During the war (1939-1945) Rudel (1916-1982) as a pilot of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) carried out 2530 air missions, (world record) mainly on the Russian front. He successfully destroyed over 2000 targets including 519 tanks, 13 aircraft, a battleship, two speedboats, 4 armored trains, 800 vehicles, artillery weapons, warehouses, etc. He survived 32 plane crashes, was injured 5 times and once, after being shot down, walked 40 km behind enemy lines without shoes. He won all the distinctions established for acts of bravery and thus a new medal had to be designed for him alone. Rudel was the only German to be awarded the highest distinction: the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.

He survived the war despite the loss of one leg and being sentenced to death by Stalin himself with 100,000 rubles. Despite his disability, he went mountaineering after the war and designed climbing equipment for people with special needs. He also assisted the Americans in aircraft design and his ideas helped in the development of the A-10 Warthog aircraft used by the Americans.