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. Johannes Kümmel was killed in an automobile accident on 26 February 1944 in Cisterna, Italy. He was later posthumously promoted to Oberst.
Bibliography.
Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (27 September 1939) 1st Class (20 October 1939) Wound Badge (1939) in Black Panzer Badge Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight"s Cross on 9 July 1941 as Oberleutnant and commander of 1./Panzer-Regiment 8 133rd Oak Leaves on 11 October 1942 as Hauptmann and commander of I./Panzer-Regiment 8.
