CREATE TABLE table_203_71 (id DECIMAL, "name" TEXT, "service" TEXT, "rank" TEXT, "role and unit" TEXT, "date of award" TEXT, "notes" TEXT, "image" DECIMAL)

how many individuals were awarded the knight 's cross of the iron cross before 1940 ?
SELECT COUNT("name") FROM table_203_71 WHERE "date of award" < 1940
SELECT COUNT("name") FROM "table_203_71" WHERE "date of award" < 1940