 A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945.This number is based on the acceptance by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia).