Luftwaffe Lieutenant-General Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn, the second greatest fighter ace of all time (right after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann). He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, though not Diamonds even after his 300th confirmed combat victory, on 5 January 1945. With the German defeat, he was taken prisoner by the allies while still in hospital from wounds suffered during his last mission. He was released shortly after in September of 1945 .