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. Heinrich Paepcke was killed on 17 October 1942 over the island of Malta, he was posthumously awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight"s Cross on 19 December 1942 and was promoted to Major. Bibliography.
Flugzeugführerabzeichen Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (21 September 1942) Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 5 September 1940 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 7./Kampfgeschwader 30 154th Oak Leaves on 19 December 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Kampfgeschwader 30.
