Career
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. The Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany underwent a series of internal discussion and controversies which led to the "Generalkrise" (Crisis of the Generals) in August 1966. Among other issues, the discussion was centred about the inner leadership of the Bundeswehr and the hierarchy of command between the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Bundeswehr.
The Inspector of the Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Werner Panitzki and Minister of Defence Kai-Uwe von Hassel resigned on 12 August 1966.
Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Generalleutnant Heinrich Trettner resigned the next day followed shortly by Generalmajor Günther Pape, who resigned out of loyalty to his commanding officers. Wehrmachtbericht reference Bibliography.