Günter Kuhnke

Günter Kuhnke (7 September 1912 – 11 October 1990) was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and later a Konteradmiral with the Bundesmarine. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

He commanded the GERMAN SUBMARINE U-28, GERMAN SUBMARINE U-125 and GERMAN SUBMARINE U-853, sinking eleven ships on nine patrols, for a total of of Allied shipping plus the special service vessel HMS Prunella. He commanded 10th U-boat Flotilla from January 1942 until October 1944, then 33rd U-boat Flotilla until May 1945.

Fregattenkapitän Günter Kuhnke commanded the destroyer Z-2 (D171) (formerly USS Ringgold (DD-500)) from 14 July 1959 until November 1960.

Reichsmarine (1931-1935)

 * Offiziersanwärter (officer candidate) - 1 April 1931
 * Seekadett (officer cadet) - 1 April 1932
 * Fähnrich zur See (midshipman) - 1 April 1933
 * Oberfähnrich zur See (senior midshipman) - 1 January 1935
 * Leutnant zur See (acting sub-lieutenant) - 1 April 1935

Kriegsmarine (1935-1945)

 * Oberleutnant zur See (sub-lieutenant) - 1 January 1937
 * Kapitänleutnant (lieutenant) - 1 October 1939
 * Korvettenkapitän (corvette captain/lieutenant-commander) - 1 March 1943

Bundesmarine (1955-1972)

 * Joined 16 November 1955
 * Fregattenkapitän (frigate captain/commander) - 16 June 1956
 * Kapitän zur See (captain) - 16 October 1962
 * Flottillenadmiral (flotilla admiral/commodore) - 28 January 1965
 * Konteradmiral (rear-admiral) - 1 April 1966
 * Retired 30 September 1972

Awards

 * Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse (2 October 1936)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (29 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (1 October 1939)
 * War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-28
 * Großes Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (26 June 1969)
 * Stern zum Großen Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (30 September 1972)