Hans-Karl Stepp

Hans-Karl Stepp (2 September 1914 – 12 December 2006) was a German Stuka ace in the Luftwaffe during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, awarded by Nazi Germany to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Hans-Karl Stepp was born on 2 September 1914 in Gießen as son to a University professor. Stepp studied eight semesters of law in Tübingen, Breslau and Munich before joining the Luftwaffe as Fahnenjunker in 1936. He fought in the Invasion of Poland and Battle of France. He also served in the Reichsluftwaffenministerium in Berlin.

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1 November 1939)
  • 1st Class (15 June 1940)
• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 9 September 1941 as Oberleutnant
• German Cross in Gold on 15 October 1941 as Oberleutnant in the 7./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 February 1942 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./StG 2 "Immelmann"
  • 462nd Oak Leaves on 25 April 1944 as Oberstleutnant and Geschwaderkommodore of SG 2 "Immelmann"
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 25 April 1944

• ^ Thomas 1998, p. 349.
• Patzwall 2008, p. 199.
• Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 459.
• ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 723.