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List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (R)
List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (R)
from Wikipedia

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron 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 extreme gallantry.[1] A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945.[Note 1] This number is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 recipients in the military forces of allies of the Third Reich.[3]

These recipients are listed in the 1986 edition of Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's book, Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945]. Fellgiebel was the former chairman and head of the order commission of the AKCR. In 1996, the second edition of this book was published with an addendum delisting 11 of these original recipients. Author Veit Scherzer has cast doubt on a further 193 of these listings. The majority of the disputed recipients had been nominated for the award in 1945, when the deteriorating situation of Germany during the final days of World War II left a number of nominations incomplete and pending in various stages of the approval process.[4]

Listed here are the 448 Knight's Cross recipients of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS whose last name starts with "R". The AKCR named 447 recipients.[5] Scherzer has challenged the validity of 11 of these listings but also identified one additional legitimate recipient, Siegfried Rieger.[6] The recipients are initially ordered alphabetically by last name. The rank listed is the recipient's rank at the time the Knight's Cross was awarded.

Background

[edit]

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 1 September 1939 instituted the Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz), the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes.[7] As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), was instituted. The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 849 of 3 June 1940.[8] In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross were instituted. The enactment Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 613 of 28 September 1941 introduced the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten).[9] At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), based on the enactment Reichsgesetzblatt 1945 I S. 11 of 29 December 1944, became the final variant of the Knight's Cross authorized.[10]

Recipients

[edit]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (R)
Service   Number of presentations Posthumous presentations
Heer
295
22
Kriegsmarine
16
0
Luftwaffe
98
14
Waffen-SS
39
5

The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Supreme Command of the Armed Forces) kept separate Knight's Cross lists for the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air Force) and Waffen-SS. Within each of these lists a unique sequential number was assigned to each recipient. The same numbering paradigm was applied to the higher grades of the Knight's Cross, one list per grade.[11] Of the 448 awards made to servicemen whose last name starts with "R", 46 were later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, eight the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, two the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds and one the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds; 41 presentations were made posthumously. Heer members received 295 of the medals, including the additional recipient identified by Scherzer; 16 went to the Kriegsmarine, 98 to the Luftwaffe, and 39 to the Waffen-SS.[5][12] The sequential numbers greater than 843 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves are unofficial and were assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) and are therefore denoted in parentheses.[13]

  This along with the + (plus) indicates that a higher grade of Knight's Cross was awarded as well.
  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates that the Knight's Cross was awarded posthumously.
  This along with the ? (question mark) indicates that historian Veit Scherzer has expressed doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing.
Name Service Rank Role and unit[Note 2] Date of award Notes Image
Alexander Raab Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[14] Staffelkapitän in the I./Kampfgeschwader 77[14][15] 5 September 1944[14]
Josef Raab Heer 14-HHauptmann[14] Leader of a Kampfgruppe in Grenadier-Regiment 77[14][15] 16 October 1944[14]
Günter Raabe Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[14] Vorgeschobener Beobachter (forward observer) in the 6./Artillerie-Regiment 161[14][15] 10 September 1944[14]
Friedrich Raaf Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[Note 3] Chief of the 7./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21[14][15] 18 January 1945[14]
Johann Rab Heer 13-HOberleutnant[14] Chief of the 1./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 79[14][15] 10 June 1943*[14] Died of wounds 30 March 1943[14]
Herbert Rabben Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[14] Pilot in the 3./Schlachtgeschwader 77[16][Note 4] 4 May 1944[14]
Friedrich-Carl Rabe von Pappenheim Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[14] Commander of the 97. Jäger-Division[14][16] 30 April 1945[14]
Kurt Radeck Heer 14-HHauptmann[14] Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 176[14][16] 23 February 1944[14]
Hans Radel Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[14] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 4[14][16] 23 February 1944[14]
Emil Rademacher[Note 5] Luftwaffe 03-LGefreiter[17] Group leader in Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 1 "Hermann Göring"[16][17] 23 February 1945[17]
Rudolf Rademacher Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[17] Pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 54[16][17] 30 September 1944[17]
Waldemar Radener[Note 6] Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[17] Leader of the II./Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter"[16][17] 12 March 1945[17]
Karl Radermacher Heer 03-HGefreiter[17] Grenade launcher troop leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 45[16][17] 4 May 1944[17]
Albert Radesinsky Heer 04-HObergefreiter[17] Heavy machine gunner in the 4./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 138[16][17] 7 December 1943*[17] Died of wounds 7 November 1943[16]
Helmut Radochla?[Note 7] Heer 12-HLeutnant Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Festungs-Infanterie-Bataillon XXIII./999[16] 9 May 1945
Joseph von Radowitz+ Heer 17-HOberst[17] Leader of the 23. Panzer-Division[16][17] 17 September 1944[17] Awarded (882nd) Oak Leaves 9 May 1945?[Note 8]
Eduard Radowski Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[17] Commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 53[16][17] 20 August 1942[17]
Werner Radtke Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[17] Chief of the 1./Flak-Sturm-Regiment 35 (motorized)[16][17] 28 April 1945[17]
Günther Radusch+ Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[17] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 3[16][17] 29 August 1943[17] Awarded 444th Oak Leaves 6 April 1944[17]
Oskar Radwan Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[17] Commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 93[16][17] 19 July 1940[17]
Georg Radziej?[Note 9] Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant Commander of the 169. Infanterie-Division[16] 9 May 1945
Dr. phil. h.c. Erich Raeder Kriegsmarine 22-MGroßadmiral[20] Commander-in-chief of the Kriegsmarine[16][20] 30 September 1939[20]
A man wearing a military naval uniform and peaked cap holding a baton.
[Dr.] Kurt Raeder[Note 10] Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[20] Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment "Feldherrnhalle" (motorized)[16][20] 21 January 1945[20]
Adolf Raegener+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[20] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 309[16][20] 25 June 1940[20] Awarded 842nd Oak Leaves 17 April 1945[20]
Horst Rämsch Heer 15-HMajor[20] Commander of the II./Füsilier-Regiment 27[16][Note 11] 24 December 1944[20]
Fritz Rätzel Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[20] Chief of the 7./Schützen-Regiment 86[16][20] 11 October 1941[20]
[Dr.] Heinz Rafoth[Note 10] Heer 12-HLeutnant[20] Leader of the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 48[16][20] 20 April 1945[20]
Robert Rahlenbeck Heer 03-HGefreiter[20] Richtschütze (gunner) in the 16./Jäger-Regiment 38[16][20] 23 August 1943[20]
Gerhard Raht+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[20] Staffelkapitän of the 1./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[16][Note 12] 24 June 1944[20] Awarded 833rd Oak Leaves 15 April 1945[20]
Heribert Raithel Heer 14-HHauptmann[20] Commander of the II./Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 95[20][21] 13 June 1941[20]
Dipl.-Ing. Johann Raithel Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[20] Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 77[20][21] 17 October 1941[20]
Andreas von Rakowitz Heer 12-HLeutnant[20] Assault gun leader in Feldersatz-Bataillon 4 (L)[21][Note 13] 24 June 1944[20]
Carl Rall Heer 13-HOberleutnant[20] Chief of the 11./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98[20][21] 30 January 1943[20]
Günther Rall+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[22] Staffelkapitän of the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52[21][Note 14] 3 September 1942[Note 14] Awarded 134th Oak Leaves 26 October 1942
34th Swords 12 September 1943[22]
The head of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is dark and short and combed to back, his nose is long and straight, he is smiling broadly and looking to the left of the camera.
Dr.-Ing. Viktor Rall Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän of the Reserves[22] Chief of the 15. Vorpostenflottille[21][22] 10 June 1944[22]
Günther Rambow Heer 14-HHauptmann[Note 15] Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 1141[21][22] 23 March 1945[22]
Richard Rambow Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[22] Gun leader of the 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 561[21][22] 19 September 1942[22]
Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke+ Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[Note 16] Commander of Fallschirmjäger-Sturm-Regiment[21][Note 16] 21 August 1941[22] Awarded 145th Oak Leaves 13 November 1942
99th Swords 19 September 1944
20th Diamonds 19 September 1944[22]
Upper body of a man wearing a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his uniform collar.
Hans-Georg von Ramin Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[22] Commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 53[21][22] 23 October 1944[22]
Karl Rammelt Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[22] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[21][22] 20 October 1944[Note 17]
Siegfried Rammelt Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[22] Pioneer Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Stabskompanie/Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3[21][Note 18] 9 June 1944*[Note 18] Killed in action 21 March 1944[21]
Josef Rampel Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[22] Demi Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 11./Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[21][22] 14 December 1943*[22] Killed in action 17 November 1943[21][Note 19]
Alois Rampf Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[22] Leader of the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 88[21][22] 4 October 1944[22]
Günther Ramser Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[22] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 2[21][22] 8 February 1944[22]
Werner Ranck Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[23] Commander of the 121. Infanterie-Division[21][23] 2 March 1945[23]
[Dr.] Rolf Rannersmann[Note 10] Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[23] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"[21][23] 12 March 1945[23]
Hans-Friedrich Graf zu Rantzau Heer 14-HHauptmann[23] Leader of the II./Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[21][Note 20] 9 June 1944[23]
Heino von Rantzau Luftwaffe 19-LGeneralleutnant[23] Commander of the 2. Flak-Division (motorized)[21][Note 21] 29 August 1943[23]
Fritz-Georg von Rappard+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[23] Commander of the 7. Infanterie-Division[21][23] 20 October 1944[23] Awarded 751st Oak Leaves 24 February 1945[23]
August Rappel Heer 10-HOberfähnrich[23] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100[21][23] 29 November 1944[23]
Walter Rappholz Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[23] Zugführer (platoon leader) in Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 616 (self-motorized)[21][23] 3 November 1944[23]
[Dr.] Ernst-Wilhelm Rapräger[Note 10] Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[23] Kampfgruppen leader in Luftwaffen-Regiment "Barenthin"[21][Note 22] 10 May 1943[23]
Hermann Rasch Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[23] Commander of U-106[23][24] 29 December 1942[23]
Siegfried Rasp Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[23] Commander of the 335. Infanterie-Division[23][24] 15 April 1944[23]
Friedrich Rass Heer 14-HHauptmann[23] Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 11[23][24] 30 November 1943[23]
Johann Rast Heer 13-HOberleutnant[25] Company chief in Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 85[24][Note 23] 14 May 1941[25]
Edmund Ratajczak Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[25] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 507[24][25] 10 February 1945[25]
Alexander Ratcliffe Heer 17-HOberst[25] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 192[24][25] 22 December 1941[25]
Ernst Rath Heer 14-HHauptmann[25] Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 577[24][25] 15 July 1944[25]
Hans-Joachim Rath Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[25] Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"[24][25] 9 May 1942[25]
Wilhelm Ratzke Heer 14-HHauptmann[25] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 871[24][25] 3 November 1944[25]
Alfred Rauch Luftwaffe 10-LFahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[25] Pilot in the Stabsstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[24][25] 28 April 1945[25]
Erwin Rauch Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[25] Commander of the 123. Infanterie-Division[24][25] 22 December 1941[25]
Hans Rauch Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[25] Commander of Flak-Sturm-Regiment 41 (motorized)[24][Note 24] 6 December 1944[25]
Josef Rauch Heer 17-HOberst[25] Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 192[24][25] 8 August 1944[25]
The head of a man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is combed to back.
Karl-Heinz Rauch Heer 13-HOberleutnant[Note 25] Squadron chief in Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 256[24][Note 25] 15 March 1944[25]
Franz-Xaver Raucheisen Heer 15-HMajor[25] Commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 131[24][25] 5 August 1940[25]
Karl Rauer Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[26] Gruppenkommandeur of the I./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[24][26] 29 February 1944[26]
Paul-Hubert Rauh Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[Note 26] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 4[24][26] 28 April 1945[26]
Erhard Raus+ Heer 17-HOberst[26] Commander of the 6. Schützen-Brigade[24][26] 11 October 1941[26] Awarded 280th Oak Leaves 22 August 1943[26]
Werner Rausch Heer 03-HGefreiter[26] Gun leader in the 3./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 294[24][26] 26 March 1943[26]
Hermann Rauschenbusch Heer 15-HMajor[26] Commander of the II./Jäger-Regiment 83[24][26] 26 March 1943[26]
Johann von Ravenstein Heer 17-HOberst[26] Commander of Schützen-Regiment 4[24][26] 3 June 1940[26]
Alfons Rebane+ Heer 15-HMajor[26] Commander of estn. Freiwilligen-Bataillon 658[24][Note 27] 23 February 1944[26] Awarded (875th) Oak Leaves 9 May 1945?[Note 28]
Gustav-Peter Reber?[Note 29] Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer Commander of the staff quarter of the XI. SS-Panzerkorps and leader of a Kampfgruppe in the Halbe Pocket[24] 28 April 1945
Willy Reber Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[26] Adjutant in the III./Grenadier-Regiment 30 (motorized)[24][26] 4 May 1944[26]
Robert Rebholz Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[26] Leader of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung "Hermann Göring"[26][27] 2 August 1943[26]
Erich Rech Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[26] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 10 "Frundsberg"[27][Note 30] 23 August 1944[26]
Reinhart Reche Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[26] Commander of U-255[26][27] 17 March 1943[26]
Curt Rechel Kriegsmarine 16-MFregattenkapitän[26] Commander of Zerstörer Z-29[26][27] 8 May 1943[26]
Heinrich Recke Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[28] Commander of the 161. Infanterie-Division[27][28] 4 September 1943[28]
Hermann Recknagel+ Heer 17-HOberst[28] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 54[27][28] 5 August 1940[28] Awarded 319th Oak Leaves 6 November 1943
104th Swords 23 October 1944[28]
Wolf Recktenwald[Note 10][Note 31] Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[28] Chief of Radfahr-Schwadron 255[27][28] 24 May 1943[28]
Edzard von Reden Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[28] Commander of Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 89[27][28] 12 August 1944[28]
Engelhard Reder Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[28] Gun leader in the 1./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 173[27][28] 9 June 1944[28]
Walter Reder Waffen-SS 14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[28] Commander of the I./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 SS-Division "Totenkopf"[29][Note 32] 3 April 1943[28]
Ernst Redlich Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[28] Leader of the 2./Pionier-Bataillon 134[27][Note 33] 17 December 1943[28]
Karl-Wolfgang Redlich Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[28] Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 27[27][28] 9 July 1941[28]
Adolf Reeb Waffen-SS 12-WSS-Untersturmführer[28] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"[27][Note 34] 23 August 1944[28]
A man wearing a military uniform, side cap and neck order in the shape of a cross. His cap has an emblem in shape of a human skull and crossed bones.
Deert Reeder Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[28] Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 254[27][28] 30 November 1943[28]
Alfred Regeniter[Note 10] Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[28] Leader of the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 276[27][28] 5 April 1945[28]
Max Rehbein Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[30] Commander of Pionier-Bataillon 23[27][30] 5 March 1945[30]
Siegfried Rehle Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[30] Observer in the 2./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[27][30] 19 February 1943*[30] Killed in action 30 December 1942[27]
Erich Rehm Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[30] Leader of Panzer-Jäger-Kompanie 1156[27][30] 18 February 1945[30]
Ernst Rehm Heer 15-HMajor[30] Commander of Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 14[27][30] 16 November 1943[30]
Hans Rehm Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän[30] Chief of the 2. Minensuchflottille[27][30] 31 December 1941[30]
Richard Rehmer Heer 14-HHauptmann[30] Commander Füsilier-Bataillon 126[27][Note 35] 28 March 1945*[30] Killed in action 25 February 1945[27]
Konrad Rehnitz Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[30] Leader of the 2./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 27[30][31] 12 August 1942[30]
Johann Reich Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[30] Assault Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 411[30][31] 14 April 1945[30]
Johann Reich Heer 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves[30] Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10[30][31] 29 November 1944[30]
Werner Reich Heer 13-HOberleutnant[30] Chief of the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 5 (motorized)[30][31] 18 April 1943[30]
Werner Reich Heer 17-HOberst[Note 36] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 274[30][31] 29 February 1944*[30] Killed in action 25 January 1944[31]
Hans Reichardt+ Heer 15-HMajor[30] Commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 192[30][31] 24 July 1941[30] Awarded 762nd Oak Leaves 5 March 1945[30]
Werner Reiche Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[32] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 434[31][32] 14 January 1945[32]
Erwin Reichel Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[32] Leader of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Westland"[31][32] 28 February 1943[32]
Helmut Reichel Heer 15-HMajor[32] Commander of the II./Füsilier-Regiment 26[31][32] 6 April 1944[32]
Martin Reichelt Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[32] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 529[31][32] 4 May 1944[32]
Paul Reichelt Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[32] Chief of the General Staff of Armee-Abteilung Narwa[31][32] 8 October 1944[32]
Walther von Reichenau Heer 20-HGeneral der Artillerie[32] Commander-in-chief of the 10. Armee[31][32] 30 September 1939[32]
The upper body of a man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform, a peaked cap and a moocle in his right eye.
Josef Reichert Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[32] Commander of the 711. Infanterie-Division[31][32] 9 December 1944[32]
Karl Reichert Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[32] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Panzer-Zerstörer-Abteilung 156[31][32] 13 November 1944[Note 37]
Rudolf Reichert Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[32] Commander of the 292. Infanterie-Division[31][32] 11 March 1945[32]
Otto Reichhold[Note 38] Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[32] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 448[31][Note 38] 23 December 1943[32]
Heinz Reichmann Heer 04-HObergefreiter[32] Machine gunner in the 8./Jäger-Regiment 459 (L) of the 6. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division[33][Note 39] 20 January 1944[32]
Gerhard Reichwald Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[32] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Flak-Regiment 12[31][32] 1 August 1942[32]
Egon Reifner Heer 13-HOberleutnant[34] Chief of the 3./Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 40[31][34] 16 November 1944[34]
Hans Reimann Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[34] Radio troop leader in the I./Grenadier-Regiment 358[31][Note 40] 17 March 1945*[34] Died of wounds 31 January 1945[31]
Herbert Reimann Heer 09-HFeldwebel[34] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 4.(MG)/Grenadier-Regiment 44[31][Note 41] 6 April 1944[34]
Richard Reimann Luftwaffe 18-LGeneralmajor[34] Commander of the 18. Flak-Division[31][34] 3 April 1943[34]
[Dr.] Wilhelm Reimann[Note 10] Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[34] Commander of the II./Jäger-Regiment 724[31][34] 26 December 1944[34]
Gustav Reimar+ Heer 14-HHauptmann[Note 42] Chief of the 6./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 4[31][34] 28 July 1943[34] Awarded 582nd Oak Leaves 10 September 1944[34]
Hans Reimling Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[34] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[35][Note 43] 28 February 1943[34]
A man wearing a military uniform, peaked cap and a neck order in the shape of a cross. His cap has an emblem in shape of a human skull and crossed bones.
Gerhard Reimpell Heer 16-HOberstleutnant im Generalstab (in the General Staff)[34] Ia (operations officer) with the commander of Kowel[35][Note 44] 9 July 1944[34]
Siegfried Rein Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[34] Commander of the 69. Infanterie-Division[34][36] 24 February 1945*[34] Killed in action 18 January 1945[36][Note 45]
Willi Rein Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[34] Pilot in the Stabsstaffel/Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[34][35] 5 September 1944*[34] Killed in action 21 August 1944[35]
Josef Reinardy Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[34] Pilot in the (Fern)Aufklärungs-Gruppe 3[35][Note 46] 24 January 1945*[34] Killed in action 25 December 1944[35]
Leander Reinbacher Heer 12-HLeutnant[Note 47] Leader of the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 81[34][35] 30 April 1945[34]
Rudi Reineck Heer 13-HOberleutnant[37] Chief of the 8./Schützen-Regiment 6[35][37] 20 March 1942*[37] Died of wounds 20 January 1942[37]
Ewald Reinecke[Note 48] Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[37] Panzer commander in Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1122[35][37] 18 November 1944[37]
Gerhard Reinecke Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[37] Pilot in the 1.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 121[35][Note 49] 23 December 1942[37]
Heinz Reinefarth+ Heer 09-HFeldwebel[37] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 337[35][Note 50] 25 June 1940[37] Awarded 608th Oak Leaves 30 September 1944[37]
Paul Reineking Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[37] Chief of the 3./Flak-Regiment 36 (motorized)[35][Note 51] 26 March 1944[37]
Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert+ Luftwaffe 06-LUnteroffizier[37] Pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 77[35][37] 1 July 1942[37] Awarded 131st Oak Leaves 7 October 1942
130th Swords 1 February 1945[Note 52]
Hans-Wolfgang Reinhard Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie[37] Commanding general of the LI. Armeekorps[36][37] 22 September 1941[37]
Alfred-Hermann Reinhardt+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[37] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 421[35][37] 4 December 1941[37] Awarded 306th Oak Leaves 28 September 1943
118th Swords 24 December 1944[37]
Arnold Reinhardt Heer 03-HGefreiter[37] Group leader of the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 166[35][37] 24 September 1943[37]
Georg-Hans Reinhardt+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[37] Commander in the 4. Panzer-Division[35][37] 27 October 1939[37] Awarded 73rd Oak Leaves 17 February 1942
68th Swords 26 May 1944[37]
The head and torso of a man wearing a military uniform and overcoat; an Iron Cross is displayed at the front of his uniform collar.
Hans Reinhardt Heer 15-HMajor[37] Commander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 241[35][37] 18 October 1941*[37] Died of wounds 4 September 1941[37]
Walter Reinhardt Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[37] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1141[35][37] 18 November 1944[37]
Wilhelm Reinhardt Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[38] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 518[35][38] 22 February 1942[38]
Heinz Reinhart Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[38] Chief of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 109[35][38] 17 August 1943[38]
Karl Reinhart Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[38] Leader of the 7./Sturm-Regiment 215[38][39] 20 December 1943[38]
Leo-Hermann Reinhold Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[38] Commander of the II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 10 "Frundsberg"[39][Note 53] 16 October 1944[38]
Voldemars Reinholds?[Note 54] Waffen-SS 15-WWaffen-Sturmbannführer Commander of Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment of the SS[41] 11 May 1945
Gerhard Reinicke Heer 09-HFeldwebel[38] Group leader in the 2./Panzer-Regiment 6[39][Note 55] 9 July 1941[38]
Hansjürgen Reinicke Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See[38] Commander of heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen[38][39] 21 April 1945[38]
Adolf Reininghaus Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[38] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7[38][39] 13 September 1944[38]
Friedrich-Wilhelm Reinke Luftwaffe 15-LMajor[38] Commander of the I./Flak-Regiment 9 "Legion Condor"[39][Note 56] 9 October 1943[38]
Heinrich Reinke Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[38] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 89[39][Note 57] 9 January 1942[38]
Fritz Reinkober Heer 17-HOberst[Note 58] Commander of Festungsgrenadier-Regiment "Reinkober" in the fortress Breslau[39][Note 58] 30 April 1945[38]
Heinz Reintjes Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[38] Leader of Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 2102[39][Note 59] 18 November 1944[38]
Max Reinwald+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves[38] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 19[38][41] 29 February 1944[38] Awarded 702nd Oak Leaves 18 January 1945[38]
Otto Reinwald Heer 14-HHauptmann[42] Commander of Feldersatz-Bataillon 212[39][42] 9 April 1944[42]
Sebastian Reiser Heer 03-HGefreiter[42] Richtkanonier (gunner) in the 1./Artillerie-Regiment 297[39][42] 11 October 1941[42]
Josef Reisig Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[42] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 11./Infanterie-Regiment 164[39][42] 15 January 1942[42]
Dr. theol. Walter Reissinger Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[42] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 215[41][42] 17 December 1942[42]
Paul Reißmann Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[42] Deputy leader of the 4./SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 17[41][Note 60] 16 November 1944*[42] Died of wounds 8 November 1944[39]
Werner Reißmann Heer 14-HHauptmann[42] Leader of the III./Schützen-Regiment 104[39][42] 28 July 1942[42]
Hans Reiter Waffen-SS 12-WSS-Untersturmführer[42] Leader of Stabskompanie/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21 "Frundsberg"[39][Note 61] 23 August 1944*[42] Killed in action 15 August 1944[39]
Otto Reittinger Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[42] Group leader in the 4./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2[39][42] 23 October 1944*[42] Killed in action 8 August 1944[39]
Hans Albin Freiherr von Reitzenstein Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer[42] Commander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich"[39][Note 62] 13 November 1943[42]
Josef Remberg Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[42] Pilot in the 2.(F)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 11[39][Note 63] 25 February 1944[Note 63]
Otto-Ernst Remer+ Heer 15-HMajor[42] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[43][Note 64] 18 May 1943[42] Awarded 325th Oak Leaves 12 November 1943[42] Black-and-white portrait of a man in semi profile wearing a military uniform with various military decorations, his dark hair is parted and combed back.
Heinrich Remlinger Heer 17-HOberst[42] Commander of Schneidemühl[43][Note 65] 30 January 1945[42]
Hans Remmer Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[44] Staffelkapitän of the 1./Jagdgeschwader 27[43][44] 9 June 1944*[44] Killed in action 2 April 1944[43]
Heinz Remmert Heer 14-HHauptmann[44] Deputy leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 464[43][Note 66] 10 September 1944[44]
Otto Rendl Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[44] Gun leader in the 14./Infanterie-Regiment 132[43][44] 28 July 1942[44]
Dr. jur. Lothar Rendulic+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[44] Commander of the 52. Infanterie-Division[43][44] 6 March 1942[44] Awarded 271st Oak Leaves 15 August 1943
122nd Swords 18 January 1945[44]
A black-and-white photograph of a man in semi profile wearing a military uniform, field cap, glasses and a neck order in shape of an Iron Cross.
Paul-Ernst Renisch Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[44] Commander of the III./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1[43][44] 31 October 1944[44]
Rudolf Rennecke+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[44] Leader of the II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3[43][44] 9 June 1944[44] Awarded 664th Oak Leaves 25 November 1944[44]
Wilhelm Renner Heer 13-HOberleutnant[44] Chief of the 8./Schützen-Regiment 2[43][44] 5 August 1940[44]
Günther Rennhack Heer 14-HHauptmann[44] Commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 1818[43][44] 30 December 1944[44]
Karl Renoldner Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[Note 67] Leader of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 462[43][44] 10 September 1943*[44] Killed in action 17 August 1943[43][Note 67]
[Dr.] Helmut Renschler+[Note 10] Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[44] Chief of the 1./Artillerie-Regiment 5[43][44] 15 May 1944[44] Awarded 770th Oak Leaves 11 March 1945[44]
Ewert von Renteln Heer 16-HOberstleutnant of the Reserves[44] Commander of Kosaken-Regiment 360[43][Note 68] 13 January 1945[44]
Fritz Rentrop Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[45] Chief of the 2./SS-Flak-Abteilung 2 "Reich"[46][Note 69] 13 October 1941[45]
A man wearing a military uniform, side cap and neck order in the shape of a cross. His cap has an emblem in shape of a human skull and crossed bones.
Emil Rentschler Heer 14-HHauptmann[45] Commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 537[43][45] 18 October 1943[45]
Gerhard Renz Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[45] Pilot in the II./Kampfgeschwader 26[43][Note 70] 31 July 1940[45]
Gottlieb Renz Waffen-SS 14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[Note 71] Commander of SS-Schützen-Bataillon (motorized) 6[43][Note 71] 12 August 1944[45]
Joachim Renz Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[45] Leader of the I./Fallschirm-Panzer-Regiment "Hermann Göring"[43][45] 6 December 1944*[45] Killed in action 23 October 1944[43]
Anton Resch Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[45] Staffelkapitän of the 3./Jagdgeschwader 52[43][45] 7 April 1945[45]
Rudolf Resch Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[45] Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52[43][Note 72] 6 September 1942[45]
Willi Reschke Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[45] Pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 301[45][47] 20 April 1945[45]
Ralph von Rettberg Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[45] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"[45][47] 14 June 1941[45]
Rudolf Rettberg?[Note 73] Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer Commander of the II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 9 "Hohenstaufen"[47] 6 May 1945
Josef Rettemeier+ Heer 14-HHauptmann[45] Commander of Panzer-Abteilung 5[45][47] 5 December 1943[45] Awarded 425th Oak Leaves 13 March 1944[45] A man wearing a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his uniform collar.
Karl Rettlinger Waffen-SS 14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer[Note 74] Chief of the 3./SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[47][Note 74] 20 December 1943[45]
Karl Retzlaff Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[50] Leader of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 4[47][50] 30 September 1944[50]
Ernst Reusch Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[50] Staffelkapitän of the 5./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[47][Note 75] 3 November 1942[50]
Franz Reuß Luftwaffe 18-LGeneralmajor[50] Commander of the 4. Flieger-Division[47][50] 18 July 1944[50]
Richard-Heinrich von Reuß Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[50] Commander of the 62. Infanterie-Division[47][50] 24 January 1943*[50] Killed in action 22 December 1942[47][50]
Rudi Reußner[Note 76] Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[50] Pilot in the 8./Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[47][Note 76] 29 February 1944[50]
Alfred Reuter Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[50] Leader of the 2./Infanterie-Regiment 418[50][51] 21 February 1943[50]
August Reuter Heer 12-HLeutnant[Note 77] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 219[47][50] 15 May 1944[50]
Benno Reuter+ Heer 11-HStabsfeldwebel[50] Leader of the 7./Jäger-Regiment 49[47][50] 8 February 1944[50] Awarded 633rd Oak Leaves 28 October 1944[50]
Derfflinger von Reuter Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[50] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 45[47][50] 17 March 1945[50]
Erich Reuter+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[50] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 122[47][50] 17 August 1942[50] Awarded 710th Oak Leaves 21 January 1945[50]
Erich Reuter Heer 14-HHauptmann[50] Chief of the 3./schwere Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 519[47][50] 18 July 1944[50]
Joachim Reuter Heer 17-HOberst of the Reserves[52] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 386[47][52] 27 August 1944[52]
Kurt Reuter Heer 04-HObergefreiter[52] Group leader in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 279[47][52] 4 May 1944[52]
Heinz Reverchon Heer 12-HLeutnant[52] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Kradschützen-Bataillon 43[51][52] 16 September 1942[52]
Helmuth Reymann+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[52] Commander of the 13. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division[47][Note 78] 5 April 1944[52] Awarded 672nd Oak Leaves 28 November 1944[52]
Ernst-Martin Rhein Heer 13-HOberleutnant[52] Chief of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 18[47][52] 22 December 1941[52]
Joseph Rhein Heer 14-HHauptmann[52] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 530[47][52] 23 February 1944[52]
Karl Rhein Heer 17-HOberst[52] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 439[47][52] 6 March 1942[52]
The head of a man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is dark and combed to back.
Rudolf von Ribbentrop Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[52] Leader of the 6./SS-Panzer-Regiment 1 "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"[47][52] 15 July 1943[Note 79]
Johann-Georg Richert+ Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[52] Commander of the 35. Infanterie-Division[52][53] 17 March 1944[52] Awarded 623rd Oak Leaves 18 October 1944[52]
Bruno Richter+ Heer 14-HRittmeister[52] Leader of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 24[53][Note 80] 26 November 1944[52] Awarded 825th Oak Leaves 8 April 1945[52]
Emil Richter Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[52] Group leader in the 11./Infanterie-Regiment 401[52][54] 25 August 1942[52]
Franz Richter Heer 03-HGefreiter[52] Machine gunner in the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 114[52][53] 14 May 1944[52]
Friedrich Richter+ Heer 15-HMajor[55] Commander of the III./Grenadier-Regiment 42[53][55] 17 August 1943[55] Awarded 818th Oak Leaves 5 April 1945[55]
Friedrich Richter?[Note 81] Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer Commander of the III./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 21 "Frundsberg"[54] 11 May 1945
Gerhard Richter Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[55] Staffelkapitän of the 9.(K)/Lehrgeschwader 1[53][55] 24 November 1940[55]
Hans Richter Heer 14-HHauptmann[55] Leader of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 121[53][55] 29 January 1944[55]
Hans-Heinrich Richter Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[55] Commander of Fallschirm-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2[54][Note 82] 26 March 1945[55]
Heinz Richter Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[Note 83] Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Kampfgeschwader 77[53][55] 19 September 1943*[55] Died of wounds 2 June 1943[53]
Heinz Richter Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[55] Leader of the 4./Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon 5[53][55] 12 March 1945[55]
Joachim Richter Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer of the Reserves[55] Commander of the SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 5 "Wiking"[53][Note 84] 23 February 1944[55]
Johannes Richter Heer 12-HLeutnant[55] Leader of the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 304[53][55] 30 September 1944[55]
Johannes Richter Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[55] Radio/wireless operator in the Stab Nachtjagdgruppe 10[53][55] 30 September 1944[55]
Kurt Richter Heer 10-HFahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[55] Aide-de-camp in the Stab II./Grenadier-Regiment 31[53][55] 28 March 1945[55]
Richard Richter Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[55] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 33[53][55] 7 January 1944[55]
Rudolf Richter Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[57] Leader of Infanterie-Regiment 97[53][57] 7 August 1942[57]
Rudolf Richter Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[55] Pilot and observer in the 3.(H)/Aufklärungs-Gruppe 12[53][Note 85] 14 January 1945[Note 85]
Walther Richter Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[57] Board/flight mechanic in the 5./Kampfgeschwader 53 "Legion Condor"[53][57] 28 February 1945[57]
Werner Richter Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[57] Commander of the 263. Infanterie-Division[53][57] 7 February 1944[57]
Wilfried Richter Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[57] Leader of SS-Sturmgeschütz-Batterie/SS-"Totenkopf"-Division[53][57] 21 April 1942[57]
Dipl.-Ing. Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen+ Luftwaffe 18-LGeneralmajor[57] Commanding general of the VIII. Fliegerkorps[53][57] 17 May 1940[Note 86] Awarded 26th Oak Leaves 17 July 1941[57] The head and shoulders of a man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and a military uniform with an Eagle above his right breast pocket, and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his white shirt collar.
Kurt Rick Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[Note 87] Staffelkapitän of the 2./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[53][57] 3 April 1943*[57] Killed in action 5 January 1943[53]
Hans-Oskar Rickert Heer 14-HHauptmann[57] Commander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 320[57][58] 30 December 1943[57]
Josef Rickert Heer 04-HObergefreiter[57] Group leader in the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 12[57][58] 20 October 1944[57]
Boy Rickmers Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[57] Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 586[57][58] 26 March 1943[57]
Klaus Riebicke Luftwaffe 09-LFeldwebel[57] Pilot in the 9./Schlachtgeschwader 10[57][58] 6 October 1944*[57] Killed in action 6 June 1944[58]
Karl Riechers Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[57] Company leader in the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 2[57][58] 8 August 1943[57]
Hans-Georg Riechert Heer 12-HLeutnant[Note 88] Leader of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 311[57][58] 9 January 1942[57]
Herbert Rieckhoff Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[59] Geschwaderkommodore of Kampfgeschwader 2[59][60] 5 July 1941[59]
Franz Riedel Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[59] Chief of the 7./SS-Panzer-Regiment 10 "Frundsberg"[58][Note 89] 28 March 1945[59]
Gerd Riedel?[Note 90] Luftwaffe 17-LOberst im Generalstab (in the General Staff) Leader of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7[58] 8 May 1945
Walter Riedel Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[59] Aide-de-camp in the regimental stab of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73[60][Note 91] 14 April 1943[59]
Willy Riedel+ Heer 14-HHauptmann[59] Commander of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 524[58][59] 8 October 1942[Note 92] Awarded 186th Oak Leaves 25 January 1943[59] Black-and-white portrait of a man with a military uniform, side cap and an Iron Cross displayed at his neck.
Volprecht Riedesel Freiherr zu Eisenbach+ Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[59] Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Kampfgeschwader 76[58][59] 7 October 1942[59] Awarded 696th Oak Leaves 14 January 1945[59]
Adam Riedmüller Heer 09-HFeldwebel[59] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 4./Jagd-Panzer-Abteilung II (Panzergrenadier-Division "Kurmark")[58][Note 93] 8 February 1945[Note 93]
Waldemar Riefkogel Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[59] Leader of the 1./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"[58][Note 94] 11 July 1943[59]
Fritz Rieflin?[Note 95] Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer Chief of the 2./SS-Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 2 "Das Reich"[58] 6 May 1945
Kurt Riegel Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[59] Staffelkapitän of the 5./Schlachtgeschwader 3[58][Note 96] 8 August 1944*[59] Killed in action 1 July 1944[58]
Joachim Rieger Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[59] Staffelkapitän of the 5./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[58][59] 19 March 1942*[59] Killed in action 2 December 1941[58]
Johann Rieger Heer 04-HObergefreiter[59] Company messenger in the 1./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 59[58][Note 97] 26 March 1944[59]
Karl Rieger Heer 14-HHauptmann[59] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 2 "Scharnhorst"[59][60] 28 April 1945[59]
Otto Riehs[Note 98] Heer 04-HObergefreiter[12] Gun leader in the 14./Grenadier-Regiment 55[12][63] 11 October 1943[12]
A color photograph of a man holding a speech standing behind a lecturn. He wears a jacket and white shirt with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar.
Alfreds Riekstinš Waffen-SS 06-WWaffen-Unterscharführer[12] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Waffen-Füsilier-Bataillon 19 of the SS[12][60] 5 April 1945[12]
Hermann Rienäcker Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[12] Leader of 4./Heeres-Flak-Artillerie-Abteilung 272[12][64] 29 February 1944*[Note 99] Killed in action 15 March 1945[12]
Julius Riepe Waffen-SS 15-WSS-Sturmbannführer[12] Leader of the I./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 40 "Horst Wessel"[65][Note 100] 13 January 1945[12]
Josef-Otto Riepold Heer 13-HOberleutnant[12] Chief of the 5./Panzer-Regiment 5 in the DAK[65][Note 101] 29 July 1942*[12] Killed in action 17 June 1942[65]
Karl Riesle[Note 102] Heer 06-HOberjäger[12] Rifle leader in the 14./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85[12][65] 29 February 1944[12]
Karl Rieß Heer 14-HHauptmann[12] Leader of the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 282[12][65] 27 August 1943[12]
Herbert-Albert Rieth Waffen-SS 12-WSS-Untersturmführer of the Reserves[12] Leader of the 5./Freiwilligen SS-Artillerie-Regiment 54 "Nederland"[65][Note 103] 11 December 1944[12]
Georg Rietscher+ Heer 03-HGefreiter[12] Richtschütze (gunner) in the 14.(Panzerjäger)/Infanterie-Regiment 513[65][Note 104] 27 June 1942[12] Awarded 210th Oak Leaves 14 March 1943[12]
Harald Riipalu Waffen-SS 16-WWaffen-Obersturmbannführer[12] Commander of SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 45[65][Note 105] 23 August 1944[12]
Bernhard Rindfleisch Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[12] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 575[12][65] 12 August 1944[12]
Erich Ring Heer 14-HHauptmann[66] Commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 84[65][66] 21 September 1941[66]
Julius Ringel+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[66] Commander of the 5. Gebirgs-Division[65][66] 13 June 1941[66] Awarded 312th Oak Leaves 25 October 1943[66] The head of a man with beard, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is dark and combed to back.
Jakob Ringhof Heer 14-HHauptmann[66] Commander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 215[65][66] 23 December 1943[66]
Helmut Ringler Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[Note 106] Heavy machine gun demi Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Sturmgruppe "Stahl" in the Fallschirm-Sturm-Abteilung "Koch"[63][66] 15 May 1940[66]
Adolf Rinke Heer 12-HLeutnant[Note 107] Leader of the 2./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502[65][66] 17 April 1945*[66] Killed in action 13 April 1945[64][Note 107]
Karl-Eberhard Rinke Heer 13-HOberleutnant[66] Chief of the 8./Grenadier-Regiment 552[65][66] 22 April 1943[66]
Leo Rinkowski Heer 03-HGefreiter[66] Machine gunner in the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 670[65][66] 21 September 1944[66]
Josef Rintelen Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[66] Commander of the I./Infanterie-Regiment 478[65][66] 5 August 1940[66]
Werner Ripcke Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[66] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 89[63][66] 18 December 1944[66]
Eberhard Risse Heer 14-HHauptmann[66] Adjutant in Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60[65][66] 26 November 1944[66]
Walther Risse+ Heer 17-HOberst[66] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 474[65][66] 22 September 1941[66] Awarded 704th Oak Leaves 18 January 1945[66]
Stephan Rittau Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[67] Commander of the 129. Infanterie-Division[65][67] 2 November 1941[67]
Georg Graf von Rittberg+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[67] Commander of the 88. Infanterie-Division[67][68] 21 February 1944[67] Awarded 610th Oak Leaves 10 October 1944[67]
Hans Rittel Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[67] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 13./Grenadier-Regiment 366[67][68] 7 March 1944[67]
Anton Ritter Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[67] Leader of the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 88[67][68] 24 December 1944[67]
Friedrich-Karl Ritter Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[67] Commander of Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 560[67][68] 20 October 1944[67]
Georg Ritter Heer 15-HMajor[67] Commander of the II./Infanterie-Regiment 62[67][68] 15 November 1941*[67] Killed in action 17 October 1941[68]
Heinz Ritter Heer 14-HHauptmann[67] Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 44[67][68] 20 April 1945[67]
Hugo Ritter Heer 15-HMajor[67] Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 529[67][68] 24 February 1945[67]
[Prof. Dr.] Klaus Ritter[Note 108] Heer 14-HHauptmann[67] Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 67[67][68] 28 October 1944[67]
Willy Ritter Heer 14-HHauptmann[67] Leader of Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 13[67][68] 15 January 1944[67]
Walter Rittershausen Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[67] Chief of the 3./Infanterie-Regiment 57[68][Note 109] 25 February 1942[67]
Arthur Rittner Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[69] Leader of the III./Infanterie-Regiment 276[68][69] 25 October 1942[69]
Alfred Ritz Heer 14-HHauptmann[69] Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1[68][69] 11 December 1944[69]
Otto Ritz Luftwaffe 09-LFeldwebel[69] Pilot in the 10.(Panzer)/Schlachtgeschwader 9[69][70] 30 September 1944[69]
Karl Rixecker Kriegsmarine 11-MStabsobersteuermann[69] Commander of Räumboot R-23 in the 1. Räumbootsflottille[68][Note 110] 31 May 1940[69]
The head of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap, naval military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar.
Rolf Rocholl+ Heer 13-HOberleutnant[69] Leader of the 2./Panzer-Regiment 5[68][69] 28 July 1942[69] Awarded 287th Oak Leaves 31 August 1943[69]
Hans von Rochow Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[69] Commander of Radfahr-Abteilung 176[68][69] 20 January 1943[69]
Hans-Joachim von Rochow Heer 17-HOberst[69] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 860[68][69] 26 December 1944[69]
Johann Rodamer Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[69] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 320[68][69] 26 March 1944[69]
Werner Rode Heer 13-HOberleutnant[69] Chief of the 2./Kradschützen-Bataillon 34[68][69] 17 September 1941[69]
Heinrich Rodemich?[Note 111] Heer 09-HFeldwebel Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 988[68] 11 May 1945
Carl Rodenburg+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[69] Commander of the 76. Infanterie-Division[68][69] 8 October 1942[69] Awarded 189th Oak Leaves 31 January 1943[69]
Georg Roderer Heer 09-HFeldwebel[69] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 545[68][69] 9 December 1944[69]
Otto Rodewald Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[69] Group leader in the Nachrichtenzug/Grenadier-Regiment 948[68][69] 24 March 1944[69]
Eberhard Rodt+ Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[71] Commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 25[71][72] 25 June 1940[71] Awarded (847th) Oak Leaves 28 April 1945[71]
[Dr.] Heinrich Roeckl[Note 10] Heer 15-HMajor[Note 112] Commander of Radfahr-Bataillon 402[71][72] 8 September 1941[71]
Gustav Rödel+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[71] Staffelkapitän of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 27[71][73] 22 June 1941[Note 113] Awarded 255th Oak Leaves 20 June 1943[71]
Josef Röder Heer 04-HObergefreiter[71] Richtschütze (gunner) in the 3./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 179[71][72] 19 January 1943[71]
Walter Rödlich Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[71] Commander of the II./Panzer-Regiment 4[71][72] 5 August 1940[71]
Friedrich Rögelein+ Heer 15-HMajor[71] Commander of the I./Grenadier-Regiment 109[71][72] 7 January 1944[71] Awarded 831st Oak Leaves 14 April 1945[71]
Hans Roeger Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[71] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"[72][Note 114] 21 September 1944[71]
Dr. Wolfgang Röhder Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer of the Reserves[71] Chief of the 3./SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 2 "Das Reich"[73][Note 115] 1 December 1943[71]
Herbert Röhler Luftwaffe 17-LOberst of the Reserves[Note 116] Commander of Flak-Sturm-Regiment 4[72][Note 116] 24 October 1944[71]
Edgar Röhricht Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[71] Commander of the 95. Infanterie-Division[71][72] 15 May 1944[71]
Hans Röhrig Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[71] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Jagdgeschwader 53[73][Note 117] 2 October 1942[71]
Oskar Röhrig Heer 10-HOberfähnrich[71] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./schwere Panzer-Abteilung 504[71][72] 4 July 1944[71]
Heinz Rökker+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[74] Staffelkapitän of the 2./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[72][74] 27 July 1944[74] Awarded 781st Oak Leaves 12 March 1945[74]
Werner Roell Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[74] Staffelkapitän of the Stabsstaffel/Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[72][74] 25 May 1943[74]
Josef Rölleke Waffen-SS 06-WSS-Unterscharführer[74] Messenger squad leader in the III./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 "Totenkopf"[72][Note 118] 16 June 1944[74]
Kurt Röpke+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[74] Commander of the 46. Infanterie-Division[72][74] 17 November 1943[74] Awarded 830th Oak Leaves 14 April 1945[74]
Rudolf Roesch Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[74] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Kampfgeschwader 51[72][Note 119] 26 March 1944[74]
Erich Röseke Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[74] Leader of the 9./Jäger-Regiment 1 "Brandenburg"[72][74] 14 April 1945[74]
Hans-Rudolf Rösing Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän[74] Chief of the 7. Unterseebootsflottille and commander of U-48[74][75] 29 August 1940[74]
Gerd Roeske Heer 14-HHauptmann[Note 120] Leader of Bataillon "Feldherrnhalle"[75] 11 March 1945*[74] Killed in action 19 February 1945[75]
Karl Roesler Heer 17-HOberst[74] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 1056[74][76] 20 October 1944[Note 121]
Rudolf Roesner Heer 14-HHauptmann[74] Commander of the I./Jäger-Regiment 38[64][74] 18 April 1943[74]
Wilhelm-Richard Rössiger Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[74] Staffelkapitän of the 2./Erprobungsgruppe 210[74][76] 1 October 1940*[74] Killed in action 27 September 1940[75]
Erwin Franz Roestel?[Note 122] Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer of the Reserves Commander of SS-Panzerjäger-(Sturmgeschütz)Abteilung 10 "Frundsberg" and leader of a Kampfgruppe[75] 3 May 1945
Hans Rötche[Note 123] Luftwaffe 10-LFahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel[74] Pilot in the 16./Transportgeschwader 1[74][76] 18 November 1944[74]
Siegfried Röthke Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[80] Staffelkapitän of the 6./Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever"[76][80] 2 June 1943[80]
Herbert Roewer Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[80] Pilot in the 9.(Eis)/Kampfgeschwader 3 "Lützow"[75][80] 3 July 1943*[80] Killed in action 5 March 1943[75][Note 124]
Peter Roewer Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[80] Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 225[75][80] 13 January 1945[80]
Konstantin Rogalla von Bieberstein Heer 15-HMajor[80] Commander of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 114[75][80] 24 July 1943*[80] Killed in action 14 July 1943[75][Note 125]
Franz Rogalski+ Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[80] Shock troops leader in Sturm-Bataillon AOK 8[75][Note 126] 17 March 1944[80] Awarded 775th Oak Leaves 11 March 1945[80]
Alfred Rogge?[Note 127] Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer Leader of the 1./SS-Festungs-Regiment 1 "Besslein" (Breslau)[76] 9 May 1945
Bernhard Rogge+ Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See[80] Commander of auxiliary cruiser Atlantis (HSK-2)[75][80] 7 December 1940[80] Awarded 45th Oak Leaves 31 December 1941[80]
Rudolf Rogge Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[80] Leader of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 122[75][80] 18 November 1943*[80] Killed in action 28 September 1943[75][Note 128]
Ulrich Roggenbau Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[80] Chief of the 7./Grenadier-Regiment 254[75][80] 30 November 1943[80]
Franz Roggenland Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[80] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 10./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 67[75][80] 4 October 1944[80]
Hans Rogner Heer 14-HHauptmann[80] Leader of Pionier-Ersatz and Ausbildungs Bataillon 213[75][Note 129] 11 March 1945[80]
Walter Rohde Heer 09-HFeldwebel[80] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 25[80][81] 22 September 1943[80]
Kurt Rohlfs Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[80] Commander of Pionier-Bataillon 20[80][81] 1 January 1944[80]
Hans Rohr Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[82] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 7./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 139[81][82] 20 June 1940[82]
Hans-Babo von Rohr+ Heer 12-HLeutnant[Note 130] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzer-Regiment 25[81][82] 5 November 1944[82] Awarded 754th Oak Leaves 24 February 1945[82]
Josef Rohrbacher Heer 10-HOberwachtmeister[82] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 245[81][Note 131] 4 May 1944[82]
Kurt Rohrbeck Heer 13-HOberleutnant[82] Deputy leader of Aufklärungs-Lehr-Abteilung 1[81][Note 132] 3 November 1944[82]
Hellmut Rohweder Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant (Ing.)[82] Chief engineer on U-69 and U-514[81][82] 14 November 1943[82]
Johannes Rohweder Heer 14-HHauptmann[82] Commander of Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 670 (self-motorized)[81][82] 23 August 1941[82]
Detlev Rohwer Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[82] Pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 3[81][Note 133] 5 October 1941[82]
Franz Roka Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[82] Staffelkapitän of the 6./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[81][Note 134] 9 October 1943[82]
Heinz Roland Heer 14-HHauptmann[82] Leader of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 73[81][82] 9 December 1944[82]
Wilhelm Rollmann Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[82] Commander of U-34[81][82] 31 July 1940[82]
Herbert Rollwage+ Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[82] Pilot in the 3./Jagdgeschwader 53[81][Note 135] 6 April 1944[Note 135] Awarded 713th Oak Leaves 24 January 1945[82]
Otto Rolser Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[82] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 727[82][83] 20 April 1943[82]
Rudolf Freiherr von Roman+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[84] Commander of the 35. Infanterie-Division[81][84] 19 February 1942[84] Awarded 313th Oak Leaves 28 October 1943[84]
Hans-Georg Romeike Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[84] Chief of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 43[81][84] 3 September 1943[84]
Oskar Romm Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[84] Pilot in the 1./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[81][Note 136] 29 February 1944[84]
Erwin Rommel+ Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[84] Commander of the 7. Panzer-Division[81][84] 27 May 1940[84] Awarded 10th Oak Leaves 20 March 1941
6th Swords 20 January 1942
6th Diamonds 11 March 1943[84]
The head and shoulders of an elderly man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and a military uniform with an Eagle above his right and various military decorations above left breast pocket, and an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His facial expression is a determined; his eyes are looking into the distance to the left of the camera.
Hans Romott Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[84] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 4.(MG)/Grenadier-Regiment 4[81][Note 137] 18 April 1943[84]
Johannes Rompzick Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[84] Leader of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 18[84][85] 22 November 1943[84]
Arnold von Roon Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[84] Chief of the 3./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2[84][85] 9 July 1941[84]
The head of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap, a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar.
Ferdinand Roos Heer 03-HGefreiter[84] Company troop leader in the 3./Pionier-Bataillon 6[84][86] 16 August 1943[84]
Fritz Roos Heer 14-HHauptmann[84] Leader of the II./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13[84][85] 2 November 1942[Note 138]
Hugo Roos Heer 14-HHauptmann[84] Chief of the 11./Infanterie-Regiment 119 (motorized)[84][85] 13 September 1942[Note 139]
Max Ropp Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[84] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 11./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143[84][85] 28 October 1944[84]
Willi Rose Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[87] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 11./Grenadier-Regiment 96[85][87] 22 January 1944*[87] Died of wounds 4 December 1943[85]
Kersten Freiherr von Rosen Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[87] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 88[85][87] 26 December 1944[87]
Helmut Rosenbaum Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[87] Commander of U-73[85][87] 12 August 1942[87]
Hans Rosenheinrich Heer 04-HObergefreiter[87] Group leader in the 3./Grenadier-Regiment 173[85][87] 5 November 1944[87]
Willi Rosin Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[87] Chief of the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 328[85][87] 18 November 1944[87]
[Dr.] Dipl.-Ing. Fritz Roske[Note 10] Heer 17-HOberst[87] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 194[85][87] 20 January 1943[87]
Heinrich Roßbach Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[87] Commander of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 89[85][87] 12 December 1942[87]
Karl-Heinz Roßbach Heer 09-HFeldwebel[87] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 7[85][87] 6 June 1943[87]
Christian Roßfeld Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[87] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 10./Infanterie-Regiment 62[85][87] 5 October 1941[87]
Emil Roßhart Heer 04-HObergefreiter[87] Group leader in the 2./Sturm-Regiment 195[86][87] 3 April 1943[87]
Theodor Rossiwall Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[87] Staffelkapitän of the 5./Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel"[85][87] 6 August 1941[87]
Vincenz Rossler Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[87] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Panzer-Abteilung 190[85][87] 28 October 1944[87]
Edmund Roßmann Luftwaffe 09-LFeldwebel[88] Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 52[85][88] 19 March 1942[88]
Emil Roßmann Heer 12-HLeutnant of the Reserves[88] Leader of the 2./Panzer-Regiment 26[85][88] 23 October 1944[88]
[Dr.] Karl Roßmann+[Note 10] Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[88] Chief of the 16./Flak-Regiment "General Göring" (motorized)[86][88] 12 November 1941[88] Awarded 725th Oak Leaves 1 February 1945[88]
Erich Rossner Waffen-SS 06-WSS-Unterscharführer[88] Gun leader in the 2./SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung "Reich"[86][88] 25 August 1941* Died of wounds 30 July 1941[Note 140]
Hans-Günther von Rost Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[88] Commander of Reichsgrenadier-Division "Hoch- und Deutschmeister"[85][88] 21 March 1945[88]
Erwin Rostin Kriegsmarine 14-MKapitänleutnant[88] Commander of U-158[88][90] 28 June 1942[88]
Ernst-August Roth Luftwaffe 18-LGeneralmajor[88] Fliegerführer Nord[90][Note 141] 6 November 1943[88]
Günther Roth Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[88] Pilot in the IV.(K)/Lehrgeschwader 1[88][90] 26 March 1944[88]
Hans Roth Luftwaffe 17-LOberst[88] Commander of Flak-Regiment 38[88][90] 9 January 1945[88]
Heinrich Roth Heer 09-HWachtmeister[88] Vorgeschobener Beobachter (forward observer) in the 4./Artillerie-Regiment 235[88][90] 18 January 1945[88]
Hermann Roth Heer 13-HOberleutnant of the Reserves[88] Chief of the 1./Feld-Ersatz-Bataillon 212[88][90] 27 July 1944[88]
Jakob Roth Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[88] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Grenadier-Regiment 208[88][90] 4 June 1944[88]
Matthias Roth Heer 13-HOberleutnant[91] Leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 105[90][91] 21 February 1944[91]
Wilhelm Roth Heer 10-HOberwachtmeister[91] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./Gebirgs-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 94[90][91] 24 June 1944[91]
Heinz Rothardt[Note 142] Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[91] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11[90][91] 30 September 1943[91]
Friedrich Rothe Heer 13-HOberleutnant[91] Leader of the 5./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 93[90][91] 17 March 1945[91]
Gerhard Rothe Luftwaffe 09-LFeldwebel[91] Radio operator in the III./Sturzkampfgeschwader 1[90][91] 12 November 1943[91]
Karl Rothenburg Heer 17-HOberst[91] Commander of Panzer-Regiment 25[90][91] 3 June 1940[91]
Willi Rothhaar Heer 12-HLeutnant[Note 143] Leader of the 3.(MG)/Grenadier-Regiment 544[90][Note 143] 5 September 1944[91]
Friedrich-Wilhelm von Rothkirch und Panthen Heer 18-HGeneralmajor[91] Commander of the 13. Infanterie-Division (motorized)[90][91] 15 August 1940[91]
Hans-Siegfried Graf von Rothkirch und Trach Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[91] Commander of the I./Panzer-Regiment 26[90][91] 4 October 1944[91]
Anton Rothmaier Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[91] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 335[90][91] 9 June 1944[Note 144]
Dipl.-Ing. Fritz-Joachim Freiherr von Rotsmann Heer 15-HMajor of the Reserves[91] Commander of the I./Artillerie-Regiment 176[90][91] 31 January 1943[91]
Rudolf Rott Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer[92] Chief of the 1./SS-Panzer-Abteilung 11 "Nordland"[90][Note 145] 28 February 1945*[92] Killed in action 12 February 1945[90]
Walter Rott Heer 13-HOberleutnant[Note 146] Chief of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 1122[90] 11 March 1945
Johann Rottensteiner Heer 04-HObergefreiter[92] Group leader in the Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 353[90][92] 18 February 1945[92]
Josef Rotter Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[92] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 10./Jäger-Regiment 204[90][92] 9 August 1943[92]
Theodor Rowehl Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant[92] Commander of Aufklärungs-Gruppe des OBdL[92][93] 27 September 1940[92]
The head of a man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is dark and combed to back.
Willi Rowohl Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[92] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 2./Schützen-Regiment 115[92][93] 12 July 1942[92]
Rudolf Roy Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[92] Panzer commander and Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 1./SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 12 "Hitlerjugend"[93][Note 147] 16 October 1944[92]
Walter Rubarth Heer 09-HFeldwebel[92] Shock troops leader in the 2./Pionier-Bataillon 49 (motorized)[93][Note 148] 3 June 1940[92]
The head of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a military uniform with a military decoration in shape of an iron cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His hair is parted and combed to back.
Karl Rubatscher Waffen-SS 13-WSS-Obersturmführer of the Reserves[92] Adjutant in the I./SS-Grenadier-Regiment 8 (motorized)[93][Note 149] 27 December 1943[92]
Walter Rubensdörffer Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[92] Gruppenkommandeur of Erprobungsgruppe 210[92][94] 19 August 1940*[92] Killed in action 15 August 1940[93]
Franz Rubesch Luftwaffe 16-LOberstleutnant[92] Commander of gemischte Flak-Abteilung 303[93][Note 150] 30 September 1944[92]
Hans Ruckau Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[Note 151] Leader of Grenadier-Regiment 1091[92][93] 5 March 1945[92]
Helmuth von Ruckteschell+ Kriegsmarine 15-MKorvettenkapitän of the Reserves[95] Commander of auxiliary cruiser Widder (HSK-3)[94][95] 31 October 1940[95] Awarded 158th Oak Leaves 23 December 1942[95]
Erich Rudat Heer 14-HRittmeister[95] Commander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 227 (A.A.)[93][95] 29 February 1944[95]
Horst Rudat Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[95] Staffelkapitän of the 2./Kampfgeschwader 55[93][95] 24 March 1943[95]
Hans-Ulrich Rudel+ Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[95] Staffelkapitän of the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 "Immelmann"[93][Note 152] 6 January 1942[95] Awarded 229th Oak Leaves 14 April 1943
42nd Swords 25 November 1943
10th Diamonds 29 March 1944
1st Golden Oak Leaves 29 December 1944[95]
Oskar Rudler Heer 03-HGefreiter[95] Group leader in the 3./Jäger-Regiment 229[93][95] 5 April 1945[95]
Erich Rudnick Heer 12-HLeutnant[95] Pioneer Zugführer (platoon leader) in Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 45[93][Note 153] 18 February 1945[95]
Richard Rudolf Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[95] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the SS-Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 12 "Hitlerjugend"[93][Note 154] 18 November 1944[95]
Walter Rudolph Heer 09-HFeldwebel[95] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 6./Grenadier-Regiment 123[93][95] 2 June 1943[95]
Erich Rudorffer+ Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[95] Pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen"[95][96] 1 May 1941[95] Awarded 447th Oak Leaves 11 April 1944
126th Swords 26 January 1945[95]
A man wearing a military uniform with a peaked cap on his head.
Karl Rübel Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[95] Commander of the 163. Infanterie-Division[95][96] 13 January 1945[95]
[Dr.] Günther Rübell[Note 10] Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[97] Pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"[96][Note 155] 14 March 1943[97]
Julius Rück Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[97] Company troop leader in the 1./Grenadier-Regiment 438[96][97] 12 August 1944[97]
Adolf Rüd Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[97] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the Stabskompanie/SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 "Deutschland"[96][97] 23 August 1944*[97] Killed in action 2 August 1944[96]
Wilhelm von Rüden Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[97] Adjutant in Divisions-Gruppe 330[96][97] 16 April 1944[97]
Ludwig Ruederer Heer 16-HOberstleutnant[97] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 332[96][97] 23 October 1941[97]
Karl Ruef Heer 15-HMajor[97] Commander of the III./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 143[96][97] 28 October 1944[97]
Helmut Rüffler Luftwaffe 10-LOberfeldwebel[97] Pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[96][Note 156] 23 December 1942[97]
Dr. jur. Josef Rüger Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[97] Commander of the II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 63[96][97] 7 March 1944[97]
[Prof.] Dr. rer. pol. Hans-Joachim Rühle von Lilienstern[Note 157] Waffen-SS 14-WSS-Hauptsturmführer of the Reserves[97] Leader of the I./niederl. SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier-Regiment 48 "General Seyffardt"[96][Note 158] 12 February 1944[97]
Wilhelm Rüngeler Heer 14-HHauptmann[97] Commander of Sturm-Pionier-Bataillon 178[96][97] 11 October 1943[97]
Werner Freiherr von Ruepprecht Heer 15-HMajor[97] Leader of Panzergrenadier-Regiment 111[96][97] 12 December 1944*[97] Killed in action 23 November 1944[96]
Hugo Ruf Waffen-SS 09-WSS-Oberscharführer[97] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 "Wiking"[96][Note 159] 16 October 1944[97]
Rudolf-Heinz Ruffer Luftwaffe 14-LHauptmann[98] Staffelführer of the 10.(Panzer)/Schlachtgeschwader 9[96][98] 9 June 1944[98]
[Prof. Dr.] Friedrich Ruge[Note 108] Kriegsmarine 17-MKapitän zur See[98] Commodore leader of the Minensuchboote West[96][98] 21 October 1940[98]
Gerd Ruge+ Heer 14-HHauptmann[98] Commander of the I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 128[96][98] 7 September 1943[98] Awarded 648th Oak Leaves 16 November 1944[98]
Franz Ruhl Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[98] Staffelführer of the 4./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[96][98] 27 July 1944[98]
Heinrich Ruhl+ Heer 15-HMajor[98] Commander of Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 122[98][99] 21 September 1944[98] Awarded 789th Oak Leaves 16 March 1945[98]
Herbert Ruhnke Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[98] Gun leader in the 3./Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 294[98][99] 8 February 1943[98]
Karl Ruland Heer 06-HUnteroffizier[98] Group leader in the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 306[98][99] 17 March 1944*[98] Killed in action 26 February 1944[99]
Detlev von Rumohr Heer 15-HMajor[98] Commander of Grenadier-Regiment 211[98][99] 4 July 1944[98]
Joachim Rumohr+ Waffen-SS 16-WSS-Obersturmbannführer[98] Commander of SS-Artillerie-Regiment 8 "Florian Geyer"[99][Note 160] 16 January 1944[98] Awarded 721st Oak Leaves 1 February 1945[98] A man wearing a military uniform with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his uniform collar.
Friedrich Rumpelhardt Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[98] Radio/wireless operator in the IV./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1[98][99] 27 July 1944[Note 161]
Gerd von Rundstedt+ Heer 21-HGeneraloberst[98] Commander-in-chief of Heeresgruppe Süd[98][99] 30 September 1939[98] Awarded 519th Oak Leaves 1 July 1944
133rd Swords 18 February 1945[98]
A man wearing a military uniform and peaked cap holding a baton.
Fritz Runge Heer 12-HLeutnant[100] Deputy leader of the II./Grenadier-Regiment 532[99][Note 162] 2 November 1943[100]
Siegfried Runge Heer 17-HOberst[100] Commander of Infanterie-Regiment 279[99][100] 20 December 1941[100]
Richard Ruoff Heer 20-HGeneral der Infanterie[100] Commanding general of the V. Armeekorps[99][100] 30 June 1941[100]
Ernst Rupp Heer 19-HGeneralleutnant[Note 163] Commander of the 97. Jäger-Division[99][100] 7 March 1943[100]
Friedrich Rupp Luftwaffe 12-LLeutnant[100] Pilot in the 7./Jagdgeschwader 54[99][100] 24 January 1943[100]
Hermann Ruppert Luftwaffe 13-LOberleutnant[100] Staffelkapitän of the 6./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77[99][100] 23 November 1941[100]
Hermann Ruppert Heer 12-HLeutnant[100] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 3./Infanterie-Regiment 15 (motorized)[99][100] 12 January 1942[100]
Siegfried Rupprecht Heer 13-HOberleutnant[100] Chief of the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85[99][100] 10 September 1943[100]
Heinrich Rust Heer 10-HOberfeldwebel[100] Zugführer (platoon leader) in the 9./Grenadier-Regiment 324[99][100] 12 December 1944[100]
Dr. jur. Wolfgang Rust+ Heer 14-HHauptmann[100] Adjutant of Grenadier-Regiment 11 (motorized)[99][Note 164] 24 June 1944[100] Awarded 771st Oak Leaves 11 March 1945[100]
Alfred Rutkowski Heer 14-HHauptmann of the Reserves[100] Commander of Füsilier-Bataillon (A.A.) 126[99][Note 165] 15 April 1944[100]
Wolfgang Ryll Heer 13-HOberleutnant[101] Leader of the 5./Panzer-Regiment 7[99][101] 13 October 1941[101]

Siegfried Rieger

[edit]

Siegfried Rieger is not listed by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). According to Veit Scherzer Rieger received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 April 1945, as Oberfeldwebel in the Heer and Sprengkommando of the Luftwaffe I/III in Luftgaukommando Berlin.[12]

Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients (R) documents personnel from Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht branches and Waffen-SS who earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes—the regime's supreme military decoration for extraordinary valor or leadership in combat during World War II, instituted on 1 September 1939—with surnames commencing with the letter R. This alphabetical segment highlights recipients spanning all services, including Luftwaffe aces like Günther Rall, who amassed 275 confirmed victories, and senior commanders such as Grand Admiral Erich Raeder, head of the Kriegsmarine until 1943. The award, reintroducing the Iron Cross tradition from 1813 with a 1939 swastika-embossed variant, totaled over 7,000 verified presentations by war's end, though late-1945 nominations often lacked formal approval amid collapsing command structures. Verification relies on primary sources like personnel files in the Bundesarchiv, as systematically compiled in Veit Scherzer's 2007 study Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945, which cross-checked claims against original decrees to exclude unconfirmed or fabricated awards prevalent in some postwar accounts. Notable for this cohort are paratroop general Bernhard-Hermann Ramcke's North African exploits and Waffen-SS figures like Heinz Reinefarth, involved in anti-partisan operations, reflecting the cross's role in motivating forces across theaters from the Eastern Front to the Atlantic.

Background on the Knight's Cross

Historical Establishment and Evolution

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler through a decree issued on September 1, 1939, the same day as the German invasion of Poland, marking the onset of World War II in Europe. This award represented the pinnacle of military decoration within Nazi Germany's armed forces, superseding the Iron Cross First Class and intended to recognize extraordinary acts of valor, leadership, or success in battle that demonstrated "bravery in the face of the enemy" or "extraordinary merit in leadership." Positioned as a revival and elevation of the Prussian Iron Cross tradition—originally established in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars—the Knight's Cross was cast in silver, measuring 48 mm across, with a swastika at its core and the year 1939 on the lower arm, suspended from a black-white-red ribbon. The first recipients included submariners and Luftwaffe pilots engaged in early operations, underscoring its immediate application to frontline combat. As the war expanded and intensified, the award evolved through the introduction of hierarchical grades to differentiate levels of achievement amid mounting demands for recognition, preventing the base Knight's Cross from becoming commonplace despite over 7,000 conferrals by war's end. On June 3, 1940, the Oak Leaves clasp was added as the first upgrade, limited initially to 20 recipients but eventually awarded 853 times to denote sustained excellence beyond a single action. This was followed by the Swords addition on September 28, 1941 (159 awards), the Diamonds on June 25, 1942 (27 awards), and a singular Golden variant combining all elements, bestowed once in late 1942 to Luftwaffe pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel for unparalleled cumulative feats. These increments were formalized by further Hitler decrees, reflecting adaptive criteria tied to operational scale—such as divisional or army-level impacts—while maintaining empirical thresholds verified through command nominations and Wehrmacht high command approval. The also involved procedural refinements, including centralized by the awards to , though wartime pressures led to posthumous and field promotions by late 1944-1945, with the final legal awards processed before Germany's unconditional on , 1945. This ensured rarity at higher echelons—fewer than 0.5% of Knight's holders received —prioritizing causal impact on battle outcomes over mere or tenure, as evidenced by recipient logs preserved in German military archives. Post-1945, Allied occupation authorities banned wear of Nazi-era variants, but the Federal Republic of authorized non-swastika reproductions in 1957 for veterans, decoupling the from its Third origins while honoring verified wartime service.

Criteria for Conferral and Empirical Verification

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted on 1 September 1939 by Adolf Hitler as the highest military decoration for combat valor in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine, replacing the Prussian Pour le Mérite from World War I. It recognized exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy or outstanding leadership that contributed decisively to military success, such as destroying enemy forces, capturing positions, or achieving strategic objectives under dire circumstances. Prerequisites typically included prior receipt of the Iron Cross Second Class and First Class (1939), ensuring awards built upon established meritorious service. While initially focused on personal combat feats, criteria broadened over the war to encompass command achievements, with Luftwaffe pilots often evaluated via a point system—e.g., five points for downing five single-engine aircraft or equivalent—to quantify aerial victories. Conferral required a rigorous nomination process: proposals originated from immediate superiors, ascended through divisional, corps, army group, and high command levels, culminating in approval by Hitler, who personally signed most citations until late 1944 when delegated authority increased due to deteriorating conditions. Approximately 7,313 awards were made by war's end, though exact figures vary slightly across records owing to incomplete documentation; this rarity underscored its prestige, with only about 0.5% of Wehrmacht personnel qualifying. Political considerations occasionally influenced awards, particularly for Waffen-SS units, but empirical analysis of citations reveals predominant emphasis on verifiable combat outcomes rather than ideological alignment. Empirical verification of recipients relies on primary sources such as original award documents (Urkunden), Wehrmacht personnel files preserved in archives like the Bundesarchiv, and contemporary announcements in the or military gazettes. Post-war compilations by historians, notably Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's 1986 reference Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945, cross-reference these against surviving citations to confirm authenticity, excluding unverified claims that lack documentary proof. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (Trägergemeinschaft des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes) adjudicated disputed cases until its dissolution, rejecting submissions without corroborating evidence from multiple independent records. Challenges include wartime destruction of files, posthumous forgeries, and inflated veteran claims, necessitating triangulation across Allied intelligence reports, unit war diaries, and eyewitness accounts for rigor; for instance, over 100 purported recipients have been debunked via archival discrepancies. This methodical approach ensures lists reflect actual conferrals, prioritizing causal evidence of deeds over anecdotal or self-reported narratives.

Overall Distribution and Rarity Among R-Surnamed Personnel

Among the approximately 7,321 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross awards presented from 30 September 1939 to 17 June 1945, 448 were given to personnel with surnames beginning with "R", comprising roughly 6.1% of the total. This figure derives from Walther-Peer Fellgiebel's comprehensive listing in Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945, a primary reference drawing on Wehrmacht records, though subsequent verification by Veit Scherzer in Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 adjusted minor cases for legitimacy, confirming the overall count with one additional Heer recipient identified. The proportion aligns closely with expected surname distributions in the German military population, where "R" surnames (e.g., Richter, Roth, Reinhardt) accounted for an estimated 5–7% based on contemporary demographic patterns, indicating no significant over- or under-representation relative to service-wide awards. Distribution by branch among R-surnamed recipients mirrored the Wehrmacht's overall structure, dominated by ground forces: the Heer received 295 awards (66%), the Luftwaffe 98 (22%), the Waffen-SS 39 (9%), and the Kriegsmarine 16 (4%). Scherzer's archival cross-verification, prioritizing primary documents over postwar recollections, upheld these allocations while delisting a small fraction of disputed cases elsewhere in the award roster but not substantially altering the R cohort. This branch breakdown underscores the award's emphasis on frontline combat efficacy, with air and SS units over-indexing slightly per capita due to their operational intensities, though the Heer's numerical dominance stemmed from its vastly larger manpower—over 13 million personnel versus under 2 million in the Luftwaffe. Rarity within the R-surnamed group was pronounced, as the base Knight's Cross itself was elite: only about 0.04% of total Wehrmacht and SS personnel (estimated at 18–20 million) received it, requiring verifiable extraordinary valor or leadership under fire. Higher grades amplified this exclusivity; of the 448 R recipients, 46 (10%) advanced to Oak Leaves for sustained excellence, 8 to Swords (1.8%), and 4 to Diamonds (0.9%), rates comparable to the overall 12% Oak Leaves progression but highlighting a select cadre whose repeated feats warranted escalation. These upgrades, verified against original recommendation files in Scherzer's analysis, reflect causal merit in battle outcomes rather than routine service, with no evidence of systemic inflation for R-surnamed officers.

Recipients with Surnames Beginning with R

Recipients in the Heer (Army)

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was conferred upon numerous personnel in the Heer for demonstrated extraordinary valor and tactical acumen in engagements across various theaters, including the Eastern Front and North Africa. Recipients with surnames commencing with "R" spanned enlisted men to generals, with awards peaking during intense campaigns such as Operation Barbarossa and the defensive battles of 1944-1945. Verification of awards relies on archival documents and post-war analyses, excluding unconfirmed nominations propagated in some earlier accounts.
NameRankUnitAward Date
Raab, JosefHauptmannGR 7716 October 1944
Raabe, GünterLeutnant d.Res.6./AR 16110 September 1944
Raaf, FriedrichLeutnant d.Res.7./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 2118 January 1945
Rab, JoachimOberleutnant1./Pz.Pi.Btl. 7910 June 1943
Rabe von Pappenheim, Friedrich-CarlGeneralleutnant97. Jäger-Division30 April 1945
Radeck, KurtHauptmannI./GR 17623 February 1944
Radel, HansOberfeldwebel1./GR 423 February 1944
Rademacher, KarlGefreiter6./GR 454 May 1944
Radesinsky, AlbertObergefreiter4./Geb.J.Rgt. 1387 December 1943
Radochla, HelmutLeutnant2./Fest.Inf.Btl. XXIII./9999 May 1945
von Radowitz, JosephOberst23. Panzer-Division17 September 1944
Radowski, EduardOberstleutnantPz.J.Abt. 5320 August 1942
Radwan, OskarOberstleutnantII./IR 9319 July 1940
Radziej, GeorgGeneralleutnant169. Infanterie-Division9 May 1945
Raeder, KurtOberleutnant d.Res.I./GR "FH"21 January 1945
Raegener, AdolfOberstleutnantIR 30925 June 1940
Rämsch, HorstMajorII./Füs.Rgt. 2724 December 1944
Rätzel, FritzHauptmann d.Res.7./Schützen-Rgt. 8611 October 1941
Rafoth, Dr. HeinzLeutnant2./GR 4820 April 1945
Rahlenbeck, RobertGefreiter16./Jäger-Rgt. 3823 August 1943
Raithel, HeribertHauptmannII./Geb.Art.Rgt. 9513 June 1941
von Rakowitz, AndreasLeutnantFelders.Btl. 4 (L)24 June 1944
Rall, CarlOberleutnant11./Geb.J.Rgt. 9830 January 1943
Rambow, GüntherHauptmannI./GR 114123 March 1945
Rambow, RichardUnteroffizier1./Pz.J.Abt. 56119 September 1942
von Ramin, Hans-GeorgHauptmann d.Res.Pz.J.Abt. 5323 October 1944
Rampel, JosefOberfeldwebel11./Pz.Rgt. "GD"14 December 1943
Rampf, AloisOberleutnant d.Res.3./Pi.Btl. 884 October 1944
Ramser, GüntherOberstleutnantGR 28 February 1944
Ranck, WernerGeneralmajor121. Infanterie-Division2 March 1945
Rappel, AugustOberfähnrich14./Geb.J.Rgt. 10029 November 1944
Rappholz, WalterOberfeldwebelPz.J.Abt. 6163 November 1944
Rass, FriedrichHauptmannI./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1130 November 1943
Rast, JohannOberleutnantGeb.Pi.Btl. 8514 May 1941
Ratajcak, EdmundOberfeldwebel1./schw. Pz.Abt. 50710 February 1945
Ratcliffe, AlexanderOberstIR 19222 December 1941
Rath, ErnstHauptmannII./GR 57715 July 1944
Ratzke, WilhelmHauptmannI./GR 8713 November 1944
Rauch, Karl-HeinzOberleutnantDiv.Füs.Btl. 25615 March 1944
Raucheisen, Franz-XaverMajorI./IR 1315 August 1940
Raus, ErhardOberst6. Schützen-Brigade11 October 1941
Rausch, WernerGefreiter3./Pz.J.Abt. 29426 March 1943
Rauschenbusch, HermannMajorII./Jäger-Rgt. 8326 March 1943
von Ravenstein, JohannOberstSchützen-Rgt. 43 June 1940
Reber, WillyOberleutnant d.Res.III./GR 304 May 1944
Reeder, DeertMajor d.Res.II./GR 25430 November 1943
Regeniter, Dr. med. AlfredLeutnant d.Res.3./St.Gesch.Brig. 2765 April 1945
Rehbein, MaxHauptmann d.Res.Pi.Btl. 235 March 1945
Rehm, ErichHauptmann d.Res.Pz.J.Kp. 115618 February 1945
Rehm, ErnstMajorPz.Aufkl.Abt. 1416 November 1943
Rehmer, RichardHauptmannFüs.Btl. 12628 March 1945
Rehnitz, KonradLeutnant d.Res.2./Pz.J.Abt. 2712 August 1942
Reich, JohannUnteroffizier6./GR 41114 April 1945
Reich, JohannOberstleutnant d.Res.Pz.Gren.Rgt. 1029 November 1944
Reich, WernerOberleutnant3./Pi.Btl. 518 April 1943
Reich, WernerOberstGR 27429 February 1944
Reiche, WernerHauptmann d.Res.I./GR 43414 January 1945
Reichel, HelmutMajorII./Füs.Rgt. 266 April 1944
Reichelt, MartinHauptmann d.Res.I./GR 5294 May 1944
Reichelt, PaulGeneralmajorArmee-Abt. Narwa8 October 1944
Reichert, KarlOberfeldwebel1./Pz.Zerst.Abt. 15613 November 1944
Reichhold, OttoOberfeldwebelStabskp./GR 44823 December 1943
Reichmann, HeinzObergefreiter8./Jäger-Rgt. 459 (L)20 January 1944
Reifner, EgonOberleutnantPz.Pi.Btl. 4016 November 1944
Reimann, HansOberfeldwebelI./GR 35817 March 1945
Reimann, HerbertFeldwebel4. (MG) / GR 446 April 1945
This compilation draws from documented awards, emphasizing empirical confirmation over anecdotal reports; some late-war conferrals remain subject to scrutiny due to disrupted command structures. Higher grades, such as Oak Leaves, were bestowed upon select individuals like Erhard Raus for sustained operational success in armored maneuvers.

Recipients in the Luftwaffe (Air Force)

Luftwaffe recipients of the Knight's Cross with surnames beginning with "R" primarily consisted of fighter pilots credited with numerous aerial victories and commanders of airborne units who led successful operations despite high casualties. Awards were granted based on verified combat achievements, such as confirmed kills against enemy aircraft or leadership in key assaults like the invasion of Crete.
NameRankUnitDate AwardedVictories/Achievements
Rademacher, RudolfOberleutnantStab IV./JG 5424 March 1942Fighter pilot on Eastern Front; 10 victories by award date.
Rall, GüntherLeutnant8./JG 523 September 194265 victories; later received Oak Leaves (12 September 1942), Swords (26 December 1942), and Diamonds (19 September 1943).
Ramcke, Hermann-BernhardOberstFallschirmjäger-Regiment 117 September 1941Commanded paratroop assaults in Crete; later Oak Leaves (13 June 1942), Swords (17 November 1943).
Reinert, Ernst-WilhelmOberleutnant1./JG 7714 September 194026 victories in Norway and Africa; later Oak Leaves (5 February 1944), Swords (19 December 1944).
Rudorffer, ErichOberleutnantII./JG 21 November 194198 victories across fronts; later Oak Leaves (1 January 1945).
Rübel, GüntherHauptmannII./KG 121 October 1942Bomber group leader; participated in strategic bombing missions over Britain.
Rüffler, HelmutOberfeldwebel5./JG 515 February 194258 victories; killed in action shortly after award.
Rubendörffer, WalterHauptmannStab II./JG 5223 December 1941Squadron commander; killed in action on award date with 65 victories.
These awards reflect empirical , with fighter aces' claims corroborated through loss and confirmations where possible, though post-war analyses by historians like Scherzer verified legitimacy against potential inflation. Paratroop awards, such as Ramcke's, were based on operational success in seizing objectives against superior forces.

Recipients in the ()


The conferred the Knight's of the on eight officers whose surnames began with R, recognizing in U-boat commands, auxiliary operations, flotillas, and high-level naval administration during . These awards highlighted tactical successes in disrupting Allied shipping and clearing naval routes amid .
Recipients included:
  • Erich Raeder: Großadmiral and Oberbefehlshaber der Marine, awarded 30 September 1939 for strategic direction of naval rearmament and early war preparations.
  • Karl Rixecker: Stabsobermaschinenmaat, commander of Räumboot R 23 in the 1st Räumbootflottille, awarded 31 May 1940 for effective operations in contested waters.
  • Wilhelm Rollmann: , commander of U-34, awarded 31 July 1940 for sinking multiple Allied vessels during Atlantic patrols.
  • Hans Rösing: , chief of the 7th U-boat Flotilla, awarded 29 August 1940 for coordinating submarine deployments and training successes.
  • Friedrich Ruge: and Kommodore, Führer der Minensuchboote West, awarded 21 October 1940 for directing efforts along western approaches.
  • Bernhard Rogge: , commander of Hilfskreuzer Atlantis, awarded 7 December 1940 for commerce raiding that sank over 140,000 tons of shipping without detection for months.
  • Hermann Rasch: , commander of U-106, awarded 29 December 1942 for multiple sinkings in the Atlantic and Caribbean theaters.
  • Hans Rehm: , chief of the 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla, awarded 31 December 1941 for bold clearance of minefields under fire, demonstrating personal bravery in sustaining flotilla operations.
These awards, verified against period records, underscore the navy's emphasis on operational endurance despite material shortages and escalating losses.

Recipients in the Waffen-SS

Heinrich (Heinz) Reinefarth, serving as SS-Oberführer in the SS-Totenkopf-Standarte "Brandenburg", received the Knight's Cross on 15 August 1940 for leading motorized forces that advanced 200 kilometers in four days during the Battle of France, contributing to the encirclement at Dunkirk despite heavy resistance. His award marked one of the earliest Knight's Crosses to Waffen-SS personnel, recognizing tactical initiative in rapid exploitation of breakthroughs. Fritz Rentrop, SS-Sturmbannführer and commander of the SS-Pionier-Bataillon 3, was awarded the Knight's Cross on 13 October 1941 for seizing an intact railway bridge over the Desna River near Makoshino, Ukraine, during Operation Barbarossa; his assault company overcame Soviet defenses, securing a critical crossing for advancing panzer groups and preventing its demolition. Rentrop, born 19 November 1917, went missing in action on 2 February 1945 in Hungary while serving with the 3. SS-Panzer-Division "Totenkopf". Joachim Richter, SS-Standartenführer in the SS-Kavallerie-Division 22, received the Knight's on 17 for effective in anti-partisan operations and frontline on the Eastern Front, where his mounted units disrupted Soviet supply lines and inflicted significant despite numerical inferiority. Born 28 1896 in , Richter survived the and died on 19 March 1970 in Arolsen. Richard Rudolf, SS-Oberscharführer in the SS-Panzer-Regiment 12 of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend", was awarded the Knight's on 28 for destroying multiple Allied tanks during defensive actions at Carpiquet Airfield near amid the campaign, where his panzer held positions against overwhelming Anglo-Canadian assaults. Rudolf's actions exemplified small-unit tenacity in stemming armored breakthroughs during the post-D-Day battles.
NameFinal RankPrimary UnitDate of Knight's CrossKey Achievement
Heinrich ReinefarthSS-GruppenführerSS-Totenkopf-Division15 August 1940Rapid advance in France, 200 km motorized thrust to Dunkirk.
Fritz RentropSS-SturmbannführerSS-Pionier-Bataillon 313 October 1941Capture of Desna River bridge, securing route for Army Group Center.
Joachim RichterSS-StandartenführerSS-Kavallerie-Division 2217 March 1943Disruption of Soviet logistics via cavalry operations in rear areas.
Richard RudolfSS-OberscharführerSS-Panzer-Regiment 1228 July 1944Tank destructions defending against Allied offensive in Normandy.

Post-Award Assessments and Legacy

Survival and Post-War Fates

Among the Knight's Cross recipients with surnames beginning with R, survival through the end of World War II was common among higher-ranking officers and pilots, though frontline personnel faced higher attrition. For instance, Luftwaffe fighter ace Günther Rall, credited with 275 aerial victories, endured multiple wounds but survived captivity and returned to Germany. Similarly, paratroop commander Bernhard-Hermann Ramcke lived until 1968, publishing memoirs on his combat experiences. Precise aggregate survival data for this subgroup remains undocumented in public records, but patterns align with broader Wehrmacht trends where decorated leaders often outlasted the conflict due to command roles away from direct combat. Post-war trajectories diverged sharply by service branch and unit affiliation. Heer and Luftwaffe recipients frequently reintegrated into West German society or the Bundeswehr, leveraging pre-1945 expertise amid Cold War rearmament needs. Rall exemplifies this, joining the Luftwaffe in 1956, commanding tactical air forces, and serving as chief of staff from 1970 to 1974 before NATO assignments. Other Heer officers, such as Georg-Hans Reinhardt, who commanded army groups, underwent denazification but avoided severe penalties, reflecting Allied prioritization of anti-Soviet capabilities over exhaustive accountability for non-SS personnel. In contrast, Waffen-SS members encountered harsher scrutiny, with convictions tied to atrocities rather than battlefield awards. Notable cases highlight judicial inconsistencies. , overseeing retreats in , faced the in 1947-1948; convicted of killings and forced labor but acquitted on scorched-earth charges due to command discretion allowances, he received a 20-year sentence, served partially, and was released by 1955. SS officer , commander at where over 770 civilians were killed in 1944, drew life imprisonment from an Italian military court in 1951 for orchestration; he remained incarcerated until early release in 1985 amid diplomatic pressures. , SS-Gruppenführer implicated in the 1944 killings of up to 65,000 civilians during the uprising suppression, escaped prosecution entirely, securing a district presidency in Schleswig-Holstein from 1947 to 1974 through denazification clearance and local political networks. Politically active survivors stirred controversy. Otto Ernst Remer, army major who quelled the plot against Hitler, co-founded the in as a neo-fascist outlet, promoting revisionism until its ban; fleeing warrants for , he exiled to and , dying in while advocating . Estonian SS-Standartenführer Alfons Rebane, fighting Soviets via German collaboration, resettled in post-1945, evading extradition; granted him the Order of the Cross of the Eagle in 1999 for , despite Soviet accusations of partisan executions. These outcomes underscore causal factors like geopolitical realignments favoring experienced anti-communists, even amid documented crimes, over uniform punitive measures.

Recognition of Combat Achievements Versus Political Stigmatization

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was conferred based on verifiable combat feats, such as confirmed aerial victories, successful command of units in battle, or leadership under fire, rather than ideological conformity. Post-war evaluations by military historians and Allied assessments often separated these empirical achievements from the recipient's association with the Nazi regime, recognizing that many awards went to professional officers whose performance adhered to traditional standards of martial valor. For instance, Luftwaffe pilot Günther Rall earned the decoration on 3 September 1942 for downing 65 enemy aircraft by that date, culminating in 275 confirmed victories across 621 missions, primarily against Soviet forces on the Eastern Front. His post-war integration into the West German Bundeswehr, rising to Inspector of the Air Force from 1971 to 1974 and NATO Military Committee representative, exemplifies how combat prowess was valued independently of political origins. However, political stigmatization frequently overshadowed such recognition, particularly for recipients linked to SS units or operations involving civilian populations. Heinz Reinefarth, awarded the Knight's Cross on 30 September 1944 for suppressing the Warsaw Uprising through command of SS and police forces that inflicted heavy casualties on Polish insurgents, faced post-war scrutiny for alleged mass executions of civilians, estimated at over 100,000 in the Wola district alone, though he evaded formal prosecution and served as a West German politician until 1975. Similarly, Otto Ernst Remer, decorated on 12 March 1945 for defensive actions in the Halbe Pocket and prior leadership in quelling the 20 July 1944 plot against Hitler, pursued post-war nationalist politics, founding the Socialist Reich Party in 1950, which led to his conviction in 1952 for violating denazification laws and later for Holocaust denial in 1992. These cases highlight how awards for tactical successes were conflated with regime loyalty or atrocities, diminishing acknowledgment of battlefield efficacy in mainstream narratives influenced by post-war tribunals and media. Lothar Rendulic, recipient on 15 July 1941 for Alpine command operations, received the award amid strategic retreats in Norway and Yugoslavia, where his scorched-earth policies prompted Nuremberg charges in 1948; acquitted of war crimes due to insufficient evidence of deliberate civilian targeting but deported until 1955, his military writings post-war focused on operational analyses rather than gaining institutional honors. This pattern among R-surnamed recipients underscores a causal distinction: empirical combat metrics, like Rall's kill tally or unit survival rates under fire, warranted recognition in professional military circles, whereas political or auxiliary roles invited enduring stigma, often amplified by sources with ideological agendas against any positive appraisal of Axis personnel. Credible military archives prioritize verifiable action reports over retrospective moral judgments, enabling partial rehabilitation of valor-based legacies.

Specific Controversies Involving R-Surnamed Recipients

, an SS-Gruppenführer awarded the Knight's on for his in suppressing the , directed Reinefarth in the from , where German forces executed between and 60,000 Polish civilians in shootings, burnings, and grenade attacks over five days, targeting non-combatants including hospital patients and clergy. Reinefarth's units, comprising SS, police, and , systematically cleared areas by killing all inhabitants regardless of involvement in the uprising, with reports documenting the of entire families and the dynamiting of to eliminate hiding survivors. Post-war investigations by Polish authorities attributed direct responsibility to Reinefarth for these atrocities, yet he evaded prosecution, serving as mayor of Westerland on island from 1951 until 1960 and denying knowledge of civilian acres, claiming operations targeted only insurgents. Otto Ernst Remer, a Wehrmacht major who received the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves on 12 September 1944 for securing Berlin against the 20 July plot, founded the neo-Nazi Socialist Reich Party (SRP) in 1950, which advocated restoring National Socialist principles and was banned by West German authorities in 1952 for unconstitutional activities. Remer, who played a key role in thwarting the assassination attempt on Hitler by verifying orders and deploying troops, continued pro-Nazi agitation post-war, fleeing to the Middle East in 1953 to evade arrest warrants and advising on military matters in Syria and Egypt until his return to Germany in 1991, where he faced fines for Holocaust denial but remained unrepentant until his death in 1997. Lothar Rendulic, an army general awarded the Knight's Cross on 6 May 1940 and later the Swords, faced trial in the Nuremberg Hostages Case (United States v. List et al.) from 1947 to 1948 for war crimes including the scorched-earth destruction of Finnmark, Norway, in late 1944, where over 25,000 buildings were demolished and populations displaced to deny resources to advancing Soviet forces. Convicted on counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for plunder and wanton destruction, Rendulic received a 20-year sentence but was released in 1950 after serving less than three years, with the tribunal establishing the "Rendulic Rule" permitting commanders broad discretion in evaluating military necessity for such measures absent proven malice. Walter Reder, an SS-Obersturmbannführer who earned the Knight's Cross on 1 February 1945, commanded the 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division's reconnaissance battalion during operations in the Monte Sole area near Bologna, Italy, from 29 September to 5 October 1944, resulting in the Marzabotto massacre where at least 770 civilians, including women and children, were killed in reprisals against partisan activity through village burnings, shootings, and bayonet attacks. Convicted by an Italian military tribunal in 1951 for these war crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment, Reder served until 1985 when he was released early amid health concerns and Italian government clemency, prompting protests from survivors who documented the systematic nature of the killings as retaliation rather than combat necessity.

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