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Karl-Heinz Oesterwitz
German General and Knight's Cross recipients

Karl-Heinz Oesterwitz

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Intro
German General and Knight's Cross recipients
Places
Work field
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Innsbruck, Austria
Place of death
Pulheim, Germany
Age
85 years
Awards
German Cross in Gold
 
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

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. A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945. 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.

These recipients are listed in the 1986 edition of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945The 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 a 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 during the final days of World War II left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.

Listed here are the 82 Knight's Cross recipients whose last name starts with "O". Scherzer has challenged the validity of two of these listings. 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. 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. 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). 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.

Recipients

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists for the 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. Of the 82 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "O", seven were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and four the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords; seven presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 52 of the medals, six went to the Kriegsmarine, 21 to the Luftwaffe, and three to the Waffen-SS. The sequential numbers greater than 843 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.

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

NameServiceRankRole and unitDate of awardNotesImage
Eduard ObergethmannLuftwaffe16-LOberstleutnantCommander of Flak-Regiment 99 (motorized)24 January 1943
Hans OberhoferHeer14-HHauptmannCompany chief in the II./Jäger-Regiment 25 (L)23 March 1945*Died of wounds 20 February 1945
Karl OberkircherHeer06-HOberjägerGroup leader in the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 21812 October 1943
Werner OberländerLuftwaffe13-LOberleutnantPilot in the 2./Kampfgeschwader 5524 March 1943
Walther OberloskampHeer12-HLeutnant of the ReservesZugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 66710 May 1943
Dr. jur. Fritz Graf von OberndorffHeer15-HMajor of the ReservesCommander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3425 August 1941
Herbert OberwegLuftwaffe10-LOberfähnrichObserver in the 11.(H)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 138 August 1944
Erich OberwöhrmannHeer14-HHauptmannLeader of Panzer-Abteilung "Feldherrnhalle"7 February 1944
Friedrich ObleserLuftwaffe12-LLeutnantStaffelführer of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 5223 March 1944
Alois ObschilWaffen-SS13-WSS-ObersturmführerLeader of the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 112628 March 1945
Walter ObstHeer12-HLeutnantLeader of the 4./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6630 November 1943*Died of wounds 10 October 1943
Wolfgang von Obstfelder+Heer14-HHauptmannCommander of schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 34610 September 1944Awarded (858th) Oak Leaves 30 April 1945
Heinrich Ochs+Heer10-HOberfeldwebelZugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 1012 June 1943Awarded 360th Oak Leaves 30 December 1943
Willifrank OchsnerHeer17-HOberstCommander of the 31. Infanterie-Division18 January 1944
Heinrich OchßnerHeer15-HMajorCommander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 13219 August 1944
Wilhelm OdenhardtLuftwaffe10-LOberfeldwebelObserver in the 4./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"29 October 1944
Erich OeckelHeer13-HOberleutnantChief of the 5./Schützen-Regiment 424 June 1940
Heinz OehlHeer12-HLeutnantLeader of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 6225 July 1943*Killed in action 5 July 1943
Dr. Hermann OehmichenHeer16-HOberstleutnantLeader of Kampfgruppe "Oehmichen"27 December 1942
Victor OehrnKriegsmarine14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of U-3721 October 1940
Johann-Peter OekenpöhlerLuftwaffe10-LOberfeldwebelPilot in the 8./Kampfgeschwader 27 "Boelcke"2 June 1943
Heinrich OelkerHeer14-HHauptmannLeader of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 21 (L)26 March 1944
Karl OepkeHeer14-HHauptmannChief of the 6./Artillerie-Regiment 1216 April 1944
Walter Oesau+Luftwaffe14-LHauptmannStaffelkapitän of the 7./Jagdgeschwader 5120 August 1940Awarded 9th Oak Leaves 6 February 1941
3rd Swords 15 July 1941
Jürgen OestenKriegsmarine14-MKapitänleutnantCommander of U-10626 March 1941
Albert OesterlinKriegsmarine14-MKapitänleutnant of the ReservesChief of the Küstenschutzflottille "Attika"9 June 1944*Killed in aerial bombardment 22 January 1944
Karl ÖsterreicherHeer03-HGefreiterMachine gunner in the 11./Grenadier-Regiment 18618 December 1942
Karl-Heinz Oesterwitz+Heer13-HOberleutnantChief of the 7./Bau-Lehr-Regiment z.b.V. 800 "Brandenburg"30 April 1943Awarded 734th Oak Leaves 10 February 1945
Heinrich OfenlochHeer06-HUnteroffizierGroup leader in the 1./Pionier-Bataillon 32312 July 1943
Karl OffschanyHeer09-HFeldwebelZugführer (platoon leader) in the 9./Infanterie-Regiment 1917 March 1941
Walter OhlroggeLuftwaffe09-LFeldwebelPilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 34 November 1941
Horst OhrloffHeer13-HOberleutnantChief of the 11./Panzer-Regiment 2527 July 1941
Wilhelm OkrentHeer04-HObergefreiterRichtkanonier (gunner) in the 4./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 1162 April 1943
Erich OlboeterWaffen-SS15-WSS-SturmbannführerCommander of the III.(gepanzert)/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 26 "Hitlerjugend"28 July 1944
Robert OlejnikLuftwaffe13-LOberleutnantStaffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 127 July 1941
Herbert OllHeer14-HHauptmannCommander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 7823 August 1941
Georg OlschewskiKriegsmarine13-MOberleutnant (Ing.)Chief engineer on U-6623 April 1944
Emil OmertLuftwaffe12-LLeutnantPilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 7719 March 1942
Leon von OndarzaHeer17-HOberstCommander of Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 22 September 1944
Hermann OpdenhoffKriegsmarine13-MOberleutnant zur SeeCommander Schnellboot S-31 in the 2. Schnellbootflottille16 May 1940
Heinz-Eberhard OpitzHeer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 91111 March 1945
Kurt OppenländerHeer18-HGeneralmajorCommander of the 305. Infanterie-Division25 July 1942
Walter OppermannHeer09-HFeldwebelZugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Jäger-Regiment 385 May 1943*Died of wounds 20 March 1943
Egon OrinschnigHeer13-HOberleutnantChief of the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 26613 June 1941
Ralph Graf von OriolaHeer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of the 299. Infanterie-Division23 December 1943
Helmuth OrlowskiLuftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of the Fernaufklärungs-Gruppe 12219 September 1943
Heinrich OrthLuftwaffe10-LOberfeldwebelZugführer (platoon leader) in the 4./Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment18 March 1942*Killed in action 10 March 1942
Karl OrthHeer01-HGrenadierIn the 13./Grenadier-Regiment 4533 March 1944
Alfons OrthoferLuftwaffe14-LHauptmannGruppenkommandeur of the II./Sturzkampfgeschwader 7723 November 1941
Karl OrtliebHeer16-HOberstleutnantCommander of Grenadier-Regiment 75410 September 1944
Ernst OrzegowskiLuftwaffe09-LFahnenjunker-FeldwebelPilot in the 7./Schlachtgeschwader 1014 January 1945
Theodor OssegeHeer06-HOberjägerGroup leader in the 1./Jäger-Regiment 565 September 1944*Killed in action 29 July 1944
Dieter OsterLuftwaffe13-LOberleutnantChief of the 2./Flak-Regiment 8 (motorized)9 December 1942
Wilhelm Osterhold+Heer15-HMajorCommander of the III./Füsilier-Regiment 2726 March 1944Awarded 732nd Oak Leaves 10 February 1945
Felix OstermannHeer14-HHauptmannLeader of Divisions-Bataillon 26026 August 1943
Max-Hellmuth Ostermann+Luftwaffe12-LLeutnantPilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 544 September 1941Awarded 81st Oak Leaves 12 March 1942
10th Swords 17 May 1942
Hans-Arno Ostermeier+Heer14-HHauptmann of the ReservesLeader of a Kampfgruppe in the Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle"23 August 1944Awarded 834th Oak Leaves 15 April 1945
Franz OswaldLuftwaffe14-LHauptmannStaffelkapitän of the 13.(Panzer)/Schlachtgeschwader 924 October 1944
Oskar OtolskiLuftwaffe15-LMajorGruppenkommandeur of (Fern)Aufklärungs-Gruppe 230 September 1944
Eugen OttHeer20-HGeneral der InfanterieCommanding general of the LII. Armeekorps25 December 1942
Heinz Ott?Heer10-HOberwachtmeisterZugführer (platoon leader) in the 12./Panzer-Regiment 249 May 1945
Helmuth OttHeer13-HOberleutnant of the ReservesChief of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 9716 November 1943
Joachim OttHeer14-HHauptmann of the ReservesLeader of the I./Jäger-Regiment 2828 October 1944
Rudolf OttHeer17-HOberstCommander of Jäger-Regiment 5628 February 1945
Norbert OttawaHeer14-HHauptmann of the ReservesChief of the 1./Füsilier-Regiment 227 September 1943
Albrecht OtteHeer13-HOberleutnantChief of the 2./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 3228 April 1945
Friedrich-Wilhelm OtteHeer17-HOberstCommander of Jäger-Regiment 20713 November 1942
Dr. jur. Maximilian Otte+Luftwaffe13-LOberleutnantPilot in the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"5 April 1942Awarded 433rd Oak Leaves 24 March 1944
Otto-Ernst OttenbacherHeer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of the 36. Infanterie-Division (motorized)13 August 1941
Ernst OttoHeer14-HHauptmannLeader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 45410 February 1943
Rudolf OttoHeer06-HUnteroffizierGroup leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 52915 May 1944
Werner OttoHeer06-HUnteroffizierGroup leader in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 5296 April 1944
Karl von OvenHeer19-HGeneralleutnantCommander of the 56. Infanterie-Division9 January 1942
Theo OverhagenHeer09-HFeldwebelZugführer (platoon leader) in the 9./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 91 January 1944
Gerold OverhoffHeer13-HOberleutnantChief of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 11 (motorized)10 December 1942
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