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Hans-Werner Kraus
File:Hans-Werner Kraus.jpg
Born (1915-07-01)July 1, 1915
Died May 25, 1990(1990-05-25) (aged 74)
Place of birth Beulwitz/Saalfeld
Place of death Wanger/Allgäu
Allegiance Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service/branch War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945 Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1934–1945
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Karlsruhe
cruiser Königsberg
U-47
Commands held U-83, U-199
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans-Werner Kraus (1 July 1915 – 25 May 1990) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and 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.

Kraus served as 1st watch officer on U-47 from January 1940 until November 1940 having replaced Engelbert Endrass. He later commanded U-83 and U-199. He was on board the latter when it was bombed and sunk by aircraft off the coast of Brazil on 31 July 1943. Captured, he was sent as a POW to the United States. Kraus was one of the 25 POWs who escaped from Camp Papago Park, Arizona, during the night of 23–24 December 1944.

Summary of career[]

Ships attacked[]

Date U-boat Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate[1][2]
12 October 1941 U-83 Corte Real Flag of Portugal Portugal 2,044 Sunk
26 October 1941 U-83 HMS Anguani Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 6,746 Damaged
17 March 1942 U-83 Crista Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 2,590 Damaged
8 June 1942 U-83 Esther * Palestine-Mandate-Ensign-1927-1948 Mandatory Palestine 100 Sunk
8 June 1942 U-83 Said Flag of Egypt (1922–1958) Egypt 231 Sunk
9 June 1942 U-83 Typhoon * Palestine-Mandate-Ensign-1927-1948 Mandatory Palestine 175 Sunk
13 June 1942 U-83 HMS Farouk Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 96 Sunk
17 August 1942 U-83 Princess Marguerite Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957 Canada 5,875 Sunk
4 July 1943 U-199 Changri-Lá Flag of Brazil Brazil 20 Sunk
24 July 1943 U-199 Henzada Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 4,161 Sunk

* Sailing vessel

Awards[]

Wehrmachtbericht reference[]

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
22 March 1942 Bei den Unternehmungen gegen feindliche Kriegs- und Transportschiffe vor der Cyrenaika hat sich das Unterseeboot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Kraus besonders ausgezeichnet.[5] The submarine under the command of Kapitänleutnant Kraus distinguished itself in the operations before the Cyrenaica against enemy war and transport shipping.

References[]

Citations
  1. "Patrols by U-83". uboat.net. http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u83.html. Retrieved 27 September 2013. 
  2. "Patrols by U-199". uboat.net. http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u199.html. Retrieved 27 September 2013. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Busch and Röll 2003, p. 225.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 471.
  5. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, p. 63
Bibliography
  • Busch, Hans-Joachim; Röll (2003) (in German). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945]. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2. 
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) (in German). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches]. Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2. 
  • Moore, John Hammond (2006). The Faustball Tunnel: German POWs in America and Their Great Escape. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-526-4. 
  • 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) (in German). 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives]. Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943. München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links[]



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The original article can be found at Hans-Werner Kraus and the edit history here.
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