| Ernst Bauer | |
|---|---|
| File:Ernst Bauer.jpg | |
| Nickname | "Dwarf" |
| Born | 3 January 1914 |
| Died | 12 March 1988 (aged 74) |
| Place of birth | Fürth |
| Place of death | Westerland auf Sylt |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Kriegsmarine German Navy |
| Years of service | 1933–1945, 1955–1972 |
| Rank |
Korvettenkapitän (Kriegsmarine) Kapitän zur See (Bundesmarine) |
| Commands held |
U-120 U-126 27th U-boat Flotilla 26th U-boat Flotilla |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Ernst Bauer (3 January 1914 – 12 March 1988) was a German U-boat commander of World War II. He commanded the U-boats U-120 and U-126, sinking 25 ships on five patrols, for a total of 118,560 long tons (120,460 t) of Allied shipping, to stand 22nd on the list of highest scoring U-Boat aces of World War II.[1] He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career[]
Bauer joined the Reichsmarine on 23 September 1933. He served on the light cruiser Königsberg before transferring to the U-boat arm in 1938. He served as watch officer on U-20 and U-37 before commanding the training U-boat U-120 from April 1940. On 1 March 1941, he was given command of U-126, and conducted 5 combat patrols, sinking 25 merchant ships for a total of 118,560 long tons (120,460 t).[1]
On 22 November, Bauer was aboard the auxiliary cruiser Atlantis in the south Atlantic, when she was sunk by the British heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire. U-126 crash-dived, leaving her captain behind, and after Devonshire left the area, she resurfaced to pick up survivors.
From March 1943, Bauer served as training officer in 27th U-boat Flotilla based at Gotenhafen, becoming commander of the unit in October 1944. During the last month of the war, he was transferred to command of 26th U-boat Flotilla at Warnemünde.[1]
Post-war[]
Bauer joined the Bundesmarine in 1955 and held several staff positions, before retiring in 1972 with the rank of Kapitän zur See. He died in 1988.[1]
Awards[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Destroyer War Badge (19 October 1940)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (8 November 1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 March 1942 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-126[3]
- Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht on 30 July 1941 and 15 March 1942
- War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords
- Bundesverdienstkreuz 1st Class (10 November 1971)[4]
Wehrmachtbericht references[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 30 July 1941 | In der Atlantikschlacht haben sich die Unterseeboote unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Mützelburg, Kapitänleutnant Bauer und Oberleutnant zur See Schüler besonders ausgezeichnet. [5] | The submarines under the command of Captain Lieutenant Mützelburg, Captain Lieutenant Bauer and First Lieutenant at Sea Schüler have particularly distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Atlantic. |
| Sunday, 15 March 1942 | Bei den Operationen deutscher Unterseeboote in westindischen Gewässern hat sich das Unterseeboot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Bauer besonders ausgezeichnet. [6] | The submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Bauer has particularly distinguished itselves in the operations in West Indian waters. |
References[]
- Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Korvettenkapitän Ernst Bauer". uboat.net. http://www.uboat.net/men/bauer.htm. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Busch and Röll 2003, p. 200.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 123.
- ↑ Busch and Röll 2003, p. 201.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 628.
- ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 57.
- Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer & Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939-1945 - Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 3-8132-0515-0.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2.
- Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
- (in German) Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943]. München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.
External links[]
The original article can be found at Ernst Bauer (Kapitän zur See) and the edit history here.