Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves of the Iron Cross 1939. The Knight's Cross is a classic production by C.E. Juncker, Berlin. The Knight's Cross with blackened iron core and silver frame. Reverse stamped "800". The Oak Leaves are the typical version by Gebr. Godet und Co. Berlin. Very fine production in silver. Reverse left "900", right "21" punched. Lightly worn, complete with the worn original neck ribbon section, with sewn-on rubber band and attachment button on the side, length 25 cm. A piece with beautiful patina and great presence. Additionally another neck ribbon section, heavily worn. Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, production by Klein & Quenzer, marked "65" on the reverse of the pin. Worn, condition 2. Front Flying Clasp for Bomber Pilots in Gold. Base metal version, lightly worn, condition 2. Large medal bar with 3 awards: Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class. Luftwaffe Service Award for 4 Years. Commemorative Medal 1 October 1938 with clasp "Prager Burg". Additionally 2 matching ribbon bars with the 3 awards. Pilot's Badge. Early flat base metal version, reverse with maker's mark "C.E. Juncker, Berlin SW". Worn piece, the pin was replaced during the war. Cuff title "Narvik 1940", fine zinc version, without fabric backing and counter plate, condition 2-. Kingdom of Bulgaria Pilot's Badge, Bulgarian production, reverse with screw disc. Lightly worn, condition 2. 1 Complete set of insignia for a flight tunic as Major of the flying troops: Breast eagle, collar tabs and shoulder boards, plus another set, with a breast eagle made of aluminum for the summer uniform, with holes drilled on the sides for sewing. Both heavily worn, condition 2-. 1 Eagle for the white summer peaked cap, metal thread hand-embroidered version, probably an Italian production, heavily worn.
A very beautiful signed portrait photo as Major of the Flyers, with ink signature "Hitschhold", clearly recognizable in the photo the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, the Front Flying Clasp, one of the 3 ribbon bars and the EK 1! Additionally 10 more original photos of Hitschhold, one photo postcard and 2 reproduction photos.
Furthermore his ribbon bar as later Brigadegeneral of the Bundesluftwaffe, however actually worn with a Luftwaffe eagle with swastika (!).

An extensive estate of a highly decorated officer of the Luftwaffe.

Hitschhold, Hubertus
* 7 July 1912, Kurwien
+ 10 March 1966. Hitschhold joined the Reichswehr on 1 April 1930 after completing his Abitur. From April 1930 to March 1931 he obtained his pilot's licenses at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule in Schleißheim. This was followed by a six-month fighter pilot training in Lipezk in Russia. On 1 October 1931 Hubertus Hitschhold joined the 2nd (Prussian) Cavalry Regiment and became an officer cadet in 1932, and on 1 August 1933 Leutnant. In 1935 he was then transferred to the newly founded Luftwaffe to I./Stuka 163 in Cottbus. On 18 April he received his military pilot's license and on 1 October 1935 he was promoted to Oberleutnant. In 1937 he became Staffelkapitän in the now renamed I./Stukageschwader 2 Gruppe and in 1938 Hauptmann. On 1 October 1939 he became Kommandeur of the I. Gruppe in Stuka-Geschwader 1. On 21 July 1940 he received the Knight's Cross for the outstanding achievements of his Gruppe in the Western Campaign, after being promoted to Major on 19 July. After the Battle of Britain and the battles in the Balkans and around Crete, Major Hitschhold flew against Russia from June 1941. On 22 June 1941 he was shot down behind enemy lines. Only through the determination of Kapitän Freitag of the 3rd Staffel did he escape capture. Freitag landed next to the shot-down aircraft and picked up Hitschhold and his radio operator.

On 16 October 1941 Major Hitschhold became Kommandeur of Sturzkampffliegerschule 1 in Wertheim. On 31 December 1941 he received the Oak Leaves for his achievements at the front. In June 1942 he was ordered back to the front and took command of Schlachtgeschwader 1 on 18 June 1942. Based on his proposals, Schlachtgeschwader 1 became the first Geschwader to be re-equipped with the new Fw 190. On 1 February 1943 promotion to Oberstleutnant. On 10 June 1943, after the conversion of the Geschwader to the Fw 190 was completed, Hitschhold handed over the Geschwader to Oberstleutnant Alfred Druschel. Hitschhold became Fliegerführer with Luftflotte 2 in Sardinia and Italy.

After the death in action of Dr. Ernst Kupfer, Hitschhold was appointed by the OKL as General der Schlachtflieger. Under his leadership, production of the Ju 87 was phased out and the Schlachtgeschwader were converted to the Fw 190. On 1 July 1944 he became Oberst and on 1 January 1945 Generalmajor.

After the war transferred to the Bundesluftwaffe as Brigadegeneral. Hubertus Hitschhold lived at Starnberger See and died unexpectedly on 10 March 1966.

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Luftwaffe Large Estate from the Possession of Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves Recipient and Later Generalmajor of the Luftwaffe Hubertus Hitschhold

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves represents the second-highest grade of a five-tier decoration system instituted on 1 September 1939 by Adolf Hitler. This decoration replaced older Prussian merit awards and bridged the gap between the Iron Cross First Class and the Grand Cross. While previous renewals of the Iron Cross (1870, 1914) had been Prussian awards, the 1939 version was the first honorary sign of the entire German state.

The award system evolved as the war progressed: following the Knight's Cross (1 September 1939) came the Oak Leaves (3 June 1940), Swords and Diamonds (28 September 1941), and finally the Golden Oak Leaves (29 December 1944). Hermann Göring received the first Knight's Cross in September 1939 and later in July 1940 the Grand Cross as its sole recipient, making the Knight's Cross the de facto highest attainable award.

The present Knight's Cross was manufactured by C.E. Juncker, Berlin, one of the authorized producers alongside Steinhauer & Lück, Deschler, C.F. Zimmermann, and others. The three-piece construction features a blackened iron core with a silver frame of 800-grade silver, identifiable by the reverse stamp “800”. The cross measures approximately 48mm and displays the typical cross pattée form, with narrow center and broader perimeter. The obverse shows a mobile swastika in the center and the year “1939” on the lower arm.

The Oak Leaves represent the typical execution by the firm Gebr. Godet & Co., Berlin, which was officially authorized as the sole manufacturer for Oak Leaves. Crafted in 900-grade silver, it bears reverse markings “900” on the left and “21” on the right, with “21” identifying Godet as manufacturer. The three-leaf cluster measures approximately 20mm in width and 19mm in height.

Award criteria for the Knight's Cross required extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership during World War II across all ranks. A recipient had to already hold the Iron Cross First Class, though both could be awarded concurrently. Unit commanders could be recognized for exemplary unit conduct. Specific criteria existed for different service branches: U-boat commanders could qualify by sinking 100,000 tons of shipping, while Luftwaffe pilots could qualify by accumulating 20 points (one point per single-engine aircraft shot down). The Oak Leaves were awarded to Knight's Cross recipients who continued to demonstrate exceptional bravery or military success.

Hubertus Hitschhold (7 July 1912 to 10 March 1966), born in Kurwien, joined the Reichswehr on 1 April 1930. From April 1930 to March 1931, he acquired his pilot licenses at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule in Schleißheim, followed by a six-month fighter pilot training at Lipetsk Air Base in Soviet Russia. After his transfer to the newly founded Luftwaffe in 1935, he became Staffelkapitän in 1937 and Hauptmann in 1938. On 1 October 1939, he assumed command of the I. Gruppe of Sturzkampfgeschwader 1.

Hitschhold received the Knight's Cross on 21 July 1940 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of I./Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann” for outstanding achievements during the Battle of France, including missions against Fort Eben Emael, destroying French positions at Gembloux, operations against British shipping at Dunkirk, and destroying enemy batteries during the Aisne river crossing.

The Oak Leaves, the 57th award of this grade, were presented on 31 December 1941 for successes during the Balkans campaign and Operation Barbarossa. Particularly noteworthy were his contributions supporting the Rupel pass breakthrough and during the Battle of Crete, where his unit sank the British destroyers Greyhound (22 May 1941), Kelly and Kashmir (23 May 1941). On 22 June 1941, the first day of Operation Barbarossa, he was shot down behind enemy lines but rescued through the determination of Leutnant Freitag, who landed beside the downed aircraft.

From 16 October 1941 to June 1942, Hitschhold commanded Sturzkampffliegerschule 1 in Wertheim. On 18 June 1942, he assumed command of Schlachtgeschwader 1 and successfully advocated for conversion to the new Fw 190. After his promotion to Oberstleutnant on 1 February 1943 and transfer of the Geschwader on 10 June 1943, he became Fliegerführer with Luftflotte 2 in Sardinia and Italy. Following the death of Dr. Ernst Kupfer, the OKL appointed him General der Schlachtflieger. Under his leadership, production of the Ju 87 was phased out while Schlachtgeschwader converted to the Fw 190. He was promoted to Oberst on 1 July 1944 and to Generalmajor on 1 January 1945.

The German Federal Archives substantiate 7,161 officially bestowed Knight's Crosses and 863 Oak Leaves awards, though the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) claims 882 recipients. The Oak Leaves were awarded seven times in 1940, fifty times in 1941, 111 times in 1942, 192 times in 1943, 328 times in 1944, and 194 times in 1945. The Swords were awarded 147 times, Diamonds twenty-seven times, and the Golden Oak Leaves only once to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944.

After the war, Hitschhold was accepted into the Bundesluftwaffe as Brigadegeneral. According to the Law on Titles, Orders and Honorary Signs of 26 July 1957, wearing of the decoration in the Federal Republic of Germany is only permitted without National Socialist emblems. The collection notes that Hitschhold wore a ribbon bar as Brigadegeneral with a Luftwaffe eagle bearing a swastika, indicating his continued attachment to his wartime decorations. He lived at Starnberger See and died on 10 March 1966 in Söcking, where he is buried.