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Nowotny was the fifth-greatest fighter ace of all time, with 258 victories. Nowotny was awarded the Knights Cross with Diamonds, the greatest honor of a fighter ace.
Nowotny personally trained Kittel, another stellar ace who surpassed their teacher to obtain 264 victories, the fourth highest-scoring ace of all time. Kittel was awarded the Knights Cross with Swords, the second-highest honor of a fighter ace.
An anecdote from Hartmann: he was bitter for years that his comrades didn't achieve higher honors. He always thought that Kittel and Barkhorn (who achieved the Swords with 302 victories) deserved the Diamonds, and believed that that Krupi (who, with 197 victories, achieved the Oaks) deserved the Swords. He fiercely fought for his compatriots to be recognized with higher decorations for their accomplishments.
