- Adolf Galland
Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912–9 February 1996) was a World War II German fighter pilot and commander of Germany's fighter force ("General der Jagdflieger") from 1941 to 1945. He claimed a total of 103 victories in 705 missions and was awarded the Knight's Cross ("Ritterkreuz") with oakleaves, swords and diamonds, one of only 27 recipients of the highest German military decoration. His victory claims were all against the Western Allies.
- Hans-Ulrich Rudel
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was a Stuka dive-bomber pilot during World War II. Rudel is famous for being the most highly decorated German serviceman of the war (Hermann Göring was nominally more highly decorated, but he did not achieve his Grand Cross of the Iron Cross by combat action). Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the only person to be awarded the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions and successfully attacked many tanks, trains, …
- Erich Hartmann
Erich Alfred "Bubi" Hartmann (April 19, 1922 - September 20, 1993), also nicknamed "The Blond Knight Of Germany" by friends and "The Black Devil" by his enemies, is the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial combat. He claimed 352 enemy aircraft shot down (of which 345 were flown by the Soviet Air Force, and 260 of which were fighters) in 825 combat sorties while serving with the Luftwaffe, Germany's air force, …
- Hans-Joachim Marseille
Hans-Joachim Marseille (13 December 1919 - 30 September 1942) was a Luftwaffe pilot and flying ace during World War II. He was nicknamed the "Star of Africa". Marseille scored all but seven of his 158 victories against the British Commonwealth's Desert Air Force over North Africa. All of his victories were scored in the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
- Isoroku Yamamoto
(4 April 1884 – 18 April 1943) was a Fleet Admiral (Gensui) and Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II, graduate of Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and an alumnus of U.S. Naval War College and Harvard University (1919–1921). Yamamoto held several important posts in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and undertook many of its changes and reorganizations, especially its development of naval aviation.
- Walter Nowotny
Walter "Nowi" Nowotny (December 7, 1920 - November 8, 1944) was an Austrian-born German fighter ace of World War II with 258 confirmed victories in 442 missions, 255 victories over Russian pilots.
- Hermann Graf
Hermann Graf (24 October, 1912 - 11 April, 1988) was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. During the war he became one of only 27 people to be awarded the Knights Cross with leaves, swords, and diamonds. He served on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. He is credited with 212 victories, 202 of which were on the Eastern Front. He flew more than 830 sorties.
- Johannes Steinhoff
Johannes Steinhoff was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace of World War II, and later a senior West German air force officer and military commander of NATO. Steinhoff was one of very few Luftwaffe pilots who survived to fly operationally through the whole of the war period 1939-45. He was one of the highest-scoring pilots with 176 victories, and one of the first to fly the Me 262 jet fighter in combat, being a member of the famous aces squadron JV 44 led by Adolf Galland.
- Helmut Lent
Helmut Lent (June 13, 1918 - October 7, 1944) was an "Ace" German fighter pilot of World War II, and one of only 27 people awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He exclusively flew twin-engined aircraft, predominantly the Messerschmitt Bf 110.
- Erich Rudorffer
Erich Rudorffer (born 1 November 1917 in Zwochau, Sachsen) is a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace, one of a handful who served with the Luftwaffe through the whole of World War II. He had a total of 222 victories, fighting in all the major German theaters of war, including ETO, MTO and the Eastern Front. During the war he flew more than 1000 combat missions, was engaged in aerial combat over 300 times, …
- Gerhard Barkhorn
Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann. He flew over 1100 combat sorties and was credited with 301 victories on the Eastern Front flying with the famed Jagdgeschwader 52 alongside Hartmann and Günther Rall.
- Herbert Ihlefeld
Herbert Ihlefeld (born 1 June 1914 in Pinnow, Pommern, died 8 August 1995 in Wenningsen, Niedersachsen) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945. He claimed 132 enemy aircraft shot down, among them 9 in the Spanish Civil War 67 on the Russian front and 56 on the Western Front including 15 four-engined bombers and 26 Spitfires. He survived being shot down 8 times during his 1000 combat missions.
- Josef Priller
Josef "Pips" Priller (27 July 1915 - 20 May 1961) was a Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. He has become famous because of the publicity regarding his Fw 190A-8's single strafing pass attack on the Normandy Beaches on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), accompanied by his wingman Heinz Wodarczyk. This act was first brought to world attention by the book, and then the film, "The Longest Day", which show this, …
- Otto Kittel
Otto Kittel (February 21, 1917 - February 14, 1945) was a highly-decorated World War II German pilot, the fourth highest scoring flying ace of all time. He fought almost exclusively on the Eastern Front.
- Günther Lützow
Günther Lützow was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and a leader in the "Fighter Pilots Revolt". Lützow was credited with 110 victories achieved in over 300 combat missions. He scored 5 victories during the Spanish Civil War. He recorded 20 victories over the Western Front, including at least one four-engine bomber, and 85 victories over the Eastern Front.
- Werner Mölders
Werner "Vati" Mölders was a German Luftwaffe World War II fighter ace. He was credited with 100 victories in WWII as well as 14 victories in the Spanish civil war. He rose quickly through the ranks, and was given command of a "Geschwader" (Fighter Wing) at age 27, and promoted to "Oberst" and appointed Inspector General of Fighters at age 28.
- Günther Rall
Günther Rall is the third most successful fighter ace in history, and the most successful still alive. He achieved a total of 275 victories: 272 on the Eastern Front, of which 241 were against Soviet fighters. He flew a total of 621 combat missions, was shot down 8 times and was wounded 3 times. He scored his victories in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 'Black 13'.
- Anton Hackl
Anton "Toni" Hackl (born 25 March 1915 in Regensburg, died 10 July 1984 in Regensburg) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II.
- Walter Oesau
Walter "Gulle" Oesau (28 June 1913 - 11 May 1944) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944. He shot down 127 enemy planes in over 300 combat missions, 9 during the Spanish Civil War, 74 over the Western Front and 44 on the Eastern Front. He also rose to command the JG 1 fighter wing, which was named in his honour.
- Josef Wurmheller
Josef "Sepp" Wurmheller was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death on 22 June 1944. Wurmheller was killed in Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 171 053) on 22 June 1944 during aerial combat with Allied fighters near Alençon when he collided with his wingman Feldwebel Franzke. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and promoted to the rank of Major on 24 October 1944.
- Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel (Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel, 1891-1944) | The famous "Desert Fox" commander of the North African campaign was born in Heidenheim, near Ulm on Nov. 15, 1891. While earning the respect of both sides in WWII, Rommel became disillusioned with Hitler. Although the Nazis accused him of being involved in the abortive July 20, 1944 bombing/assassination attempt against Hitler, his active role in the plot is doubtful.
- Wilhelm Batz
Wilhelm "Willi" Batz was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace. "Willi" Batz flew 445 combat missions and claimed 237 enemy aircraft shot down. 234 victories were achieved over the Eastern front, including at least 46 Il-2 Sturmoviks, but he did claim three victories, including one four-engine bomber over the Western front. He was wounded three times and was shot down four times.
- Hans Philipp
Hans Philipp (born 13 March 1917 in Meißen, Saxony, killed in action 8 October 1943 near Neuenhaus in the Nederlands) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until he was killed in action 8 October 1943 by a P-47 Thunderbolt-pilot. It is believed that he was shot down by Robert S. Johnson. Philipp managed to bail out but his parachute never opened. Hans Philipp claimed 206 enemy aircraft shot down, the majority on the Eastern front.
- Joachim Müncheberg
Joachim Müncheberg was born on 18 December 1918 at Friedrichsdorf. After joining the Wehrmacht infantry in 1936 Müncheberg transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1938. He was then posted to "Jagdgeschwader" 234. In October 1939, Müncheberg joined III "Gruppe",Jagdgeschwader 26. He claimed his first victory on 7 November 1939, a RAF Bristol Blenheim bomber. During the invasion of France, Müncheberg claimed eight Allied aircraft shot down.
- Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer
Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (February 16, 1922-July 15, 1950) was the top night fighter ace of all time. He flew with the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. All his 121 victories were scored at night, most against British four-engine bombers. He was nicknamed "The Night Ghost Of St. Trond". Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer was born 16 February 1922 in Calw near Stuttgart. He learned to fly on gliders as a member of a Nationalpolitische Lehranstalt in 1939.
- Max-Hellmuth Ostermann
Max-Hellmuth Ostermann (born 11 December 1917 in Hamburg, killed in action 9 August 1942 near Amossovo on the Eastern front) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II.
- Kurt Bühlingen
Kurt Bühlingen was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until early 1945. He initially joined the Luftwaffe as a mechanic, before transferring to flying training during 1938-39. In July 1940 he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 as an Unteroffizier pilot.Bühlingen scored his first kill in September 1940 and was awarded the" Ritterkreuz" a year later after 20 further claims.
- Egon Mayer
Egon Mayer (born 19 August 1917 in Konstanz at the Bodensee, killed in action March 2 1944 near Montmédy) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1937 until his death in 1944. He shot down 102 enemy aircraft. All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and included 26 four-engine bombers, 51 Supermarine Spitfire and 12 P-47 Thunderbolt. His final command was Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 2 fighter wing.
- Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert
Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (born 2 February 1919 in Lindenthal) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II. Reinert flew 715 combat missions and was officially credited with shooting down 174 enemy aircraft plus 16 ground victories. He also destroyed 16 armoured vehicles plus 6 locomotives.
- Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke
Wolf-Dietrich "Fürst" Wilcke (born 11 March 1913 in Schrimm, Posen, killed in action 23 March 1944 near Schöppenstedt) was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1935 until his death on 23 March 1944. On 23 March 1944, Wilcke led JG 3 in an attack on an USAAF bomber formation near Braunschweig. During the ensuing combat, Wilcke shot down his last victory, an escorting P-51 Mustang fighter, but was shot down near Schöppenstedt.
- Robert Ritter von Greim
Robert Ritter von Greim (Robert Greim; June 22, 1892 - May 24, 1945) was a German Field Marshal, pilot and army officer.
- Walter Model
Otto Moritz Walter Model (24 January 1891 – 21 April 1945) was a German General and later Field Marshal during World War II. He is noted for his defensive battles in the latter half of the war, mostly on the Eastern Front but also in the west, and for his close association with Adolf Hitler and Nazism. He has been called the Wehrmacht's best defensive tactician. Although he was a hard-driving, aggressive panzer commander early in the war, …
- Gerd von Rundstedt
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (December 12, 1875 - February 24, 1953) was a "Generalfeldmarschall" of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war.
- Erich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein (November 24, 1887-June 10 1973) served the German military as a lifelong professional soldier. He became one of the most prominent commanders of Nazi Germany's armed forces ("Wehrmacht"). During World War II he attained the rank of Field Marshal ("Generalfeldmarschall") and was held in high esteem by his fellow officers as one of the Wehrmacht's best military minds.
- Albert Kesselring
Albrecht von Kesselring (August 8, 1881 - July 16, 1960) was a Generalfeldmarschall during World War II. One of the most respected and skillful generals of Nazi Germany, he was nicknamed "Smiling Albert" or "Smiling Kesselring". At least one source claims that Kesselring was born on August 8 1881. However, many printed sources claim that Kesselring was born 30 November 1885, as stated in his memoirs, in Marktsteft in Bavaria, Germany as the son of a schoolmaster.
- Gordon Gollob
Gordon MacGollob (16 June 1912 - 8 September 1987) was an Austrian fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe from 1938 to 1945) during World War 2. His name comes from the fact his father was originally Scottish. He changed it to become more "Germanic" sounding on joining the military. He rose to the position of "General der Jagdflieger", and was one of only 27 to receive the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.
- Günther von Kluge
Günther “Hans” von Kluge, was a German military leader. He was born in Posen into a Prussian military family. Von Kluge, being familiar with the "Blitzkrieg" concept, became a field marshal. During World War I he was a staff officer and in 1916 was at the Battle of Verdun. By 1936 he was a lieutenant-general and in 1937 took command of the Sixth Army Group, which became the German Fourth Army that he led in Poland in 1939.
- Wilhelm Bittrich
Wilhelm 'Willi' Bittrich was a Obergruppenführer (rank equivalent to Lieutenant-General) of the German SS and a Waffen-SS General during World War II. Born in the town of Wernigerode in the Harz mountains of Germany, Bittrich served as an army officer and as a fighter pilot during World War I. He joined the SS-"Verfügungstruppe" in 1934, where he served until 1939, whereupon he joined the "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler".
- Michael Wittmann
Michael Wittmann was a German SS-Hauptsturmführer (SS-Captain) during World War II, and one of the most successful tank commanders in history. He is famous for his June 13, 1944, ambush of elements of the British 7th Armoured Division at the Battle of Villers-Bocage in a Tiger tank. Wittman's crews (chiefly gunner Balthasar "Bobby" Woll, also a Knight's Cross holder) are known to have destroyed at least 138 tanks and 141 artillery pieces, …
- Hasso von Manteuffel
Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel (January 14, 1897 - September 24, 1978) was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century. He served in both of the world wars, and during World War II he was a distinguished General. He was a tank commander noted for his tactical skill and was one of only 27 holders of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. After the war he was elected to Parliament and was the spokesman for defense of the Liberal Party.