Claus Korth
Appearance
Claus Korth | |
---|---|
Born | Berlin | 7 November 1911
Died | 24 January 1988 Kiel | (aged 76)
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Years of service | 1932–45 1955–70 |
Rank | Korvettenkapitän (Wehrmacht) Kapitän zur See (Bundeswehr) |
Unit | SSS Niobe cruiser Köln Panzerschiff Deutschland |
Commands | U-57 U-93 Marine-Torpedo-Versuchsstation |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Claus Korth (7 November 1911 – 24 January 1988) was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and commander of U-57 and U-93. He is also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Claus Korth is credited with the sinking of thirteen ships for a total of 54,584 tons of Allied merchant shipping, including the RMS Durham Castle by mine. He was one of 40 survivors of the Niobe sinking on 26 July 1932.
Summary of career
Ships attacked
Date | U-boat | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[1][2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 November 1939 | U-57 | Kaunas | ![]() |
1,566 | Sunk |
19 November 1939 | U-57 | Stanbrook | ![]() |
1,383 | Sunk |
13 December 1939 | U-57 | Mina | ![]() |
1,173 | Sunk |
20 January 1940 | U-57 | Miranda | ![]() |
1,328 | Sunk |
26 January 1940 | U-57 | HMS Durham Castle | ![]() |
8,240 | Sunk (mine) |
14 February 1940 | U-57 | Gretafield | ![]() |
10,191 | Total loss |
21 February 1940 | U-57 | Loch Maddy | ![]() |
4,996 | Damaged |
25 March 1940 | U-57 | Daghestan | ![]() |
5,742 | Sunk |
15 October 1940 | U-93 | Hurunui | ![]() |
9,331 | Sunk |
17 October 1940 | U-93 | Dokka | ![]() |
1,168 | Sunk |
17 October 1940 | U-93 | Uskbridge | ![]() |
2,715 | Sunk |
29 January 1941 | U-93 | Aikatern | ![]() |
4,929 | Sunk |
29 January 1941 | U-93 | King Robert | ![]() |
5,886 | Sunk |
29 January 1941 | U-93 | W.B. Walker | ![]() |
10,468 | Sunk |
4 February 1941 | U-93 | Dione II | ![]() |
2,660 | Sunk |
21 May 1941 | U-93 | Elusa | ![]() |
6,235 | Sunk |
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th Class (2 October 1936)[3]
- Spanish Cross in Bronze (6 June 1939)[3]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (5 November 1939)[3]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 May 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-93[4][5]
- War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (20 April 1944)[3]
References
Citations
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-57". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-93". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Busch & Röll 2003, p. 137.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 467.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 270.
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 978-3-8132-0515-2.
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suggested) (help) - Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
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suggested) (help) - 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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