friedrich Carl (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Dieter Damerius (Heer)<o></o>
Erwin Diekwisch (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
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Alfred Eick (Kriegsmarine)<o></o>
Karl Heinz Euling (SS)<o></o>
<o></o>
Walter Fasel (Heer)<o></o>
Konrad Fechner ( Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Gerhard Fischer (Heer)<o></o>
Gerhard Fischer (SS)<o></o>
Sigfried Freyer (Heer)<o></o>
Herbert Fries (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
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Franz Gapp (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Walter Gerhold (Kriegsmarine)<o></o>
Dieter Glaesche (Heer)<o></o>
Karl Glaetzer (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Gunther Halm (Heer)<o></o>
Josef Hammerschmidt (Heer)<o></o>
Karl Gunther von Hase (Heer)<o></o>
Eberhard Heder (SS)<o></o>
Anton Heinemann ( Luftwaffe) <o></o>
Othmar Hermes (Heer)<o></o>
Justin Hönig (Heer)<o></o>
Ahrend Höper (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Helmut Jeserer (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Karl Kainz (Heer)<o></o>
Soren Kam (SS)<o></o>
Hans Klaus (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Paul Georg Kleffel (Heer)<o></o>
Helmut Klemann ( Heer )<o></o>
Gerhard Krems (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Erwin Kressmann (Heer)<o></o>
Heinz Krettek (Heer)<o></o>
Hans Krohn (Luftwaffe) <o></o>
Wilhelm Kröhne (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Karl-Ernst Laage (Heer)<o></o>
Günther Lange (SS)<o></o>
Ludwig Laubmeier (Heer)<o></o>
Helmut von Leipzig (Heer)<o></o>
Karl Wilhelm Lindemann (Heer)<o></o>
Helmut Lutze (Heer)<o></o>
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Hermann Mangels (Heer)<o></o>
Günter Meyer ( Heer) <o></o>
Rudolf Munser (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Lorenz Neumayr (Heer)<o></o>
Hans Joachim Nitsch (Heer)<o></o>
Harald Nugiseks (SS) <o></o>
<o></o>
Dieter Oster (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
<o></o>
Rudolf Peter (Heer) <o></o>
Josef Preis (Heer)<o></o>
Heinz Probst (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Frhr. Robert von Prochazka (Heer)<o></o>
Erwin Prössl (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
<o></o>
Alexander Raab (Luftwaffe) <o></o>
Karl Rademacher (Heer)<o></o>
Heinz Rafoth (Heer)<o></o>
Dr. Alfred Regeniter (Heer)<o></o>
Max Heimo Rehbein (Heer)<o></o>
Heinz Remmert (Heer)<o></o>
Willi Reschke (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Rudolf von Ribbentrop (SS)<o></o>
Klaus Ritter (Heer) <o></o>
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Kurt Sametreiter (SS)<o></o>
Heinrich Scharff (Heer) <o></o>
Hermann Schleinhege (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Bruno Schmelzinger (Heer)<o></o>
Karl Heinz Schnell (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Herbert Schneider (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Paul Schneider ( Heer)<o></o>
Gunther Seeger (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Fritz Seyffardt (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
Dr. Hubert Spadiut (Luftwaffe)<o></o>
<o></o>
Heinrich Timpe (Heer)<o></o>
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Fritz Vehse (Heer)<o></o>
<o></o>
Gunter Wanhofer (SS)<o></o>
Franz Weber (Heer)<o></o>
Hermann Wehking (Heer)<o></o>
Karl-Heinz Wiebe (Kriegsmarine) <o></o>
Helmut Wieselhuber (Heer)<o></o>
Heinz Wilde (Heer)<o></o>
Dietrich Witzel-Kirn (Heer)<o></o>
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Max Zastrow (Heer)<o></o>
Dr. Gerhard Zoppoth (Heer)<o></o>
***************<o></o>

[tenoriodj]

For living Knights Cross recipients you are missing Hans Mehrle (heer)

[Andy F-P]

Hello,
Wilhelm Moritz (Luftwaffe) is still alive I believe.
Regards,
Andy

[Bjorn S]

Has anybody ever tried to contact one of these men to ask them for a signed picture? And does it work?

A couple of years ago, I wrote a letter to Herr Rudolf von Ribbentrop, I received a signed picture back, which ofcourse is still in my posession. (I don't see the point in selling gifts from veterans)
I would like to try again, now that I still have the chance.



regards, Bjorn

[Bjorn S]

.

[Gran Sasso]

Robert Rahlenbeck is alive and well:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=rahlenbeck

[Huntzman]

OK, I added these latest updates:

Hans Mehrle (Heer)
Wilhelm Moritz (Luftwaffe)
Robert Rahlenbeck (Heer)

Keep me posted on any others.

As to letter writing, I have sent letters to several but I am still waiting. If I have any success I will shrare with the forum.

I understand that many of these gentlemen are quite old, and so I am not too sure as to how much success I will have. My loss for getting into the hobby so late in time.

Bjorn, PM sent.

Andrew

[MikeB]

Knight's Cross Recipients....

I was given the home address of Eric Hartmann in the 1970's. I had just read Toliver's book, The Blond Knight of Germany and greatly admired Hartmann's exploits. I wrote him and while it took some time to hear back initially we did correspond. I later found out that his autograph requests were voluminous! We carried on a bit of correspondance and I did receive a couple of autographed photos of him wearing his awards. I treasure those autographs today. MikeB

[Huntzman]

I was given the home address of Eric Hartmann in the 1970's. I had just read Toliver's book, The Blond Knight of Germany and greatly admired Hartmann's exploits. I wrote him and while it took some time to hear back initially we did correspond. I later found out that his autograph requests were voluminous! We carried on a bit of correspondance and I did receive a couple of autographed photos of him wearing his awards. I treasure those autographs today. MikeB

Mike

That must have been awesome. I regret having come into the hobby so late. I have missed out on a great many things. I'm hoping to be able to locate some of those still alive and write them. But with their advance age, it might be futile. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Then again, some might be like my father-in-law, 84 years old and works out at the YMCA 5 days a week, running and lifting weights. God Bless Him !!! I wish I had 1/2 his energy

[florian_geyer72]

Rudolf von Ribbentrop is well alive.

Hello,

I've just received today a nice autograph from him.


Kind regards.

Florian.

ps: i'm in my autograph's period now...

[Huntzman]

That is an outstanding photograph !!!! Congratulations

[mdj]

Very good to post, but the list of living KC holders is missing a lot of names.

90% of the posted list consists of SS KC holders.....There are aprox. 400 KC holders still alive.

Best
Martin

[Huntzman]

Very good to post, but the list of living KC holders is missing a lot of names. 90% of the posted list consists of SS KC holders.....There are aprox. 400 KC holders still alive.

Martin

Yes, I assumed that I am missing a lot of names. That was the list I personally had come up with.

I am asking that if anyone knows of names that I have missed, please contact me and I will update it.

Andrew

[mdj]

Hi Andrew,

Maybe interesting to check this link:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=OdR

Only Von Gazen, Drewes and Brosow (named in the underneath list) are seen on this picture..

Best
Martin

[Huntzman]

Martin

Thanks for the link. I have ID'd and will add the following names to the Knights Cross winners list:

Artur Becker-Neetz (Heer)
Georg Bleher (Heer)
Günther Frenzel (Luftwaffe)
Franz Gapp (Heer)
Gerhard Halm (Heer)
Hans-Joachim Heinrici (Heer)
Helmut Jeserer (Heer)
Erwin Kressmann (Heer)
Willi Reschke (Luftwaffe)
Heinrich Sudel (Luftwaffe)
Achim Wunderlich (Heer)
Max Zastrow (Heer)

Martin: If I misidentified anyone, please let me know.

Unfortunately I had not been able to ID' the following because of common surnames among multiple winners.

Ahrends(?), Kaminski, Fries, Weber, Bauer, Bischof, Bose, Gernstner(?)

I will continue to research but if anyone knows and can help ID them it would be greatly appreciated.