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Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz) Holders: Participants to Campaign in North Africa | |||||||||
| # | Last Name | First Name | Country | Service Branch | DAK Units /Last Service Position /Unit Attachment | Awarded /Highest Rank | Date of Award | Action | Portrait |
| 1 | Albers | Hans-Wilhelm | Germany | Heeres: Artillerie | 1./Art. Regt. "AFRIKA" 577./sc. Art. Regiment | Oberstleutnant /Major | May 10, 1943 | Took command of 1./Art. Regt. "AFRIKA" at formation with Allied landings in Morocco, KIA: 4 June, 1944 in Italy as Kom. (Major) 577./sc. Art. |  |
| 2 | von Arnim | Hans Jürgen | Germany | Heeres | December 3, 1942 CinC 5./Panzer Armee "AFRIKA" then C in C Army Group "AFRIKA": | Generalleutnant /Genraloberst | September 4, 1941 | Commander of 17./PD, General der Panzertruppe, took over from Rommel, March 12, 1943 to May 12, 1943 (POW for four years) | |
| 3 | Audorff | Paul | Germany | Heeres | Kom. 754./Gren.Rgt. | Oberstleutnant | May 13, 1943 | Defended Goubellat & Bou Arada of vital Tunisian center front to Medjez el Bab. Audorff unit with 5./Falsch. Rgt. thwarted British until April 21-May 5, 1943 advance into Tunis. May 8, 1943 taken POW. | |
| 4 | Baade | Ernst-Günther | Germany | Heeres | 115./Schützen Rgt. 90./Pz.Gren.Div.
| Oberst / Generalleutnant | KC, June 27, 1942 115./Schützen Rgt. as Oberst Oakleaves (#402) February 22, 1944 Kom. 90./Pz.Gren.Div. Oberst Swords (#111) November 16, 1944 90./Pz.Gren.Div. Generalleutnant | April 1942, Kom. 115./Schützen Rgt. & actions at Tobruk & Bir Hacheim. September 30, 1942 attached to German General in high command of Italian armed forces. December 20, 1943 Kom. 90./Pz.Gren.Div. won Oak Leaves at Monte Cassino & Swords for service in Italy. KIA by strafing attack as commander LXXVI Armee Korps, March 1945 | |
| 5 | Bach | Georg Wilhelm | Germany | Heeres | I Batt. /104.Schützen Rgt. | Oberstleutnant | July 9, 1941 | "Pastor in Purgatory" - Halfaya Pass, Blocked 4 RTR / other units advance in Operation Battleaxe three times. November, 1941 abandoned and out of ammunition they surrendered. Died in accident as POW in Canada on December 22, 1941 |  |
| 6 | Bär | Heinrich | Germany | Luftwaffe: Fighter Pilot | I./JG 51 Kom. JV 44 | Leutnant /Oberstleutnant | KC, July 2, 1941 Oakleaves (#31) August 14, 1941 Swords (#7) February 16, 1942 | KC as pilot in I./JG51. 60 Kills got him Oak Leaves and 90 Kills the Swords. 95 in Russia and 45 in the skies over Africa. He was repeatedly denied the Diamonds! He was too open mouthed with Göring or would have received Diamonds with Swords as he was recommended for them on several occasions. Recorded 220 aerial victories and became a master of the Me-262 (16 victories). | |
| 7 | von Barby | Hans-Lewin | Germany | Heeres | Kom. 361./AFRIKA Rgt. | Oberstleutnant /Oberst | KC, December 13, 1941 | Took as Kom. III Batt./255./Inf.Rgt. to Africa. Promoted to take Kom. of 361./Afrika Rgt. renamed 361./le. Inf. Rgt. to even later become 361./Schützen Rgt. von Barby was instrumental in successes at Sidi Rezegh by blocking links between advancing British forces to Tobruk defenders. May 26, 1942 he was badly wounded east of Derna and died at Derna Hospital on the next day. | |
| 8 | von Bargen | Hans | Germany | Luftwaffe: Stuka Pilot | ADJ/Technical Officer (TO) I./StG 3 Kom. I./StG 3 in Finland | Oberleutnant /Hauptmann | KC, September 19, 1942 as ADJ / Technical Officer (TO) I,/StG 3 | Known as 'Hänschen', he became as a dive bomber specialist against shipping. Was awarded his KC in ground support for actions over Sollum, Marsa Matruk, Bir Hacheim, & Tobruk, KIA: July 6, 1944 Aeyraeparae, Finland after more than 400 missions in Stukas! | |
| 9 | Bayerlein | Fritz | Germany | Heeres: Stab | Chief of Staff AFRIKAKORPS Chief of Staff I. Italienischen Armee Kom. Panzer Lehr Div. | Stab General | KC, December 26, 1941 as Chief of Staff AFRIKAKORPS Oakleaves (#258) July 6, 1942 as Chief of Staff I. Italienischen Armee Swords (#81) July 20, 1944 as Kom. Panzer Lehr Div. | Bayerlein served as Ia of the XIX Panzer Korps and this derived the Panzergruppe 2. He took position as Ia of AFRIKAKORPS under Rommel. July 6, 1942 as Chief of Staff I. Italienischen Armee. March 3, 1943, as Chief of Staff Deutsches-Italienische Panzer Armee AFRIKA. Author: Krieg ohne Hass (War without Hate) a book to bring Rommel into the masses | |
| 10 | Beckmann | Theodor | Germany | Luftwaffe: Ju-52 Pilot | Kom. KG z.b.V.1 | Oberst | KC, December 23, 1942 | ||
| 11 | Behr | Winrich | Germany | Heeres: Panzer | III Kp./3. Aufklärungs Abteilung Army General Staff Panzer / Aufklärung | Oberleutnant /Major | KC, May 15, 1941 | Kom. III Kp./3. Aufklärungs Abteilung/Batt. Behr or "Teddy" along with Everth saw successes from taking El Agheila by driving along the dunes on March 24, 1941 to driving around Marsa el Brega to capture six guns and break up pockets of resistance to then in short time capture Fort Benina. Behr's motorcycle troops captured two tanks and led them on to Bardia. Both Wechmar & Oberst von Herff gave him distinguished recommendations for his KC. Behr left Africa due to illness in December of 1941. | |
| 12 | Belser | Helmut | Germany | Luftwaffe: Fighter Pilot | Staffelkapitän ?3./JG 53 ?5./JG 53 8./JG 53 | Hauptmann | KC, September 6, 1942 was awarded posthumously | Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 53 and a part of III Gruppe's Top Scoring Aces. III Gruppe arrived in Africa on May 20, 1942 with the former Kom. of II./JG27 at its helm was Major Gerlitz. 7 Staffel led by Oberleutnant Pufahl (10 Kills) & 9 Staffel Kom. Oberleutnant Götz (33 Kills) He had 36 victories when killed in a takeoff accident by ground looping into a sand depression at Castel Benito. | |
| 13 | Bendert | Karl-Heinz | Germany | Luftwaffe: Fighter Pilot | 5./JG 27 Staffelkapitän Lehr Jagdgeschwader 104 | Oberleutnant /Staffelkapitän | KC, for 42 Victories on December 30, 1942 | Most of his victories were over the skies of Africa but Bendert had a talent to teach his combat flying skills. He did not like the job but did it well! His final war tally was 610 combat missions and 54 victories. | |
| 14 | Berner | Emil | Germany | Luftwaffe: FlaK | Kanonier III Batterie/ 18./ FlaK Rgt. (mot.) | Unteroffizier | KC, November 3, 1942 | Berner was shipped to Africa with I Batterie/18./mot. Flak Rgt. to Tripoli in June of 1941. He successfully knocked out 8 tanks in November at the battles of Sidi Rezegh to receive his IC2. Then further success in KO's of enemy tanks moving to Agedabia. Berner's 88 gun group were on the move to drive around Bir Hacheim on May 25-26, 1942 to assault Tobruk. Seven British tanks broke through the defensive line behind him and assaulted his position at close range but Berner turned their eighty-eight around and knocked them all out. His '88' was credited with 42 anti-tank victories. Kesselring placed the KC around his neck personally. | |
| 15 | von | Georg | Germany | Heeres | Kom. 21./Panzer Division | Generalleutnant | KC, September 29, 1940 | Led 7./Schützen Rgt./7./PD in Campaign in France. Assigned to Stab Panzer Armee Afrika January 5, 1942. Led successful but different style maneuver to win back Cyrenaica then led attack on Tobruk to be promoted to Generalleutnant. Bismarck was killed in an air attack during the second day of fighting at the lead of forward elements of the 21./PD near El Alamein. Nehring and Kleeman were both also wounded at the same time. | |
| 16 | Blumme | Werner | Germany | Luftwaffe | 1./Fernaufklärungs Gruppe 122 | Leutnant | KC, July 1, 1942 | ||
| 17 | Boeckmann | Dr. Rudolf | Germany | Heeres: Artillerie | Kom. schwere Art. Abteilung 408 (DAK) 187./Art. Regiment, Siimusti, Estonia | Oberst | KC, July 23, 1942 | The Senior Kom. Artillerie in Africa, Generalmajor Krause and even Rommel depended on Dr. "B" the Kom. of a 10.5 cm gun unit. The Dr. was promoted to Major because of his expertise in pinpointing enemy positions and his advice on terrain deployment and proper laying of firing positions. July 17, 1942 saw a surprise attack on DAK positions south of El Alamein but Dr. "B" stopped the assault by direct fire of his artillery to win his KC. He was wounded on September 14, 1942 by a shell fragment hit to the head and evacuated to Germany. Dr. "B" was KIA near Siimusti, Estonia on September 19, 1944. | Photo courtesy of Dr. Boeckmann's widow |
| 18 | Bösel | Otto | Germany | Luftwaffe: FlaK | I Batt./ 41./FlaK Rgt. (mot.) I Batterie/Feld Flak Artillerie Schule Zentre 16 | Haupt wachtmeister | KC, June 11, 1942 | Bösel was one of the gunners under Hauptmann Gürke to conquer Bir Hacheim. Later attached as a part of Oberst Wolz Kom. of 135./mot. FlaK ad hoc anti-tank shield devised by Nehring to outwit a British effort to block or stall the successful advances of the DAK on May 27, 1942. Bösel's gun was trained down to firing on vehicles to as little as the 150 meter range and he KO'd 20 tanks! The events were so remarkable that an inquiry was made before his award of the KC. He was evacuated to Germany to recovery from wounds received during the event and thus became a gunnery instructor! | |
| 19 | Bollbrinker | Dipl. Ing. Dr. Ernst | Germany | Heeres: Panzer | Kom. I./Pz.Rgt. 5 /5./le. AFRIKA Chief of Staff /Staff of the Inspector of Armored troops OKH/OKA | Major /Generalmajor | KC, May 15, 1941 | Bollbrinker was assigned to 5./le. Panzer Regiment AFRIKA which began disembarking at Tripoli on March 11, 1941. As the Kom. I./Pz.Rgt. 5 /5./le. AFRIKA he led into Marsa el Brega. Bollbrinker led the entire 5./le. AFRIKA Rgt. (to Div.) as replacement Kom. for a period in the spring. He was added to the Special Tropical Staff and to the end of the war was at Guderian's side from May10, 1943. | |
| 20 | Böttcher | Karl Heinrich | Germany | Heeres: Artillerie /Panzers | Kom., 21./PD Nov. 30,2941-Jan. 30,1942 Generale der Spezial N. 4 | Generalmajor / Generalleutnant | KC, December 13, 1941 | Kom. as of Feb. 1, 1941 into the reorganization in August of 1941 into the 21./PD. Böttcher led the independent battle group of 21,/PD & attached units from November 24-28 to block superior numbered forces from breaking through to Tobruk. His commendation was for this blocking maneuver until the combined forces of the AFRIKAKORPS could arrive. He fell ill in December 1941 and was evacuated to Germany to serve in reserve & Stab of the OKH. He was also Kom. of 326.Inf & 347.Inf Divs. to be moved to Generale der Spezial Duties N. 4. | |
| 21 | Borowietz | Willibald | Germany | Heeres | Kom. 15./PD in Tunis area | Oberstleutnant / Generalleutnant | KC, July 24, 1941, Kom. 10./Schützen Rgt. Oakleaves (#235) May 10, 1943, Kom. 15./PD | Kom. 10./Schützen Rgt. in Russia as lead or advance regiment. His Rgt. destroyed 92 tanks! Promoted to Kom. 15./PD on November 18, 1942, he led through defensive battles in Tunisia. Taken POW and sent to USA where he died in an accident. | |
| 22 | Braun | Rudolf | Germany | Luftwaffe: Stuka & FW-190 Pilot | Staffelkapitän 3./StG 3 Gruppen Kommandeur I./SG 3 | Leutnant /Hauptmann | KC, June 14, 1941 | Braun flew support mission over Crete and the Med until being assigned to role as Staffelkapitän 3./StG 3 from November 11, 1941 to May 25, 1942. On this day, in the Tobruk area, he was shot down and his gunner was killed with a crash landing near Tmimi. After recovery, his 3./StG 3 flew anti-partisan missions in the Balkans and then he served as Gruppenkommandeur of Stukagruppe 102 to be assigned as Gruppenkommandeur of I./SG 3. Braun flew 503 combat missions during the war and most in the Stuka. | |
| 23 | Brenner | Harro | Germany | Heeres: Rommel's Kampfstaffel | Fhr. e. I Inf. Kp. Kampfstaffel "AFRIKA" Fhr. e. I Inf. Kp./Kampfstaffel DAK (Leader of the 1st Infantry Company Combat Echelon AFRIKA) to Inf. Kp. de Kasta (Afrika) | Leutnant /Oberleutnant | KC, April 16, 1943 | Brenner join Hauptmann Medicus' Kampfstaffel 'Rommel' later Kampfstaffel "AFRIKA". His infantry Kp. was always in the thick of battle and there to service Rommel. Brenner's Kp. with a platoon of anti-tank guns and a pioneer platoon held the Maknassy Pass in Tunisia. Two opposing regiments were held back for eight days allowing time for the forces in Tunisia to regroup. |  |
| 24 | Briel | Georg | Germany | Heeres: Kom. Luftwaffe FlaK Element | Kom. Heeres 606/(Luftwaffe) mot. FlaK Abteilung FLAK Bataillon 606 | Hauptmann /Oberstleutnant | KC, July 23, 1942 | Brenner given charge on March 8, 1941 as Kom. Heeres of the 606./(Luftwaffe) mot. FlaK Abteilung. Was nominated for KC initially in December of 1941 and later received award for holding strongpoint near Bir Hacheim with defeat of breakout by garrison. His unit was called "Rommel's Luftwaffe FlaK" and his Heeres leadership of the Luftwaffe unit brought the battalion 62 aircraft shot down, 1300 prisoners, and some estimates of up 190 tanks KO'd! Briel fought into Tunisia as Kampfgruppe Briel and later in the war as Kom. 200./Panzer-Grenadier Rgt. | |
| 25 | Bruer | Alfred | Germany | Heeres: Artillerie | Kom. 612./sc. Artillerie Rgt. Panzer Artillerie Rgt. 155 | ||||
