Ritterkreuzträger?

[Blitz]

A simple question that i have never heard beign answered: Who was the very first Ritterkreuzträger? It had to have been some time in the beginning of the Polish campaign, but i have just never heard about it.. I'm sure there is a member who knows who it was. Thanks in advance!

[stdub]

Hello Blitz,

the first Ritterkreuzträger of the Army (and I think fo the whole Wehrmacht) was Lt. Josef Stolz. He was awarded with the RK on 27.10.1939. He was KIA 27.06.1941.

Best wishes

Joerg

A simple question that i have never heard beign answered: Who was the very first Ritterkreuzträger? It had to have been some time in the beginning of the Polish campaign, but i have just never heard about it.. I'm sure there is a member who knows who it was. Thanks in advance!

[Blitz]

Thanks, Joerg! Do you know what he got it for?

[stdub]

You can find more informations here:

http://www.feldgrau.com/KnightsCross...s2.php?ID=6352

[Blitz]

Thanks again! All clear now..

[Denis]

Hello

Sorry guys but the first KC holders were the 13 successful military leaders (3 LW, 1 KM and 9 WH) of the Polish campaign. Here they are by alphabetical order :

BLASKOWITZ
BOCK
BRAUCHITSCH
GÖRING
KEITEL
KESSELRING
KLUGE
KÜCHLER
LIST
LÖHR
RAEDER
REICHENAU
RUNDSTEDT

After them, Kaleu. Günther Prien was awarded the KC for his raid on Scapa Flow on 18/10/39.
Then there was a second "batch" of soldiers (mainly generals) following the success in the Polish Campaign :

BRIESEN (v.)
GUDERIAN
HALDER
HOEPNER
HOTH
JESCHONNEK
KÜBLER
OLLBRICHT
REINHARDT
SCHMIDT
STEINHARDT
STOLZ
STRAUSS

Among that latter list, there were 2 "junior" officers : Stolz and Steinhardt, both from IR 51 (mot.) belonging to the 18. ID (mot.).
Regards
Denis

[Blitz]

So the first patch was given all at once and the first one to recieve a RK for bravery or a single act was Prien?

[stdub]

Denis, you must be right I think. Any explanation why many books point out Josef Stolz as the first RK-Winner of the Wehrmacht?

Best wishes

Joerg

[ChrisJ]

Rundstedt

Denis, you must be right I think. Any explanation why many books point out Josef Stolz as the first RK-Winner of the Wehrmacht?

Best wishes

Joerg

Interestingly, I had in my collection von Rundstedt's RK... it was an 800 "dot" Junckers, and assuming this to be the award piece (as I believed it to be) it points to this variety as being some of the first produced.

[Blitz]

Von Rundstedt's RK? You actually had von Rundstedts RK? Oh my God! You had it? Did you sell it away? Oh no! Why oh why!?!