What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Individual German officers, soldiers and award holders.

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What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello!

I would like to know who the other woman, besides Flugkapitan Hanna Reitsch, who were decorated with the Iron Cross First Class was? In all literature and on all sites, it's always stated that two (2) women were awarded with this award, one being Hanna Reitsch. WHO IS THE OTHER?

There seems to be a large number of nurses/red cross nurses among the 20+ women who were awarded the Iron Cross 2:nd Class and I wonder if the other mystery EKI woman was one? Or... was she also a "military" person like Hanna Reitsch?

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Krollspell
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Post by Alecci »

The second one might be Air Captain Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg, 09.01.1903-08.04.1945, daughter of Michael Schiller and Margarete Eberstein, wife of Professor Alexander Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg and sister-in-law of Colonel (GS) Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg.
With kind regards
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello Alecci!

Thank you for telling me about Flugkapitän Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg. She is a new acquaintance for me. I will try to find a copy of the "Almanach de Gotha", The Calendar of German Nobility" and look her up. Those kind of sources usually cites all types of titles (nobility, military, academic) and, most importently decorations of different kinds.
If I find anything interesting on her, I will post it here in this thread.

Regards,

Krollspell
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Post by Arne »

Hi there,

The second Women appearing in some books is Else Großmann, DRK (German-Red-Cross). But it seems this is based only on a newspaper article publishe in the Front-Newspaper "Polar-Kurier" (Tromsö/Norway) from Jan. 04/45. There is no official documentation about this.

For all who want to know I include the list of female who recived 2. class:

Official:
Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch am 28.03.1941
DRK-Schwester Elfriede Wnuk am 19.09.1942
DRK-Schwester Marga Droste im September 1942
Dipl.-Ing. Flugkapitän Melitta Gräfin Schenk von Stauffenberg am 22.01.1943
DRK-Schwester Magda Darchinger, 1943
DRK-Schwester Ilse Schulz, 1943
DRK-Schwester Grete Fock am 10.04.1943
DRK-Schwester Liselotte Hensel, 1943
DRK-Generalhauptführerin und Bereitschaftsdienstführerin Holzmann im August 1943
DRK-Schwester Elfriede Gunia am 02.08.1944
Freiwillige norwegische Schwester Anne Gunhild Moxnes am 02.08.1944
DRK-Schwester Hanny Weber, 1944
DRK-Schwester Geolinde Münch, 1944
DRK-Schwester Greta Grafenkamp am 17.02.1945
Ärztin Dr. Elisabeth Potuz am 03.02.1945
DRK-Schwester Ruth Raabe am 03.02.1945
Schwester Ursula Kögel am 01.03.1945
Schwesternhelferin Liselotte Schlotterbeck am 08.03.1945

Only known from newspaper articles:
Ottilie Stephan („Das 12-Uhr-Blatt“ vom 22.02.1945, Berlin)
Leni Stalinek und Stabshelferin Hildegard Wollny („Der Angriff-Nachtausgabe“ vom 05.03.1945, Berlin)
Wehrmachthelferin Alice Bendig („Das 12-Uhr-Blatt“ vom 06.03.1945, Berlin)
Wehrmachthelferin Hildegard Bellgardt
DRK-Schwester Elfriede Muth („Berliner Morgenpost“ vom 18.03.1945, Berlin)
DRK-Helferin Rohna von Ceuern („Das 12-Uhr-Blatt“ vom 22.03.1945, Berlin)
DRK-Helferin Anna Wohlschütz

Other Sources:
3 Führerinnen des RAD/wJ am 26.04.1945 (not known by name)
1 belgische Krankenschwester (not known by name)
2 Krankenschwestern auf dem Tankschiff „Liselotte Friedrichs“ am 09.05.1945 (not known by name)

Some newer, but somewhat questionable sources:
Hausfrau Hedwig Küttel, Oderfront im März 1945
1 Krankenschwester in Berlin (not known by name)
1 ostpreußische Kradmelderin in Berlin im April 1945 (not known by name)
Mehrere Angehörige des BDM für besondere Einsätze bei Luftangriffen zwischen 1943-1945

Kannapin without telling the source:
Nachrichtenhelferin Margarete Hirsekorn im April 1945
Freiwillige Erika Stollberg im Mai 1945

Known from own written statement:
Dienstverpflichtete Eva Halm in Breslau („Neues Deutschland“ vom 26.01.1956, Ost-Berlin)

From the Webpage:
http://www.auszeichnungen-online.de/nam ... frauen.htm
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello Arne!

Thank you very much, both for your seemingly complete list of female recipients of the EK-II, and for providing me with a name on the other, mystery female holder of the EK-I! I have never heard the name of German Red Cross Sister Elsa Großmann before and I hope that I (or anyone else) can come up with som documentation or other proof of this.
I wonder if she was awarded while stationing in Norway since the article mentioning this appears to be for the German troops in Norway? As far as I know, there never were any "real" combat in Norway during the latter part of the occupation and that the Germans surrendered in May 1945 without a fight. Hopefully, some documentation will surface in the future...

With best regards,

krollspell
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello Arne!

Thank you very much, both for your seemingly complete list of female recipients of the EK-II, and for providing me with a name on the other, mystery female holder of the EK-I! I have never heard the name of German Red Cross Sister Elsa Großmann before and I hope that I (or anyone else) can come up with som documentation or other proof of this.
I wonder if she was awarded while stationing in Norway since the article mentioning this appears to be for the German troops in Norway? As far as I know, there never were any "real" combat in Norway during the latter part of the occupation and that the Germans surrendered in May 1945 without a fight. Hopefully, some documentation will surface in the future...

With best regards,

krollspell
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DRK-Schwester Großmann

Post by Politruk »

Dear Herr Doktor,

This is what I found out concerning DRK-Schwester Großmann:

Die Autoren Klietmann, Kannapin und Previtera nennen weiterhin die DRK-Schwester Else Großmann als Trägerin des Eisernen Kreuzes 1.Klasse. Diese Angaben gründen auf einem Artikel vom 04.01.1945 in der Frontzeitung „Polar-Kurier“ (Tromsö/Norwegen). Im Bundesarchiv/Zentralnachweisstelle kann laut Nimmergut diese Verleihung jedoch nicht bestätigt werden. Da keine weiteren Presseveröffentlichungen diesbezüglich bekannt sind, ist die Verleihung an Frau Großmann, in Anbetracht der Außergewöhnlichkeit einer Verleihung der 1. Klasse an eine Frau, unwahrscheinlich

This sheds some additional light on the earlier postings regarding this sadly neglected, however immensely important topic. Concerning the validity of her award, the late date should probably be taken into consideration, since it seems likely that both the Germans and the advancing Russians did cause some disruption between the archives in Kirkenes/Tromsö and Berlin. There was indeed heavy combat in northern Noreay, and the Russian Army even held Kirkenes before the end of hostilities, having completed the "Kirkeneskaya operatsiya" with, I belive, the 6:th Army and the Northern Fleet in a ground offensive combined with Soviet Naval Infantry landings.

Also, a nice photo of DRK-Schwester Elfriede Wnuk (second female to receive EKII) can be found at:

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Politica ... 29050.html

Vale!
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Post by Doktor Krollspell »

My Dear Politruk!

Thank you for confirming (as far as it's possible) DRK-Schwester Else Großmann and her recieving the Eisernen Kreuz, 1. Klasse! It's strange though, that several authors over the years of books on German military decorations, fails to mention her name besides that of Hanna Reitsch...

I was obviously not that well informed about the battles at the end of the war between the German troops in Northern Norway and the Soviet Red Army. Very interesting, the part of Soviet Naval Infantry landings against the German troops. I'll definitely look into that!


With best regards,

Krollspell
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Post by Arne »

Hi,

in the last month of the war only few field decorations as well as field promotions where reported to the personel department of the regarding forces arm.
I.e. my Grandpa recived a field promotion from Rittmeister (Captain) to Major in March 1945. It wasn't reported to the OKH, the OKH did not approve, the promotion was not valid after the war.
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Post by Alex Dekker »

About Wnuk: Did you noticed the woundbadge? And the Winterschlachtmedal? What happened to her?

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Re: What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a complement..............................

Women who received the Iron Cross 2nd Class - DRK (German Red Cross) nurse Ilse Schulz.

Born on November 12, 1913 in Geestemünde and died on October 16, 1991 in Hamburg.

Iron Cross 2nd Class on April 10, 1943 (6th award in WW II) as a DRK nurse in field hospital 200 in Tunisia

The award was for repeated bravery during her two-year deployment to the North African theater of war, most notably during a British air raid on a military hospital at Marsa Matruk.

Sources: https://www.emedals.com/a-rare-iron-cro ... =1&slide=3
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/deta ... s=1&page=1
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=5 ... 6#msg51766

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Ilse Schulz during the great speech by Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels in Heidelberg.................
Ilse Schulz during the great speech by Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels in Heidelberg.................
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Re: What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a complement..............................

Women who received the Iron Cross 2nd Class - DRK (German Red Cross) Nurse Grete Fock.

Born November 9, 1897 in Schleswig-Holstein

Awarded the Iron Cross (2nd Class) on 10 April 1943 (7th award in World War II) as a DRK nurse at the 200 field hospital in Tunis for her repeated bravery during her two-year deployment to the theater of North African war, notably during a British air raid on a military hospital in Marsa Matruk.

Sources: https://twitter.com/glockengeist/status ... 9487181824
http://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=5 ... 6#msg51766

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Red Cross Nurse Grete Fock (right) accompanied by Nurse Ilse Schulz...........
Red Cross Nurse Grete Fock (right) accompanied by Nurse Ilse Schulz...........
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Re: What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a complement..............................

Women who received the Iron Cross 2nd Class - Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch.

born on March 29, 1912 in Hirschberg / Silesia - died on August 24, 1979 in Frankfurt am Main

EK II on March 28, 1941 (1st award in WW II)
EK I on November 5, 1942 (1st award in WW II)

The awards were given in recognition of, among other things, her numerous test flights and her services as a pilot

further awards:
including pilot and observer badges in gold with diamonds

Sources: https://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic= ... 6#msg51766
http://www.heereskunde.de/index.php?id=406

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch...................
Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch...................
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Re: What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; one in colour..............

Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch!

She was decorated with the EK II (March 28, 1941) and the EK I (November 5, 1942).

Source: https://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/bio/r ... itsch.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: What woman, besides Hanna Reitsch, won the EKI?

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; a complement..............................

Women who received the Iron Cross 2nd Class - DRK (German Red Cross) nurse Greta Grafenkamp!

Iron Cross 2nd Class (EK II) on February 17, 1945

The decoration was awarded to her for her valiant work on the Breslau Fortress.

Sources: http://www.guntherprienmilitaria.com.mx ... guerra.php
https://forum.balsi.de/index.php?topic=5833.15

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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DRK Schwester Greta Grafenkamp............................
DRK Schwester Greta Grafenkamp............................
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