Albrecht Achilles (Korvettenkapitän)

Albrecht Achilles (25 January 1914 – 27 September 1943) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and commander of GS U-161 (1941). 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.

Military career
Albrecht Achilles began his naval career with the Reichsmarine on 8 April 1934 as a member "Crew 1934" (the incoming class of 1934).. He transferred to the U-boat service in April 1940. For one year, he served as a commander trainee as first and second watch officer on board various U-boats, including three patrols on GS U-66 (1940) under the command of Robert-Richard Zapp, before taking over command of U-161 from Kapitänleutnant Hans Witt.

Albrecht Achilles and his entire crew were killed in action when U-161 was sunk northeast of Bahia on 27 September 1943 by depth charges from a U.S. Navy Martin PBM Mariner (VP-74/P-2).

On 16 November 1940 he married Chirstel Busz. The marriage produced two children, daughter Christiane born 1941 and a posthumous son Konrad born 1944.

Ships attacked
As commander of U-161, Achilles is credited with the sinking of 12 merchant ships totalling, damaging another ship of that it had to be considered a total loss and damaging five further ships of. He also sank the United States Lighthouse Service ship Acacia of 1130 MT and damaged the British light cruiser HMS Phoebe (43) 5,450 MT.

Awards

 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (8 April 1938)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (7 August 1941)
 * 1st Class (5 April 1942)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (7 August 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (16 January 1943) as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-161
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 12 March 1942

Dates of rank

 * Seekadett on 26 September 1934
 * Obermatrose on 1 October 1934
 * Oberstabsmatrose on 1 January 1935
 * Fähnrich zur See on 1 July 1935
 * Oberfähnrich zur See on 1 January 1937
 * Leutnant zur See on 16 April 1937
 * Oberleutnant zur See on 13 April 1939
 * Kapitänleutnant on 14 August 1941
 * Korvettenkapitän on 5 April 1945(posthumously)