The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gerhard Stüdemann is credited with destroying more than 50 tanks in 996 missions. Bibliography.
Flugzeugführerabzeichen Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "900" Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (13 July 1941) 1st Class (20 August 1941) Eastern Front Medal Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (2 April 1942) German Cross in Gold on 21 August 1942 as Leutnant in the I./Schlachtgeschwader 77 Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 9./Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 813th Oak Leaves on 28 March 1945 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Schlachtgeschwader 77.
