Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Type	Neck decoration
Awarded for	Military valour or outstanding leadership
Description	The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross is presented as a large iron cross supported by a band that is in the tricolor of the German Empire (Red, White and black). The cross itself has a large swastika in the middle of it with the year 1939 on the bottom arm, while the backside is vacant of any markings. Depending on the version, the award can have a specific clasp supporting the cross on the ribbon, these include: Oak leaves Oak leaves and swords Oak leaves, swords and diamonds Golden Oak leaves with swords and diamonds
Country	Nazi Germany
Presented by	the Führer and Reich president
Eligibility	Military and paramilitary personnel
Campaign(s)	World War II
Status	Obsolete
Established	1 September 1939
First awarded	30 September 1939
Total awarded posthumously	Swords: 15 Oak Leaves: 95 Knight's Cross: 581
Total recipients	Over 7,000
Ribbon
Precedence
Next (higher)	Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
Next (lower)	Iron Cross 1st Class

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was lower in precedence than the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, the Grand Cross was never awarded at-large to Nazi German military and paramilitary forces. The Grand Cross's sole award was made to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in September 1939,^[1] making the Knight's Cross (specifically, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds grade) the de facto highest award among the decorations of Nazi Germany.

The Knight's 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 military valour. Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force), as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reich Labour Service and the Volkssturm (German People storm militia), along with personnel from other Axis powers.

The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German invasion of Poland. The award was created to replace the many older merit and bravery neck awards of the German Empire. A higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, was instituted in 1940. In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves were instituted: the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, was created. Over 7,000 awards were made during the course of the war.