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Military Knight's Cross Signatures.
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This page gives brief biographies of
those Knight's Cross winners who have signed our prints. We aim to
provide some detail on the service history of the signatory - perhaps
details of tanks served in or battles fought, and can
occasionally provide a photograph too.
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 | Gerhard Fischer
German Army Panzer Tank Ace - Knights Cross. Awarded the Knights Cross.
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 | Erwin Kressmann
Oberleutnant, schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 519. Awarded the Knights Cross in 1944.
| 20.10.1936 |
Eintritt als Freiwilliger 1. Kompanie Pz.Abw.Abt, 32 Kolberg/Ostsee Grundausbildung, Fahrausbildung in allen Klassen, Schirmmeistergehilfenausbildung, Werkstattunterweisung, Lehrgange zum Unteroffizier und besondere Waffenausbildung |
Entrance as a volunteer 1st company Pz. Abw. Abt, 32 Kolberg/Baltic Sea reason education, load education in all
classes, screen master assistant education, workshop instruction, courses to the corporal and special weapon education. |
| 01.10.1937 |
Beforderung zum Gefreiten |
Promoted to Gefreiter |
| 01.09.1938 |
Versetung zur 3. Kompanie Pz.Abw.Abt. 12 Schwerin Mecklenburg als Ausbilder |
Transferred to the 3rd Company Pz. Abw. Abt. 12 Schwerins Meklenburg as an instructor. |
| 01.10.1938 |
Beforderung zum Unteroffizier, Ausbilder vorwiegend Kompanietruppfuhrer und Zugfuhrer |
Promoted to Unteroffizier, instructing predominantly Kompanietruppfuhrer and Zugfuhrer. |
| 01.09.1939 |
Polenfeldzug eingesetzt als Kompanietruppfuhrer und Zugfuhrer, ab Oktober 39 Verlegung der PzAbwAbt ins Rheinland, Lehrgang zum Fahrlehrer, anschliessend Fahrlehrerprufung fur alle Klassen 1,2,3, danach Fahrschulausbildung innerhalb der Kompanie |
Used as Kompanietruppfuhrer and Zugfuhrer on the Poland expeditions. Completed 39 missions with Pz. Abw. Abt into the
Rhineland. before completing a driving instructors course in October. Subsequently became Fahrlehrerprufung for all classes,
I, II and III, before load school education. |
| 10.05.1940 |
Westfeldzug Belgien / Niederlande / Frankreich |
West expedition - Belgium, Netherlands and France. |
| 01.06.1940 |
Beforderung zum Feldwebel, gleiche Funktionen wie vorher, Kustenschutz im Raum Cherbourg, Verlegung als Besatzung in den Niederlanden, Leitung der Ortskormmandantur in Boxtel, Lehrgang an der Panzertruppenschule in Wunstorf bei Berlin |
Promoted to Feldwebel, undertaking similar tasks as before. In action near Cherbourg, placed in a garrison in the
Netherlands, and oversaw the Ortskommandantur course at the tank troop school in Wunstorf in Berlin. |
| 01.06.1941 |
Beforderung zum Oberfeldwebel, Verwendung in gleicher Dienststellung wie vorher |
Promoted to Oberfeldwebel. |
| 22.06.1941 |
Russlandfeldzug, eingesetzt im Nordabschnitt Kessel von Demjansk, Ernennung zum Offiziersanwarter |
Russian expedition - used in the north section, Demjansk, appointment to the
Offiziersanwarter. |
| Mai 1942 |
Versetzung zur PzJgAbt. 24 auf der Krim, Krimfeldzug bis zur Einnahme von Sewastopol |
Transferred to Pz. Jg. Abt 24 in the Crimea, for the capture of Sebastopol. |
| 01.06.1942 |
Beforderung zum Leutnant, Zugfuhrer, stellvertr. Kompaniefuhrer |
Promoted to Leutnant. |
| 22.08.1942 |
Verlegung der PzJgAbt. 24 in den Nordabschnitt Russland, Kampf um Leningrad, Mga und Stellungskrieg am Wolchow, Ernennung zum Kompaniefuhrer |
Went with Pz. Jg. Abt. 24 to north Russia, and the fight for Leningrad, Mga, and the strategic battle at the
Wolchow, appointment to the Kompaniefuhrer. |
| 01.01.1943 |
Beforderung zum Oberleutnant, Ernennung zum Kompaniechef 2.Kompanie PzJgAbt. 24 |
Promoted to Oberleutnant. Appointed commander of 2. Kompanie Pz. Jg. Abt 24. |
| Juli 1943 |
Versetung zur Neuaufstellung sPzJgAbt. 519 (Hornisse 8,8), Chef 1. Kompanie in Spremberg/Niederlausitz, Restaufstellung und Ausbildung, Verlegung zum Truppenubungsplatz Oldebroek/Holland |
Transferred to the newly assembled sPzJgAbt 519 (Hornet 8.8), commanding the 1st Kompanie in Spremberg / Niederlausitz.
Subsequently moved to Oldebroek / Holland. |
| November 1943 |
Verlegung der Abteilung 519 im Eiltransport nach Russland, Mittelabschnitt |
Moved with 519 Abt. in fast carrier to the Russian Central Front. |
| 13.12.1943 bis 18.02.1944 |
2 Schlachten um Witebsk bei der 3. Panzerarmee unter Fuhrung von Generaloberst Reinhard und Chef des Stabes General Heitkamper |
Took part in two battles around Witebsk with the 3rd Army under the leadership of Generaloberst Reinhard and Chef des Stabes General Heitkamper |
| 18.02.1944 |
Beforderung zum Hauptmann |
Promoted to Hauptmann. |
| 22.06.1944 |
3. Schlacht / Ruckzugsschlacht der 3. Panzerarmee bis zur ehemaligen Grenze Polens, Fastzerschlagung der sPzJgAbt. 519 |
3rd battle for the 3rd Army near the former border of Poland, almost leading to the destruction of 519 Abteilung. |
| Aug/Sept. 1944 |
Neuaufstellung der sPzJgAbt. 519 in Milau / Truppenubungsplatz, Umrustung auf Jagdpanther, Abteilungsstab 3 Jagdpanther, 4 Schutzenpanzerwagen, 6 gepanzerte Flugabwehrgeschutze, Versorungskompanie, Werkstattkompanie, Panzerbergezug und 3 18t Zugmaschinen,
1. Kompanie 14 Jagdpanther (8,8)
2. Kompanie 14 Sturmgeschutze III (7,5)
3. Kompanie 14 Sturmgeschutze III (7,5) |
519 sPzJgAbt is reformed at Milau with new vehicles, including - 1st Kompanie : 14 Jagdpanthers (8.8), 2nd Kompanie : 14
Sturmgeschutz III (7.5) and 3rd Kompanie : 14 Sturmgeschutz III (7.5). |
| Anfang Okt. 1944 |
Verlegung an die Westfront, Einsatz im Raum Aachen, Wurselen, Hurtgenwald, Julich, Stolberg, Teilnahme an der Ardennenoffensive im Rahmen der VI. SS-Panzerarmee, weiterer Einsatz um Niedeggen, Inden und Pattern, zwischenzeitlich Kommandeur der Abteilung bis zurn Eintreffen des neuen Kommandeurs Major Rosenthal |
Transferred to the Western Front, in action near Aachen, Wurselen, Hurtgenwald, Julich and Stolberg. Took part in the
Ardennes Offensive with the VI SS-Panzerarmee. In action again around Niedeggen, Inden and Pattern, commanding 519 Abteilung
until the arrival of the new Kommandeurs Major Rosenthal. |
| 15.02.1945 |
Tapferkeitsurlaub nach Verleihung des Ritterkreuzes (09.12.1944), in der Zeit bei dem Besuch der PzJg Ersatzabt. 43 Eingriff des Festungskommandanten von Spremberg, mit sofortiger Wirkung an die Ostfront kommandiert in den Kampfraurn Kustrin, Frankfurt / Oder, hier Verwendung in der Division des General Nickel als Kommandeur einer PzJgAbt. und PzJg Sperrbrigade, wenn ich nicht irre handelte es sich urn die PzJgAbt. 342 |
Went on a courage vacation after being awarded the Knight's Cross on 9th December 1944. Served in the division of General Nickel as
a Kommandeur of a PzJgAbt and PzJg Barrier Brigade. |
| Anfang Mai 1945 |
Nach Zerstorung zweier Sowjetkampfwagen durch T-Minen, schwere Verwundung am Bein durch konzentrierten, starken eschuss durch Granatwerfereinsatz der Sowjets, danach auf abenteuerliche Weise bis zur Elbe durchgeschlagen.Nach langerem Aufenthalt am Elbufer durch ein Sturmboot der Amerikaner abgeholt und in Gefangenschaft genommen. Von hieraus in ein deutsches Lazarett uberfurt. Kurz vor Ubernahme des Lazaretts durch die Russen Flucht in das Reservelazarett in Helmstedt |
After destroying two Soviet tanks using T-mines, Erwin Kressmann was wounded in the leg from concentrated heavy fire of
Russian grenade launchers. Afterwards, he made an eventful passage to the Elbe, where after a long stay he was captured by
an American warship. From here he was taken to a German infirmary, from where he was flown by the Russians to the reserve
infirmary at Helmstedt. |
| Feb. 1946 |
Entlassung aus der Kriegsgefangenschaft |
Released from war captivity. |
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 | Oberstleutnant Alfred Rubbel
Joining the Panzer forces in 1940, Alfred Rubbel served first with Panzer Regiment 29 in Mittel and the with Panzer Regiment 4 in the Caucasus. He transferred to the Tiger I Panzer and from March 1943 to May 1945 served, as Tank Commander, with Heavy Panzer Division 503. He was awarded the Iron Cross I and II, and had 57 Panzer victories from 79 Panzer battles. Rubbel was a close friend of Kurt Knispel, a fellow tank commander of Pz Abt 503 and top-scoring Panzer Ace.
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 | Norbert Kujacinski (deceased)
Born 11th July 1920 in Berlin. Called up to the army in August 1939, he served in the Fench campaign before joining the 23rd Panzer Division on the eastern front. Fighting in the southern area of the eastern front, his unit avoided involvement at Stalingrad, but was used to relieve the forces involved there. His unit had just 20 tanks left by January 1943 - Kujacinski himself had earned the Iron Cross I and II. The rest of the year saw the unit re-equip before fighting at Dnieper towards the end of 1943. At this time, he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. The panzer division broke out of the fighting at Dnieper, reduced by losses to a Kampfgruppe instead of a Division. Towards the latter part of 1944, the unit had considerable success against the Russians in Poland and Hungary - during the attack on Nyiregyhaza in 7 days in October 1944, 600 Russian armoured vehicles were destroyed or captured. It was for his part in this success that Kujacinski was awarded the Knights Cross on 18th November 1944. His unit were still actively fighting in Austria by the time the war ended, and he was taken into US captivity until July 1945. He rejoined the army after the war and retired as an Oberstleutnant. He died on 2nd May 2009.
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 | Unteroffizier Dr Franz-Wilhelm Lochmann
Franz-Wilhelm Lochmann joined up in 1941, and trained and served as a tank radio operator and machine gunner in I./503 Heavy Tank Division. He fought in 95 tank engagements and finished the war as a Company Commander. He was awarded the Iron Cross I and II.
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 | Albert Kerscher
German Army - Knights Cross with Oak Leaves. Oberfeldwebel Albert Kerscher was, like Otto Carius, a panzer ace from schwere Panzer Abteilung 502. He achieved his 100th kill in defending the Neuhauser Forest near Pillau, East Prussia in April 1945. On 22nd July 1944, 1st Lieutenant Otto Carius with his company of eight Tigers advanced towards the village on Malinava (northern suburb of Dunaburg) in order to halt the Russian advance. Carius and Kerscher took a Kubelwagen in order to check if the village was already in Russian hands. They discovered that Malinava had already been taken by the enemy. Carius recognised that the Russian tanks in the village were only advance troops waiting for the main force to arrive. He decided to recapture the village before the arrival of more Russian tanks. Carius returned to his company for briefing and explained his plan to take the village. He decided to attack the village with only two Tigers because there was only one road leading to the village and it meant very risky business. Six Tigers remained in the reserve while the Tigers of Carius and Kerscher moved towards the village of Malinava. Speed was the essence of the plan to take the Russians by surprise and immobilise their tanks. When they were about to enter the village, they could see two T-34/85 tanks rotating their turrets in their direction. Immediately Kerscher, following Carius at about 150 metres, fired two shots in rapid succession, and destroyed the two enemy tanks. This was the first time that Carius had encountered one of the latest JS-1 heavy tanks. The silhouette of the new heavy Russian tank was somewhat similar to that of the Tiger II, and Carius got confused at first but after a little hesitation, ordered his crew to fire at once, and the JS-1 burst into flames. Afterwards they realised that the entire battle was over in about twenty minutes. In such a short time, the two Tigers of Carius and Kerscher had knocked out 17 Russian tanks including the new JS-1. The Russians were taken by surprise and their quick and accurate perception of the situation were the main factors that led the two Tigers to victory. The achievement of Carius and Kerscher at Malinava is on the same level as the famous action of Michael Wittmann at Villers Bocage. He ended the war with a total score of 107.
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 | Paul Egger (deceased)
Knights Cross winning tank commander, SS Panzer Abteilung 502. Received Knights Cross 28th April 1945. 7th highest scoring Panzer Ace with a score of 113. Paul Egger was born in Mautern , Austria on the 23rd November 1916 and after finnishing high school in June 1935 he worked as a clerk until joining the Luftwaffe in late 1938. paul Egger was already a Glider Pilot and was trained as a bomber Pilot joining Kampfgeschader 51., Flying the Diver Bomber Junkers JU 87 Stuka. Paul Egger took part in the Invassion of Poland. he was then transferred tp Jagdeschwader 27 becoming a fighter Pilot flying the Messerschmitt BF 109 taking part in the Battle of france and the Battle of Britain, flying a total of 112 misions and was shot down three times. He had 2 kills. In his last mission he was shot down over the English Channel and had severe head wounds which stopped him flying and he was eventually transferred to staff duties. Paul Egger voluntered for the Waffen SS in May 1941 and was trained as aanti tank gunner. After traingin ghe moved to the Motorcycle Battalion of the Das reich division and transferred later to the 8th Compnay SS Panzer Regiment 2. As a tank commander he soon hsowed skill as a commander during the battle of Kieve he destroyed 28 tanks, 14 anti tank guns, 8 artillery batteries and 40 various Russian vehicles. In February 1943 durign the Thrid battle of Kharkov he recorded his 65th tank victory but his company was all but wiped out apart form his tank and one other. Paul Egger transferred to the 102 SS Heavy Panzer battalion commanding a Tiger tank in October 1943. After the D - Day landings. Paul Egger battalion was deployed to Normandy where he fought at point 122 destroying 14 allied tanks and 4 anti tank guns. His commander reccomended him for a knights cross for this action but received a German cross in Gold instead. Egger's battalion was almost completely destroyed during the fighting and in September 1944, and reformed in Sennelager Germany and renamed the 502 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion. In 1945 Egger was promoted to Untersturmfuhrer. 502 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion was sent to the Eatsern Front and fought around Stettin. paul Egger destroyed another 19 tanks during the fighting. In April 1945 Egger was promoted to Obersturmfuhrer took over command of the 1st Company. Egger recieved the Knight's Cross by Felix Steiner the commander of the XI SS Panzer Army Commander On the 3 May 1945, Paul Egger became the seventh top panzer ace recording his 113th tank destroyed. Paul Egger escaped from berlin and the Russian but surrendered to the American forces at the River Elbe after being shoot in the arm. he became a prisoner of war for 30 months and released in November 1947. Egger became a sports reporter. In civilian life he became a sports reporter. He died on 12 July 2007.
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Hugo Eichorn (deceased)
Panzer Ace who won the Knights Cross. Waffen SS, 5th SS Viking Division. 8 single-handed tank kills. Died 27th May 1992.
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Hans Hossfelder
2nd Waffen SS Division. Was part of the small group of less than ten troops who captured Belgrade along with 1300 troops in April 1941. Awarded the Knights Cross. Hans Hossfelder was born on 29 April 1920 in Tarnowitz, a small town north of Breslau in Silesia.He had two Brothers, Hannes, Hugo, and one sister, Klara. His father was a leather tanner and merchant by trade, and had worked for the Imperial stables of the Kaiser during the First World War. The Capture of Belgrade was a interesting event in the war. As partof a Motor Cycle unit Hans Hossfelder had been sent forward to look for any method of crossing the Danube. If any bridges were intact they were to report this back and try to hold it, keeping it from being blown. But all bridges ha dbeen destriyed Aftrer managing to ferry men across the Danube in a motor boat. But the boat sank onm the third crossing whihc left Hossfelder and 6 others on the other bank of the Danube completly cut of from the rest of the unit . We had a radio, four rifles, two MP-38’s, one pistol, and about twenty rounds of ammunition each. The Officer in charge Klingenberg ordered the remainder of the unit to split in two; one group would continue up river looking for a place to cross and the other would establish a security line to prevent any Yugoslav forces from attacking the units rear. Hossfleders small group was to move forward and report back on any enemy movements to our battalion commander, Obersturmbannfuehrer (SS Lieutenant Colonel) Hannes Eckhold. The small unit captures some civilians and used them as a shield as they neared Belgrade. In various captures vehicles they had passed a numbe rof Yougaslavian check points without difficulty, Just outside the city the unit were fired upon when one of the prisoners yelled out and warned his comrades. He was shot, and a 2 hour fire fight begane using up most of the units ammunition Hossfelder and his comrades managed to drive through the soldiers and entered the city where we drove to the city plaza. This was where Klingenberg showed his brilliance. He ordered Hossfelder to raise the German ensign up the flagpole. Soon the mayor arrived and began discussing the terms of surrender, thinking that they were a much larger group. Klingenberg told him that if they did not check in by radio regularly there would be a massive retaliatory bombing. Then, at that moment, German Fiesler ‘Storch’ flew overhead, and thinking quickly, Klingenberg told the mayor that the clock was ticking. What the mayor did not know was that the radio had taken a bullet; it could receive but not transmit. I faked radio traffic for hours, keeping up the illusion. The city agreed that that 1,300 soldiers and militia would surrender their weapons, and Klingenberg ordered the prisoners to quarter themselves in the various hotels and placed a curfew on the city. . The small unit fo 7 men collected every map and document at the mayor’s office and police stations. They also had every doctor and nurse report to them, and also had the chief of police disclose all criminal records for future intelligence work. They also inventoried and stockpiled all the gasoline, oil, and vehicles, and waited. The They used POW’s to repair the runway and we had the locations of all the anti-aircraft positions and mine fields. They had arrived in Belgrade on 12 April, secured the city, and the rest of our division and the headquarters of XLV Corps entered on the evening of the 13th. When the first group entered the city Hossfelder quickly explained the situation to them and had them play along. They had written them off as missing in action when the rest of the unit had not heard from us due to the radio being broken. There was a rumour that we had been captured and tortured for information. . They also found out that the High Command did not believe that Belgrade had been taken, since the force projection was for a siege, not a rapid capture, and Hausser was ordered to inspect for himself. Hossfelder and the entire unit were all decorated with the Iron Cross, and Klingenberg was presented with the Knight’s Cross. Hossfelder was offered a commission and attended the academy at Bad Toelz and was able to attend the following year. The invasion of Russia interrupted the training. Hossfelder fought at Kharkov in 1942 serving under Otto Kumm, then went to the academy, where He finishedhis Offcier trainign in August 1942. and became a platoon leader, and was wounded during an artillery barrage. Hans Hossfelder spent several months recuperating and received the Iron Cross First Class, Wound Badge, and he already had the Infantry Assault and General Assault Badges. He later was assigned to the anti-tank company of ‘Der Fuehrer’ Regiment, and stayed all through the battle of Kursk.
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 | Otto Kumm (deceased)
Born October 1909. SS Tank Commander, commanding 4th Panzer Regiment and also later the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen with the rank of SS Brigadefuhrer and Generalmajor of the Waffen SS. Awarded the Knights Cross 16th February 1942, with Oak Leaves added 6th April 1943 and Swords added 17th March 1945. Died 23rd March 2004.
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 | Leon Degrelle (deceased)
Leon Degrelle was born in 1906 in the Belgian Ardennes. He studied law and was interested in political science, art, archaeology, and Tomistic philosophy. At the outbreak of the war he was arrested for sympathising with Hitler and was eventually released when Germany took over Belgium. He volunteered for the German Army in 1941 and encouraged some 1,000 Walloons to join him. Degrelle was involved in numerous battles with considerable success capturing one objective after another. It was not long before he came to the attention of officers of the Waffen SS. Himmler incorporated Degrelles Walloons into the Waffen SS and they were sent to various SS training camps. The most famous foreign volunteer in the entire German army, Degrelle worked his way up through the ranks from private to general and became a close friend of Hitler. In 1944 he received the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross, becoming Germanys most highly decorated foreign volunteer. As Berlin was falling, Degrelle had his final meeting with Hitler. They shared a last supper together and Hitler served him, cut his bread and poured him a glass of wine. Degrelle escaped from Germany to Norway, where he boarded a single-engine plane and flew over Allied occupied Europe to crash land on the Spanish border as his craft ran out of fuel. He suffered multiple injuries in the landing, including several broken bones. He spent a year in hospital recuperating. The Belgian government condemned Degrelle to death in absentia on charges of treason, but General Francisco refused to extradite him. The Catholic Church and the Belgian government spread his children across Europe and gave them new identities. He spent ten years looking for them and finally found all of them. He settled in Madrid and lived openly and in prosperity until his death in 1994. A visiting Belgian journalist once interviewed him and asked if he had any regrets about the war. His quick reply was – Only that Germany lost! Died 1st April 1994.
A scarce signature, all of the signatures we have were signed during an interview in the early 1980s.
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