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Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern

The War Merit Cross 1st. class with swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. klasse mit Schwertern), also know as the KVK 1 was instituted on 18-10-1939 by Hitler. Like the KVK 2, this award could be awarded to military personal as well as to civilians (m/f) for bravery which was not directly connected with frontline actions. For example for maintenance of frontline vehicles and equipment, outstanding performance by the civil defence and security tasks. The recipient had to have been awarded the KVK 2 before the KVK 1 could be awarded, but on special occasions it was possible that both decorations were awarded at the same time.

This award is identical in design to the KVK 2 with Swords, but is silver washed instead of bronze. The reverse is flat and has a large pin and hook construction. In some examples the mint mark is stamped on the reverse of the award or on the pin itself. There is a version in existence where the pin and hook construction has been replaced by a screw with a large screw cap. This version is similar to the Iron Cross 1 with screw back. In some cases the screw back is marked. One well known manufacturer of this screw back is: Glaser & Sohn from Dresden. (L/58) Some other well know manufacturers of the KVK 1 are Steinhauser & Lück from Lüdenscheid (4), Ferdinand Hoffstädter from Bonn am Rhein (8), Friedrich Orth from Vienna (15), Karl Gschiermeister from Vienna (50), Gottlieb & Wagner from Idar/Oberstein (52), Robert Hauschild from Pforzheim (56), Kerbach & Oesterheld from Dresden (62), Klein & Quenzer from Idar/Oberstein (65), Rudolf Richter from Schlag (89), Wilhelm Deumer WD from Lüdenscheid (L/11), Otto Schickel from Pforzheim (L/15), C.F. Zimmermann from Pforzheim (L/52) and Glaser & Sohn from Dresden (L/58).

The award was presented in a black box with a black filling with a slit to accommodate the pin. For the screw back version the filling was made in the shape of the screw back. The inside of the lid was covered with white silk, the outside bore the silhouette of the award in silver. The medal was awarded with a standard citation. The award was worn on the left breast pocket, just like the Iron Cross 1. It is estimated that a total of 483.603 decorations have been awarded during WWII.

Ahrens, Eberhard Dr. med. (Admiralarzt)* January 13th, 1892
† June 29th, 1945

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Grid List
NameDate of birthDate of deathAwards
Rabitz, Friedrich20-01-1879 
Rahn, Rudolf  
Raithel, Wilhelm "Willy"15-10-189400-00-1960
Rambold, Alfons03-07-191508-02-1944
Ramdohr, Walter  
Randewig, Kunibert  
Rang, Peter15-01-1914 more
Raschick, Erich15-04-188215-05-1946
Rauff, Hermann Julius Walther19-06-190614-05-1984more
Rauter, Johann Baptist Albin "Hanns Albin"04-02-189525-03-1949more
Rediess, Friedrich Wilhelm Otto10-10-190008-05-1945more
Reeder, Eggert  
Reiber, Karl  
Reich, Rudolf17-04-1898 
Reichleitner, Franz Karl02-12-190603-01-1944
Reinecke, Karl Rudolf Ernst Auguste Hermann14-02-188810-10-1973more
Reinhard, Friedrich  
Reinhardt, Fritz (Militärverwaltungsvizechef)27-09-189830-09-1965more
Reinhardt, Hellmuth27-06-190016-09-1989
Reisinger, Karl  
Reiske, Johannes  
Reissig, Eduard  
Reiter, Dr., Karl  
Remy, Karl13-11-188330-08-1951
Renz, von, Otto-Wilhelm03-11-189116-01-1968more
Requardt, Hermann  
Retter, Wolfgang (Panzerjäger-Abteilung Breslau)  
Retzlaff, Wilhelm Karleman27-03-191801-04-1978more
Reuschel, Kurt (Panzer-Regiment 15)05-07-1913 more
Rhein, Aloys  
Richter, Otto (Pionier-Führer)26-12-189300-00-1980
Ricke, Alfred  
Rieben, von, Vico  
Riecke, Hans-Joachim Ernst20-06-189911-08-1986more
Riedel, Hans-Hermann17-09-189105-02-1960
Riedel, Klaus Erhardt02-08-190709-08-1944
Riederich, Johannes (Panzer-Artillerie-Reg. 89)  
Riese, Walther26-02-189024-06-1967
Rießberger, Friedrich (3. Pz-Div.)  
Rintelen, von , Enno06-11-189107-08-1971more
Rittberg, Graf von, Karl-Heinrich22-01-191412-04-1945
Ritter, Julius25-07-190728-09-1943
Rittgerodt, Dr. , Wilhelm  
Rocholl, Heinrich18-07-1902 
Rochow, von, Willy  
Rode, Ernst August (Generalmajor)09-08-189412-09-1955more
Rodig, Heinz Wasa07-07-1909 
Roeckl, Leopold  
Roedenbeck, Walter  
Roeder von Diersburg, Freiherr, Felix  
Roeder, Manfred  
Rogge, Dr., Eberhard  
Rohrbeck, Kurt07-09-191410-07-1992more
Roithner, Johann  
Romfeld, Johann  
Rooschüz, Dr., Hans (Grossdeutschland Division)30-03-1912 
Roques, von, Franz01-09-187707-08-1967
Roques, von, Karl07-05-188024-12-1949
Rose, Gerhard Prof.Dr.med. (Generalarzt)30-11-189613-01-1992
Rosenbusch, Georg  
Rosenfelder, Walter  
Rosenhahn, Walter Erich Karl08-09-1907 
Rossnagel, Wilhelm  
Rost, von, Hans-Günther15-11-189423-03-1945more
Roth, Hans (LW-Flak-Rgt. 38)03-06-189724-08-1980more
Roth, Jakob  
Rother, Witold24-05-188827-10-1962more
Rouillon, Robert00-00-1916 
Rudnick, Martin  
Rudolf, Werner14-08-190700-00-1971
Runte, Josef  
Ruoff, Joachim (Waffen SS)01-03-191104-02-1996
Russwurm, Josef  
Ruthe, Dr., Hermann  
Rüdel, Günter15-11-188322-04-1950more
Rüttenauer, Arthur  
Rädler, Oscar  
Röchling, Hermann12-11-187224-08-1955
Röder, Wilhelm Georg (NSDAP)17-03-188028-03-1952more
Rödlich, Fritz  
Römer, Wolfgang23-06-1910 
Rösch, Rudolf11-05-189005-09-1952more
Rösch, Waldemar  
Rösener, Erwin (Waffen SS)02-02-190204-09-1946more
Röttger, Heinrich  

Sources