 Article 2 of the enactment mandated that the award of a higher class be preceded by the award of all preceding classes.As the war progressed, some of the recipients of the Knight's Cross distinguished themselves further and a higher grade, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (), was instituted.The Oak Leaves, as they were commonly referred to, were based on the second Knight's Cross related enactment of 3 June 1940.