Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds for the Knight's Cross Guide

This is an identification guide for the official award version of the Oak Leaves, Oak Leaves & Swords, Oak Leaves & Swords with Diamonds, and the Gold Oak Leaves & Swords with Diamonds. The awards have polished edges and viens with textured leaves.

The Oak Leaves were introduced 3 June 1940 and Gebrüder Godet & Co. are the only "official" maker. The Oak Leaves are of two piece construction, a die stamped panel of leaves and a soldered on ribbon loop. Two varieties are known. The Type 1 awards are convex, measured 19.1 mm by 20.1 mm and weighted 6.7 grams. They are typically marked "900" and "SiLBER" over "L/50". The Type 2 awards are slightly convex (to aid in attaching the swords), measured 19.2 mm by 20 mm and weighted 6.9 grams. They are typically marked "900" and "21". In total, 890 awards were made.

The Oak Leaves & Swords were introduced 15 July 1941 and Gebrüder Godet & Co. are the only "official" maker. The Oak Leaves & Swords are three piece construction, a die stamped panel of leaves, die stamped swords, and a soldered on ribbon loop. The Oak Leaves measured 24.8 mm by 27.6 mm and weighted 9 grams. They are typically marked "900" and "21". In total, 159 awards were made.

The Oak Leaves & Swords with Diamonds were introduced 15 July 1941. These were all handmade of multi-piece construction. Gebrüder Godet & Co. produced the first 3 sets by drilling out mountings in a stamped set of Oak Leaves & Swords. These were awarded to Oberst Werner Mölders, General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland, and Major Gordon Gollob. The Oak Leaves measured 19.9 mm by 30.1 mm and weighted 9.3 grams. They are typically marked "900" and "21". Of the 3 awards produced, all are known. Production was then moved to the firm of Otto Klein in Hanau. Otto Klein produced 24 sets consisting of an award clasp (A piece) and an everyday wear clasp (B piece). The awards were made of four pieces assembled using three rivets. The award clasp was made of platinum and diamonds, measured 22.4 mm by 32.2 mm, weighted 14.4 grams, and were marked with a "k" in a circle and "900PT". The everyday wear clasp was made of silver and brilliants, measured 22.5 mm by 33.3 mm, weighted 9 grams, and are marked with "k" in a circle and "935". Of the 24 sets produced, 21 are known. In total, 27 awards were made.

The Gold Oak Leaves & Swords with Diamonds were introduced 1 January 1945. These were all handmade of multi-piece construction. Otto Klein produced 6 sets of the award (A piece) and everyday wear (B piece) clasps. The awards were made of four pieces assembled using three rivets. The award clasp was made of 18 carat gold ("750") and 58 diamonds, measured 22.4 mm by 32.2 mm and weighted 13.2 grams. The everyday wear clasp was made of 14 carat gold ("585") and 68 sapphires, measured 22.5 mm by 33.3 mm and weighted 9 grams. They are typically marked with the gold content and "k" in a circle. Only 1 award was made to Oberst Hans Rudel. The remaining sets were taken to Schloss Klessheim, where they were captured by the US 3rd Infantry Division. Of the 6 sets produced, 5 are known.

Examples of the Oak Leaves and Oak Leaves & Swords are known by C. E. Juncker, Steinhauer & Lück, and Paul Meybauer. C. E. Juncker production is marked "800" or "900" and "L/12". Steinhauer & Lück production is marked "800" and "L/16". Paul Meybauer production is marked "800" and "L/13". Examples can also be found stamped with "800", "900", or "935" as the only mark. Handmade "jeweller's copies" and "field awards" are also known.

These are probably the most extensively reproduced of any 3rd Reich awards. Because the swastica was not part of the design, production continued after 1945. Godet continued to produce their Type 2 style after the war marked "L/50". In the 1960s-70s, Godet offered the Type 2 with the "21" mark. These were quickly aged and passed off as original production, resulting in a distrust of Godet Type 2 awards without providence. Lately, die stamped Juncker "L/12" marked examples have appeared on the market with dealer supplied COAs. None of the texturing matches known original examples and 4 different texture patterns have been identified. Some reproductions are seen with a "925" silver content mark. This content mark was not used on a known original.

Providence and authenticating documentation are key when purchasing one of these awards. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original pre-1945 manufacture. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact Vern@GermanDaggers.com.

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Oak Leaves (Type 1) Gebrüder Godet & Co. Marks - "900", "L/50" "SiLBER"	Oak Leaves (Type 2) Gebrüder Godet & Co. Marks - "900", "21"
Oak Leaves C. E. Juncker Marks - "900", "L/12"	Oak Leaves C. E. Juncker Marks - "800", "L/12"
Oak Leaves Paul Meybauer Marks - "800", "L/13"	Oak Leaves Steinhauer & Lück Marks - "800", "L/16"
Oak Leaves Handmade Jewelers Copy Marks - "800"	Oak Leaves & Swords Gebrüder Godet & Co. Marks - "900", "21"
Oak Leaves & Swords Gebrüder Godet & Co. Marks - "900"	Oak Leaves & Swords C. E. Juncker Marks - "900", "L/12"
Oak Leaves & Swords C. E. Juncker Marks - "800", "L/12"	Oak Leaves & Swords Paul Meybauer Marks - "800", "L/13"
Oak Leaves & Swords Handmade Jewelers Copy Marks - "800"	Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds Gebrüder Godet & Co. Marks - "900", "21"
Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds Otto Klein Marks - "900PT", "k" in a circle	Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds Otto Klein Marks - "935", "k" in a circle
Gold Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds (A piece) Otto Klein Marks - "750", "k" in a circle	Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds (B piece) Otto Klein Marks - "535", "k" in a circle