List of Knight's Cross recipients 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg
Encyclopedia
The 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg or 10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg was a German
Waffen SS panzer
division
that saw action on both the Western
and Eastern Fronts
during World War II
. The honor title Frundsberg was chosen, which refers to 16th Century German landsknecht
commander Georg von Frundsberg
.
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 September 1, 1939 instituted the Iron Cross
and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. As the war progressed some of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of June 3, 1940. In 1941 two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of September 28, 1941 introduced the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the last and final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of December 29, 1944 concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.
First Class, though the Iron Cross I Class was awarded concurrently with the Knight's Cross in rare cases.
Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for exemplary conduct by the unit as a whole.
:
SS Panzerjäger
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Waffen SS panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
that saw action on both the Western
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
and Eastern Fronts
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The honor title Frundsberg was chosen, which refers to 16th Century German landsknecht
Landsknecht
Landsknechte were European, predominantly German mercenary pikemen and supporting foot soldiers from the late 15th to the late 16th century, and achieved the reputation for being the universal mercenary of Early modern Europe.-Etymology:The term is from German, Land "land, country" + Knecht...
commander Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg
Georg von Frundsberg was a South German knight and Landsknecht leader in the service of the Imperial Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire....
.
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments
Coming into force
Coming into force or entry into force refers to the process by which legislation, regulations, treaties and other legal instruments come to have legal force and effect...
. The first enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573 of September 1, 1939 instituted the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. As the war progressed some of the recipients distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Oak Leaves to Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of June 3, 1940. In 1941 two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of September 28, 1941 introduced the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the last and final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of December 29, 1944 concluded the variants of the Knight's Cross.
Prerequisites
To qualify for the Knight's Cross, a soldier had to already hold the 1939 Iron CrossIron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
First Class, though the Iron Cross I Class was awarded concurrently with the Knight's Cross in rare cases.
Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for exemplary conduct by the unit as a whole.
Grades
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was divided into five grades, excluding the Grand Cross of the Iron CrossGrand Cross of the Iron Cross
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was a decoration intended for victorious generals of the Prussian Army and its allies. It was the highest class of the Iron Cross. Along with the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the Grand Cross was founded on March 10, 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. It was...
:
- Knights Cross
- Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and swords
- Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
- Knights Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Knight's Cross with Swords
- Heinz HarmelHeinz HarmelHeinz Harmel was a German Waffen-SS General during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, 15.12.1944 BrigadeführerBrigadeführerSS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
and Generalmajor of Waffen-SS, Commander 10th SS Panzer Div Frundsberg
Knight's Cross with Oakleaves
- Otto PaetschOtto PaetschOtto Paetsch was a Standartenführer in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves during World War II.Paetsch was born on the 3 August 1909, at Rheinhausen...
, 05.04.1945 ObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
Commander 10th SS Panzer Rgt
Knight’s Cross
SS Panzer Regiment 10
- Erwin BachmannErwin BachmannErwin Bachmann was a Obersturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II...
, 10.02.1945 ObersturmführerObersturmführerObersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
Adjutant I./10th SS Panzer Rgt - Otto PaetschOtto PaetschOtto Paetsch was a Standartenführer in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves during World War II.Paetsch was born on the 3 August 1909, at Rheinhausen...
, 23.08.1944 Obersturmbannführer Commander 10th SS Panzer Rgt - Leo Hermann ReinholdLeo Hermann ReinholdLeo-Hermann Reinhold was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Leo-Hermann...
, 16.10.1944 SturmbannführerSturmbannführerSturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Commander II./10th SS Panzer Rgt - Franz RiedelFranz RiedelFranz Riedel was a Obersturmführer and panzer ace in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II...
, 28.03.1945 Obersturmführer Commander 7th Company, 10th SS Panzer Rgt - Franz ScherzerFranz ScherzerFranz Scherzer was an Obersturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Franz Scherzer was awarded the...
, 28.03.1945 Obersturmführer Commander I./10th SS Panzer Rgt - Ernst TetschErnst TetschErnst Johann Tetsch was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Ernt Johann...
, 28.03.1945 Sturmbannführer Commander I./10th SS Panzer Rgt
SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 21
- Karl BastianKarl BastianKarl Bastian was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize outstanding battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.-Early life:Karl Bastian was...
, 23.08.1944 HauptsturmführerHauptsturmführerHauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
Commander II./21st SS Pz.Gren.Rgt - Karl KeckKarl KeckKarl Keck was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Karl Keck was born on the 20 January...
, 23.08.1944 Hauptsturmführer und HauptmannHauptmannHauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
der Schupo Commander 15th Company, 21st SS Pz.Gren.Rgt - Hans ReiterHans ReiterHans Conrad Julius Reiter was a German physician convicted of war crimes for his medical experiments at the concentration camp at Buchenwald. He wrote a book on "racial hygiene" called Deutsches Gold, Gesundes Leben - Frohes Schaffen.Reiter was born in Reudnitz near Hessen in Germany...
, 23.08.1944 UntersturmführerUntersturmführerUntersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
Commander HQ Company, 21st SS Pz.Gren.Rgt - Friedrich RichterFriedrich RichterFriedrich-Wilhelm Heinrich Richter was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War...
, 11.05.1945 SS-Sturmbannführer Commander III./21st SS Pz.Gren.Rgt
SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 22
- Karl Heinz EulingKarl Heinz EulingKarl Heinz Euling was a Hauptsturmführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 15.10.1944 Hauptsturmführer Commanderr IV./22nd SS Pz.Gren.Rgt
SS PanzerjägerPanzerjägerPanzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
Battalion 10
- Erwin Franz RoestelErwin Franz RoestelErwin Franz Rudolf Roestel was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Erwin Franz Rudolf...
, 03.05.1945 Obersturmbannführer Commander 10th SS Pz.Jäg.Btn
SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 10
- Erich RechErich RechErich Rech was a Untersturmführer in the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Erich Rech was awarded the Knight's Cross on...
, 23.08.1944 OberscharführerOberscharführerOberscharführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that existed between the years of 1932 and 1945. Translated as “Senior Squad Leader”, Oberscharführer was first used as a rank of the Sturmabteilung and was created due to an expansion of the enlisted positions required by growing SA membership...
platoon commander 2nd Company, 10th SS Pz.Rec.Btn