Re: Last Ritterkreuz
Dear Jochen Prien,
Was your father's name Peter Prien? Oberleutnant d. R. Prien was commander of the Stabskp./2.Pz. Div. and was awarded the Knight's Cross on May,9,1945. He also had two "Tank Destruction Badges". The information I got is from "Tank Killers-History of the Tank Destruction Badge" book.
I myself is a Knight's Cross Holder fan. I also don't care if the holder is officially or unofficially awarded the high neck decoration. As long as he deserved it and lived to wear it is very good to me!
I knew there were plenty of Luftwaffe pilots that were recommended for the Knight's Cross near the end of the WWII but final approval from the higher ups wasn't available. Quite a few of them were unofficially given the neck decoration anyway.
Sincerely,
Edward L. Hsiao
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