Why was Rudolf Sinner never awarded a Ritterkreuz?

[kaki3152]

I've never understood why Maj Rudolf Sinner was never awarded a Knight's Cross, in spite of flying since 1940 with JG27. achieving nearly 40 victories and serving with JG-7.
Was it due to political views, or other reasons?

[VtwinVince]

Good question. Sinner didn't just serve with JG7, he was a Gruppenkommandeur. I corresponded with him BITD, as he served with my uncle in the Erg. Gruppe JG3 and later with JG27. If he was anything like my uncle, I can understand why he didn't get the 'Doedel'.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

There are some cases both in the LW and RAF of officers whose superiors did not pushed the papers along and kept postponing or "sitting on the documents"...Jealousy may be the correct word.

[VtwinVince]

The Luftwaffe was rife with politics, just like any other military hierarchy, so it wasn't always a meritocracy when it came to handing out gongs.

[kaki3152]

Still, it's puzzling. There were other pilots who scored less, only fought for a shorter period of time and were not in combat by 1945 were awarded the Knight's Cross. Sinner did have the DKG, an award just below the RK. Also, Sinner spent his time solely on the Western front.

[Johannes]

Hi Guys

My friend Bernd Barbas met Sinner several times. He described his personality as a "Michael Kohlhaas" type.

Moreover Sinner would appear to be anti-nazi and didn't like to do a nazi salute. But to answer the direct question about lacking a well deserved Ritterkreuz he stated "I had many enemies among the officers".

Kind Regards

Johannes

[VtwinVince]

I never met Sinner in person, but I did correspond regularly with him. He seemed to be a 'no BS' type of person who did not try to hide his opinions for political reasons.