| Account limit of 2000 requests per hour exceeded. |
Who was the highest decorated German soldier of ww2?
it can be Wehrmacht,Kreigsmarine, SS or Luftwaffe.
The 'highest decorated' (highest award) may be different from the 'most highly decorated' (highest number of awards). Here is a stab at the answer:
Knights Cross with golden oak leaves swords and diamonds
The highest medal of all, it was supposed to be awarded after the end of World War 2 to Germany's 12 greatest war heroes, but Adolf Hitler felt that the continuous outstanding achievements and heroism of Germany's greatest war hero, dive bomber ace Hans Ulrich Rudel, were such that he deserved to receive this award sooner, so in January 1945 Rudel became the only recipient of this highest medal.
Rudel's war record is simply amazing in any scale. Like some other great war heroes, he had a very late start. He began the war as a reconnaissance pilot and was training to convert to a dive bomber pilot during the invasion of France. His warrior career finally began with the invasion of Russia in June 1941, and he served in the Russian front until the end of the war, except for short periods in Germany as instructor and test pilot.
In the next four years he flew a total of 2530 combat sorties in which he destroyed 519 Russian tanks, 150 artillery guns, 1000 vehicles, a battleship, two cruisers, a destroyer, 70 landing craft, and also shot down 11 aircraft. He was shot down 30 times, lost a leg, which didn't stop him at all, and performed numerous acts of sacrifice and heroism. Rudel had the rare combination of great warrior skills and tons of luck, and years of intense daily fighting to fully exploit them, which is how he reached such an amazing record for which he became the highest decorated German war hero.
http://www.2worldwar2.com/knights-cross.htm
Update: Here is a discussion of your question http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5401&messageID=90157
 |
 10 x ORIGINAL WW2 GERMAN WEHRMACHT PHOTO LOT LUFTWAFFE CARS SOLDIERS etc $9.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 16h 54m |
 Afrika Korps DAK Luftwaffe Rare green tropical belt Orig WW2 German Wehrmacht $129.00 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 23m |
 Afrika Korps DAK trousers name Kohl WW2 German army tropical Wehrmacht Luftwaffe $79.00 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 31m |
 GERMAN ARMY WW2 BREECHES GREY WOOLEN WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE OFFICER $345.00 Time Remaining: 2d 3h 40m Buy It Now for only: $345.00 |
 Wehrmacht Fallschirmjger Panzer Luftwaffe UBoat Photos $399.95 Time Remaining: 4d 9h 33m Buy It Now for only: $399.95 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT photo Motorcycle Luftwaffe Officer Army Motorrad $8.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 9m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT Large photo Luftwaffe Bomber Plane Junkers JU 52 $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 14m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT photo Luftwaffe Plane Messerschmitt Bf 109 Pilot $12.00 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 36m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT photo Luftwaffe Destroyed Plane Messerschmitt Bf 109 $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 38m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT photo Luftwaffe Destroyed Plane Messerschmitt Me 262 $13.00 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 40m Buy It Now for only: $13.00 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT Large photo Luftwaffe Plane Messerschmitt Bf 109 $8.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 52m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT Large photo Luftwaffe Zeppelin Under Construction $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 20h 52m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT Large photo Luftwaffe Plane Heinkel He 111 Cockpit $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 29m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT photo Luftwaffe Destroyed Plane Messerschmitt Bf 109 $4.99 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 33m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 |
 Copy WW2 German WEHRMACHT Large photo Luftwaffe Destroyed Plane Heinkel He 111 $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 22h 53m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN ARMY MILITARY WEHRMACHT AIR FORCE LUFTWAFFE BREADBAG WITH STRAP $60.00 Time Remaining: 4d 23h 13m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN AIR FORCE LUFTWAFFE WEHRMACHT MILITARY BREADBAG BROTBEUTEL STRAP $20.00 Time Remaining: 4d 23h 19m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 WW2 WWII GERMAN WEHRMACHT WAR MERIT CROSS RIBBON HEER LUFTWAFFE KRIEGSMARINE SS $10.00 Time Remaining: 4d 23h 29m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WW2 WWII GERMAN ARMY MILITARY WEHRMACHT HEER KRIEGSMARINE LUFTWAFFE SS GOGGLES $12.00 Time Remaining: 5d 49m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 WW2 WWII GERMAN ARMY MILITARY WEHRMACHT HEER KRIEGSMARINE LUFTWAFFE SS GOGGLES $12.00 Time Remaining: 5d 50m Buy It Now for only: $12.00 |
 origWEHRMACHT brad bag sling LUFTWAFFE $15.00 Time Remaining: 5d 1h 3m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 |
 WW2 German Wehrmacht Luftwaffe Smoking Pipe RARE $29.99 Time Remaining: 5d 8h 19m |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY ARMY HEER LUFTWAFFE SS WEHRMACHT K98K RUBBER MUZLE CAPS $25.00 Time Remaining: 6d 12m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN ARMY MILITARY WEHRMACHT AIR FORCE LUFTWAFFE BREADBAG WITH STRAP $60.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 37m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN ARMY MILITARY WEHRMACHT AIR FORCE LUFTWAFFE BREADBAG WITH STRAP $60.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 38m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN ARMY MILITARY WEHRMACHT AIR FORCE LUFTWAFFE BREADBAG WITH STRAP $60.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 39m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 WWII WW2 KRIEGSMARINE WEHRMACHT MILITARY HEER LUFTWAFFE GERMAN NAVY NAVAL FORKS $60.00 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 52m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 50m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 57m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 2m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 3m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 34m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 42m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 44m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 53m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 54m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 55m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 55m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 56m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 56m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 57m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 57m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 58m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 58m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 59m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 21h 59m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 1m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 1m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 2m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 2m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 WWII WW2 GERMAN MILITARY WEHRMACHT LUFTWAFFE SOLDIER POSTCARD PORTRAIT PHOTO $10.00 Time Remaining: 6d 22h 2m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 Original WWII Officers Luftwaffe Wehrmacht Leather Gloves Suede Deer Skin 8 1 2 $1.00 Time Remaining: 7d 19h 18m |
 GERMAN WWII WEHRMACHT LATE WAR LUFTWAFFE RUCKSACK TO Y STRAPS RBN NUMBER $51.99 Time Remaining: 14d 7h 30m Buy It Now for only: $51.99 |
 ORIGINAL 1938 GERMAN LUFTWAFFE WEHRMACHT AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL HANDBOOK $74.99 Time Remaining: 16d 16h 4m Buy It Now for only: $74.99 |
 WW2 German Wehrmacht Luftwaffe Personal Comb RARE $29.99 Time Remaining: 19d 6h 9m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 |
 German WWII Wehrmacht Luftwaffe Gefreiters Rank Chevron $25.99 Time Remaining: 21d 6h 21m Buy It Now for only: $25.99 |
 WWII German RP Army Soldier Wehrmacht Luftwaffe Original Soldiers Photo $2.99 Time Remaining: 23d 18h 10m Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
 German Air Force Luftwaffe Wehrmacht WWII 46 Photos 18 $29.95 Time Remaining: 25d 19h 46m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 German Air Force Luftwaffe Wehrmacht WWII 44 Photos 21 $29.95 Time Remaining: 25d 19h 54m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 German Air Force Luftwaffe Wehrmacht WWII 47 Photos 20 $29.95 Time Remaining: 25d 19h 55m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 German Air Force Luftwaffe Wehrmacht WWII 46 Photos 19 $29.95 Time Remaining: 25d 19h 55m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German ACE Pilot Luftwaffe Hans Ulrich Rudel $6.99 Time Remaining: 26d 13h 25m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German Pilot Luftwaffe Adolf Galland Grosse Schlag $5.99 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 4m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German Ass Pilot Luftwaffe Philipp Hans Oberstleutnant $5.99 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 7m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German Ass Pilot Luftwaffe Werner Mlders Molders $5.99 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 16m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German Pilot Luftwaffe Philipp Hans $5.99 Time Remaining: 26d 15h 26m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German ACE Pilot Luftwaffe Rolf Pingel $6.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 2m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German ACE Pilot Luftwaffe Walter Oesau $6.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 27m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German ACE Pilot Luftwaffe Walter Oesau $6.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 31m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German ACE Pilot Luftwaffe M Ncheberg Joachim $6.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 34m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
 WWII PHOTO Wehrmacht German ACE Pilot Luftwaffe M Ncheberg Joachim $6.99 Time Remaining: 29d 15h 36m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 |
