Post-war awards

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'Clock High!:

Dave Pawlikowski
Post-war awarding of Knights Cross w/ Oak Leaves?
Sun Dec 16 01:23:10 2026


I was reading about the combat career of NJG Hauptman Georg Hermann Grenier. He was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knights Cross on April 17th, 1945. He was also awarded the Nights Fighters Clasp on the same day. However, he was in Allied captivity when he had heard he was awarded.

Post war, he was issued a replacement KC w/OL. Why?? The new set has no swatstika, but what looks like a tree, and the date looks to be 1958.

The war was over, and it was a time which even today they still want to put behind them. Why would the then West German government issue this award? Or was it a Bundesluftwaffe move, since it was staffed by many officers from the wartime Luftwaffe?

I am very curious, and just a bit confused.

Thanks.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

René
Re: Post-war awarding of Knights Cross w/ Oak Leaves?
Sun Dec 16 12:51:53 2026


Dave,

I do not know about his particular career, but I think I can make some comments:

1. The war ended on the 8.5.45 and not before. Awards were often announced in POW camps. The process for the KC proposal was quite lengthy. At leats in Western prison camps the award of some decorations was announced. I do not know if they actually received the decoration (to wear). I do not think so.

2. It is forbidden to show anything with the swastika on it in Germany since WWII. Everything must not spot the swastika, including medals. Consequently new post war KCs with oakleaves as a symbol in the middle of the cross instead od the swastika were "issued" (you had to buy it yourselves) after the war.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Christer Bergström
In Western captivity
Sun Dec 16 16:37:00 2026


"At least in Western prison camps the award of some decorations was announced."

...

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Dave Pawlikowski
Thank you! n/t
Sun Dec 16 22:22:07 2026