- Period:
 - Second World War (1939-1945)
 - Rank:
  - Oberstleutnant (Wing Commander)
 - Unit:
  - Kommodore Kampfgeschwader 4 "General Wever" 
 - Awarded on:
  - June 9th, 1944
 
Awarded for his personal and command achievements while leading Kampfgeschwader units of the Luftwaffe, flying mostly on the Eastern front but also briefly in the Mediterranean. Flew a total of about 350 combat missions during the war, almost all of which were before his reception of the Knight’s Cross.