NAME

Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross

DATE OF INSTITUTION

3. June 1940 as the fourth and new grade of the re-instituted Order of the Iron Cross

AWARD CRITERIA

The Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross were awarded for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy and for outstanding merit in troop leadership. The Oakleaves were basically another award of the Knights Cross and were solely awarded by the Führer upon the proposal of the soldiers unit and issued by the Heerespersonalamt. The Oakleaves to the Knights Crosses of the Iron Cross were stored at the Ordenskanzlei in Berlin and were awarded by the Führer personally.

MANUFACTURERS

The Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross were produced by at least two manufacturers, C.E. Juncker and Godet. Private sales were forbidden after October 1941.

AWARD NUMBERS

The Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross were awarded 869 times to German soldiers and eight times to foreigners for a total of 877. Unissued examples were found at Schloss Klessheim.

AWARD DOCUMENTS

The awardee received a preliminary document in A5 format and issued in the name of the Führer by the responsible personnel offices of the three branches of the Wehrmacht. The formal documents (Grosse Mappe) were issued later and are rare due to the huge backlog.

WEARING METHOD

The Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross were worn around the neck on a wider red white and black ribbon, instead of the regular loop of the Knights Cross. They were presented in a black case together with a ribbon.