Knights of the Battle of Britain

Knights of the Battle of Britain
Author :
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Total Pages : 361
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781526726520
ISBN-13 : 1526726521
Rating : 4/5 (521 Downloads)

Book Synopsis Knights of the Battle of Britain by : Chris Goss

Download or read book Knights of the Battle of Britain written by Chris Goss and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2018-06-30 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knights Cross of the Iron Cross), known simply as the Ritterkreuz (Knights Cross), was the highest German military award of the Second World War. Instituted on 1 September 1939, to coincide with the German invasion of Poland, it was awarded for leadership, valor or skill. As the war progressed, higher variants were instituted, namely the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, and the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds. Similar in design, but larger, than the Eiserne Kreuz (Iron Cross), and worn around the neck as opposed to on the breast, the border and hanging loop on the Knights Cross were made of pure silver which was marked ‘800. The award was made by a number of German manufacturers. On 3 June 1940, the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuz mit Eichenlaub (Knights Cross with Oak Leaves) was instituted, by which time 124 Rittterkreuz had been awarded to all arms of the German military, of which forty-nine had been awarded to Luftwaffe personnel. The first recipient was Generalfeldmarschal Hermann Göring on 30 September 1939; the first Luftwaffe operational Luftwaffe aircrew member recipient, and the fifth overall, was Oberst Robert Fuchs, Kommodore of Kampfgeschwader 26. His award was made on 6 April 1940. The first fighter pilot to receive the Ritterkreuz was Hauptmann Werner Mölders of III Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 53 (III./JG 53) on 29 May 1940. Only three Luftwaffe officers would receive the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub in 1940, and all of them were fighter pilots – Mölders on 21 September 1940 (he was then Geschwader Kommodore of JG 51), Major Adolf Galland (Kommodore of JG 26) on 24 September 1940, and Hauptmann Helmut Wick (Kommandeur of I Gruppe/JG 2) on 6 October 1940. Throughout the summer of 1940, many more Luftwaffe members, be they serving on fighter, bomber, dive bomber or reconnaissance units, would receive the Ritterkreuz. Some of these awards were made posthumously, whilst others would learn of their awards whilst a prisoner of war in Britain or, later, in Canada. In this book, the renowned aviation historian Chris Goss provides biographical details of all operational members of the Luftwaffe who received the Ritterkreuz during 1940 or were awarded it as a result of their actions in what became known as the Battle of Britain.


Knights of the Battle of Britain Related Books

Knights of the Battle of Britain
Language: en
Pages: 361
Authors: Chris Goss
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2018-06-30 - Publisher: Pen and Sword

GET EBOOK

The Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knights Cross of the Iron Cross), known simply as the Ritterkreuz (Knights Cross), was the highest German military award o
Acts Of War
Language: en
Pages: 472
Authors: Richard Holmes
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 1989-08-04 - Publisher: Simon and Schuster

GET EBOOK

This wide-ranging and exhaustively researched book is an attempt to grasp the very nature of war. It takes us through the soldier's experience in its entirety -
The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank
Language: en
Pages: 36
Authors: Steve Parker
Categories: Juvenile Nonfiction
Type: BOOK - Published: 2007-07 - Publisher: Capstone

GET EBOOK

Provides an in-depth look at the M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, with detailed cross-section diagrams, photographs, and additional facts and information.
Palmistry
Language: en
Pages: 244
Authors: Peter Hazel
Categories: Body, Mind & Spirit
Type: BOOK - Published: 2001 - Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

GET EBOOK

Your hand is a map reflecting your personality, your past, and your personal potential. This book's unique illustrated and interactive format is designed to giv
Mythical Battle
Language: en
Pages: 237
Authors: Ashley Hern
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2017-11-29 - Publisher: The Crowood Press

GET EBOOK

The Battle of Hastings is one of the key events in the history of the British Isles. This book is not merely another attempt to describe what happened at Hastin