The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of extreme gallantry.^[1] A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945.^{[Note 1]} This number is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich.^[3]

These recipients are listed in the 1986 edition of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945. Fellgiebel was the former chairman and head of the order commission of the AKCR. In 1996, the second edition of this book was published with an addendum delisting 11 of these original recipients. Author Veit Scherzer has cast doubt on a further 193 of these listings. The majority of the disputed recipients had received the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of Germany in the final days of World War II in Europe left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.^[4]

Listed here are the 280 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "F".^[5] Scherzer has challenged the validity of 12 of these listings.^[6] Georg-Wolfgang Feller, a 13th doubted recipient, is listed by the AKCR. However, the AKCR itself challenges his listing.^[2] The recipients are ordered alphabetically by last name. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded.

Background

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 1 September 1939 instituted the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz), the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes.^[7] As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.^[8] In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 introduced the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten).^[9] At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944, became the final variant of the Knight's Cross authorized.^[10]

Recipients

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists, one for each of the three military branches, Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air Force) and Waffen-SS. Within each of these lists a unique sequential number was assigned to each recipient. The same numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades of the Knight's Cross, one list per grade.^[11] Of the 280 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "F", 25 were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and three the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords; 21 presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 179 of the medals; 17 went to the Kriegsmarine, 65 to the Luftwaffe, and 19 to the Waffen-SS.^[5]

  This along with the + (plus) indicates that a higher grade of Knight's Cross was awarded as well.
  This along with an * (asterisk) indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
  This along with the ! (exclamation mark) indicates that author Walther-Peer Fellgiebel has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.
  This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that author Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity or formal correctness of the listing.

Name	Service	Rank	Role and unit[Note 2]	Date of award	Notes	Image
Hans Faasch	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[12]	Commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 164[12][13]	18 November 1941[12]	—	—
Heinz-Otto Fabian+	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[12]	Leader of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 534[12][13]	15 March 1943[12]	Awarded 522nd Oak Leaves 9 July 1944[12]	—
Maximilian Fabich?[Note 3]	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant	Commander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[13]	9 May 1945	—	—
Albert Fabritius	Heer	09-HWachtmeister[12]	Company troop leader in the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 404[12][13]	9 February 1945[12]	—	—
Ernst Fach	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[12]	Staffelkapitän of the 9.(Eis)/Kampfgeschwader 3 "Lützow"[12][13]	3 September 1943*[12]	Killed in flying accident 15 May 1943[13]	—
Siegfried Fackler	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[12]	Chief of the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 521[15][Note 4]	2 November 1943[12]	—	—
Wilhelm Fahlbusch	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[12]	Chief of the 8./Flak-Regiment 11 (motorized)[12][15]	31 December 1941[12]	—	—
Wolfgang Fahrenberg	Heer	14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[12]	Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 426[12][15]	17 September 1944[12]	—	—
Alfred Fahrenholz	Heer	10-HOberwachtmeister[12]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Artillerie-Regiment 240[12][15]	5 May 1943[12]	—	—
Wilhelm Fahrmbacher	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[16]	Commander of the 5. Infanterie-Division[15][16]	24 June 1940[16]	—	—
Wolfgang Falck	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[16]	Geschwaderkommodore of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[16][17]	1 October 1940[16]	—	—
Ernst Falk	Heer	04-HObergefreiter[16]	Messenger in the 10./Grenadier-Regiment 61[15][16]	30 September 1944[16]	—	—
Günter von Falkenhayn	Heer	12-HLeutnant[16]	Leader of the 7./Jäger-Regiment 75[15][16]	25 November 1942[16]	—	—
Nikolaus von Falkenhorst	Heer	20-HGeneral der Infanterie[16]	Commander-in-chief of Gruppe XXI (Norway)[15][Note 5]	30 April 1940[16]	—
Wilhelm Falley	Heer	16-HOberstleutnant[16]	Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 4[15][16]	26 November 1941[16]	—	—
Günther Famula	Heer	12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[16]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the V./Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" (Panzer-Kampfgruppe Graf Strachwitz)[15][Note 6]	4 May 1944*[16]	Died of wounds 22 April 1944[15]	—
Georg Fanderl	Luftwaffe	09-LFeldwebel[16]	Pilot in the 1./Kampfgeschwader 51[15][Note 7]	24 January 1942[16]	—	—
Friedrich Fangohr	Heer	19-HGeneralleutnant[16]	Chief of the Generalstab Panzer-AOK 4[15][16]	9 June 1944[16]	—	—
Walter Fasel	Heer	09-HFeldwebel[16]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Füsilier-Regiment 26[15][Note 8]	31 August 1943[16]	—	—
Horst-Günther von Fassong	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[16]	Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 11[15][16]	27 July 1944[16]	—	—
Fridolin Fath	Luftwaffe	15-LMajor[18]	Deputy Gruppenkommandeur of the IV./Kampfgeschwader z.b.V. 1[15][18]	23 December 1942[18]	—	—
Karl Faulhaber	Heer	17-HOberst[18]	Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 282[15][18]	19 December 1943[18]	—	—
Markus Faulhaber	Waffen-SS	13-WSS-Obersturmführer[18]	Chief of the 3./SS-Infanterie-Regiment "Germania"[17][Note 9]	25 December 1942[18]	—	—
Dr. Klaus Faulmüller	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[Note 10]	Leader of the 7./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13[15][18]	25 June 1943[18]	—	—
Fritz Faust	Heer	04-HObergefreiter[18]	In the 3./Füssilier-Regiment 26[15][Note 11]	20 August 1942[18]	—	—
Fritz Fechner	Heer	15-HMajor[18]	Commander of the III./Panzer-Regiment 23[15][18]	6 October 1943[18]	—	—
Konrad Fechner	Luftwaffe	09-LFeldwebel[18]	Pilot in the 6./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[19][Note 12]	4 May 1944[18]	—	—
Karl-August von der Fecht	Luftwaffe	14-LHauptmann[18]	Staffelkapitän of the 2./Kampfgeschwader 3 "Lützow"[18][19]	30 December 1942[18]	—	—
Hermann Fegelein?[Note 13]	Waffen-SS	17-WSS-Standartenführer	Commander of the SS-Kavallerie-Brigade[19]	2 March 1942	Awarded 157th Oak Leaves 21 December 1942 83rd Swords 30 July 1944
Waldemar Fegelein	Waffen-SS	15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[18]	Leader of SS-Reiter-Regiment 2[18][21]	16 December 1943[18]	—	—
Gustav Fehn	Heer	17-HOberst[18]	Commander of Schützen-Regiment 33[18][19]	5 August 1940[18]	—
Erich Fehr	Heer	14-HHauptmann[22]	Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 504[19][22]	26 January 1944[22]	—	—
Siegfried Fehre	Heer	12-HLeutnant[22]	Vorgeschobener Beobachter (forward observer) in the 10./Artillerie-Regiment 126[19][22]	13 December 1942[22]	—	—
Paul Feiertag	Heer	06-HUnteroffizier[22]	Group leader in the 3./Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 96[21][22]	30 September 1944[22]	—	—
Georg Feig	Heer	13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[22]	Chief of the 3./Schützen-Regiment 113[19][22]	4 October 1941[22]	—	—
Hans Felber	Heer	20-HGeneral der Infanterie[22]	Commanding general of the XIII. Armeekorps[19][22]	17 September 1941[22]	—
Paul Felder	Luftwaffe	13-LOberleutnant[22]	Pilot in the 1.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 121[19][Note 14]	29 February 1944[22]	—	—
Wendelin Felder	Heer	13-HOberleutnant[Note 15]	Battery chief in the IV./Artillerie-Regiment 85[19][22]	23 February 1944*[22]	Missing in action 23 October 1943[19][Note 15]	—
Heinrich Feldkamp	Heer	10-HOberwachtmeister[22]	Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Heeres-Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 341[19][Note 16]	14 April 1945[22]	—	—
Alfred Feldmann	Heer	14-HHauptmann[22]	Leader of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 454[19][22]	20 August 1942[22]	—	—
Klaus Feldt+	Kriegsmarine	13-MOberleutnant zur See[22]	Commander of Schnellboot S-30 in the 2. Schnellbootflottille[21][22]	25 April 1941[22]	Awarded 362nd Oak Leaves 1 January 1944[22]	— Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Fritz_Feßmann Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia.  Navigácia: Veda > Analytika Antropológia Aplikované vedy Bibliometria Dejiny vedy Encyklopédie Filozofia vedy Forenzné vedy Humanitné vedy Knižničná veda Kryogenika Kryptológia Kulturológia Literárna veda Medzidisciplinárne oblasti Metódy kvantitatívnej analýzy Metavedy Metodika Metodológia vedy Náboženstvo a veda Náučná literatúra Podvody vo vede Popularizácia vedy Potravinárstvo Prírodné vedy Pseudoveda Scientometria Spoločenské vedy Teórie Teatrológia Technické vedy Technika Terminológia Umenie Výskum Veda Veda a technika podľa štátu Veda a technika podľa kontinentu Veda a technika podľa roka Veda v kozme Vedci Vedecká literatúra Vedecké databázy Vedecké experimenty Vedecké konferencie Vedecké metódy Vedecké ocenenia Vedecké organizácie Vedecké parky Vedeckí spisovatelia Vzdelávanie Záhady Príbuzné výrazy: Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia. www.astronomia.sk | www.biologia.sk | www.botanika.sk | www.dejiny.sk | www.economy.sk | www.elektrotechnika.sk | www.estetika.sk | www.farmakologia.sk | www.filozofia.sk | Fyzika | www.futurologia.sk | www.genetika.sk | www.chemia.sk | www.lingvistika.sk | www.politologia.sk | www.psychologia.sk | www.sexuologia.sk | www.sociologia.sk | www.veda.sk I www.zoologia.sk