Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross Nominations

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen!

This is a rather difficult search you might find. Any men who were nominated for the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross but somehow failed to received it due to different reasons including the ending of World War II for Germany. I wonder if there were any unofficial awards of the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross near the end of the War? Just like the unofficial awarding of the Ritterkreuz.

Sincerely,

Edward

[Dieter Zinke]

Hallo Edward,

according to Heinz-Peter Würzenthal "Vollständige Liste der Generale und Admirale der Bundeswehr 1955 - 1990", Biblio Osnabrück 1990
Adolf Heusinger, the later General (four stars) of the Bundeswehr
was proposed to both the Knights Crosses (of the Iron Cross and of the War Merit Cross), but he never won these awards.
Also Heinz Hükelheim (Generalmajor Bundeswehr 16.04.1965, * 09.09.09 in Wanne-Eickel) was proposed to the RKzKVK.

Oberstab

[Dieter Zinke]

Hallo again,

it is necessary to post supplements to Oberstleutnant i.G. Heinz Hükelheim, Quartiermeister beim Generalquartiermeister.
According to Dermot Bradley / Heinz-Peter Würzenthal / Hansgeorg Model “Die Generale und Admirale der Bundeswehr 1955 - 1997”, Band 2,2 (Hoffmann – Kusserow), Biblio Verlag Osnabrück 2000
he did not receive resp. claim the KC of the War Merit Cross with swords.
But I have a list (edited 01.03.1993) placed by Klaus D. Patzwall.
There Patzwall has Hükelheim as a KC-holder with the date of 10.05.1945. So it may be a decoration according to the mysterious “Dönitz-Erlass”.

Also a second case in the chapter “Dönitz-Erlass” is listed there under 10.05.1945:
Oberstleutnant Rudolf Lengwinat, * 04.08.1902, Korps-Ingenieur XXVIII. AK.

To my knowledge and according to Patzwall some awards are not certain (no papers have been fund):
Admiral Paul Fanger (RKKVK) 30.03.1945
Generalmajor (Lw) Alfred Boner, Höh. Nafü Luftflotte Reich, RKKVKmS 20.04.1945
Gustav Brecht (no further informations), RKKVKmS 20.04.1945
Prof. Dr. Hubert Schardin, Institutsleiter der Luftfahrttechnischen Akademie, RKKVKmS 20.04.1945
Oberst Hans Schulz (no further informations), RKKVKmS 20.04.1945
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS und der Polizei Karl-Hermann Frank, RKKVKmS 01.05.1945
Gerhard Fieseler, Flugzeugkonstrukteur, RKKVK 02.05.1945

Oberstab

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Dear Sir!

This is getting to be really interesting imformation for me! I was hopping to see some men from the Kriegsmarine being proposed for the Knight's Cross of the War Cross. So I see there is one uncertain in your list. Good work so far!

Sincerely,

Edward

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Dear Sir,

SS-Obergruppenfueher Otto Winkelmann was the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords on January 29, 1945. The footnote on page 199 in "German Cross in Silver-Holders of the SS and Police" book tells that he was possibly also awarded the Knight's Cross of War Merit Cross without Swords on October 16, 1944. To me that is pretty uncertain.

Edward

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

As I recalled, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer Herbert Backe was recommanded for the Knight's Cross of the War Cross without Swords in 1943 but was turned down by Hitler. Hermann Goering wanted that decoration but Hitler stopped Goering from pursuing more decorations.

Sincerely,

Edward