aiming gunner. Ringkanone (Rk) – built-up gun Ritter – knight, cavalier. Ritterkreuz – "knight's cross", usual abbreviated name for the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (see next entry) Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes – Knight's Cross (of the Iron Cross); award for valorous service for those who had already received the Iron Cross. Highest award class for bravery under fire or military leadership. 7318 of these were awarded during the war. Previous recipients of the Ritterkreuz would be awarded a higher degree of the same award, and then successively higher ones. The higher degrees are, in ascending order: Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub – "knight's cross with oak leaves". 890 recipients during the war. Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub und Schwerten – "knight's cross with oak leaves and swords". 159 recipients total, plus one honorary recipient (Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto) Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwerten und Brillanten – "knight's cross with oak leaves, swords, and diamonds": 27 recipients total. Ritterkreuz mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten: "knight's cross with golden oak leaves, swords, and diamonds": only one recipient. Ritterkreuzauftrag, "Knight's Cross job" – soldiers' slang for a suicidal mission. Ritterkreuzträger – a holder of the Knight's Cross. Rittmeister – Captain, used instead of Hauptmann in the cavalry, reconnaissance, and horse-transport waffen. Rollkommando – small motorized (rolling) task force (nonmilitary: band for hit-and-run crime) Rommelspargel – "Rommel's asparagus"; slanted and barb-wired poles placed in key places behind the Atlantic Wall with the intention of preventing paratroop and glider landings. Rotes Kreuz – Red Cross. Rotte – two of a kind, especially ships, boats or aircraft. Also the 'file' in rank and file Rottenführer – leader of a 'rotte', also a Nazi rank Rottenknecht – subordinate in a 'rotte' Rottenmann – see 'Rottenknecht' Rottmeister – first in a file of soldiers. Originally, soldiers would file 10 – 25 deep, but in the 19th century two files were standard, thus a 'rotte' described two of a kind. Also a (non-commissioned) officer in charge of a detachment of 50 cavalry. RSO – the Raupenschlepper Ost fully tracked artillery towing vehicle. Rückzug – retreat. S S-mine – a common type of anti-personnel landmine. SA – see Sturmabteilung. Sachbearbeiter – clerk die Sahnefront – (the cream front) occupied Denmark during World War II, a lot of food, minuscule fighting. Sanitäter ('Sani') – combat medic Sanitätsoffizier – Medical officer Sanitätsunteroffizier – Medical NCO Sanka – acronym for Sanitätskraftfahrtzeug, a term for German field ambulances.