Hans-Joachim Förster

Hans-Joachim Förster (20 February 1920 in Groß Köris – 24 February 1945 west of the English Channel) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). He is credited with the sinking of two merchant ships for a total of plus two warships for a total of, including the HMCS Alberni and HMS Loyalty. He and the entire crew of GS U-480 were killed when U-480 was sunk between 18 and 24 February 1945 in a minefield in position 50.36778°N, -1.73611°W.

Ranks

 * Offiziersanwärter - 1 October 1938
 * Seekadett - 1 July 1939
 * Fähnrich zur See - 1 December 1939
 * Oberfähnrich zur See - 1 August 1940
 * Leutnant zur See - 1 April 1941
 * Oberleutnant zur See - 1 April 1943

Awards

 * Minesweeper War Badge (1 February 1941)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (17 February 1942)
 * 1st Class
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (18 May 1943)
 * German Cross in Gold on 12 September 1944 as Oberleutnant zur See on U-480/5. Unterseebootsflottille
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 October 1944 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-480