On 28 September 1941, Hitler instituted a new, supreme class of the Knight's Cross decoration for gallantry and leadership: the Oak-Leaves with Swords and Diamonds. This award would be presented to only 28 soldiers, sailors and airmen, out of the approximately 15 million who served in the German armed forces. This title describes and illustrates all 28 of those men - from fighter aces and U-boat commanders, to the youngest generals in the Wehrmacht, and field marshals in command of army groups - and including one officer for whom Hitler had to invent a literally unique award that set him apart even among the 'Diamond-bearers'.

Introduction · Awards · Recipients · Index

Gordon Williamson was born in 1951 and currently works for the Scottish Land Register. He spent seven years with the Military Police TA and has published a number of books and articles on the decorations of the Third Reich and their winners. He is the author of a number of World War II titles for Osprey.