During World War II, a total of 145 Knights Cross medals were awarded to men of the U-Bootwaffe. These include:

45th was Kapitänleutnant HANS-DIETRICH FREIHERR von TIESENHAUSEN (268-+-1987), Skipper of U-331. The award was made 27 January 1942. He was the only German U-boat Skipper in World War II to sink an enemy battleship on the high seas.

46th was Kapitänleutnant Nicolai Clausen, Skipper of U-37 and U-129. The award was made 13 March 1942.

47th was Kapitänleutnant Ernst Bauer, Skipper of U-126. The award was made 16 March 1942.

48th was Kapitänleutnant Johann Mohr, last Skipper of U-124, the famed Edelweißboot. The award was made 27 March 1942.

49th was Oberleutnant Otto Ites, Skipper of U-94 and U-146. The award was made 27 March 1942. Just five months later, Ites and U-94 were sunk off Haiti. He became a doctor after the war.

50th was Korvettenkapitän Robert Zapp, Skipper of U-66. The award was made on 23 April 1942.

51st was Kapitänleutnant Werner Winter, Skipper of U-22 and U-103. The award was made 5 June 1942. Under Kplt. Winter, U-103 was one of the boats in Operation Paukenschlag, the opening thrust of the U-boats against the United States.