Ulrich Folkers

Ulrich Folkers (6 March 1915 in Kiel – killed in action 6 May 1943 in the North Atlantic) 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). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. U-125 was fatally damaged at 52.5°N, -45.33333°W by the British destroyer HMS Oribi and gunfire from the British corvette HMS Snowflake.

The crew of U-125 scuttled their boat with 5 explosive charges while almost alongside the HMS Snowflake and waited in the water to be rescued. Another corvette HMS Sunflower did reach the scene about this time. The commander of the corvette radioed the escort commander, Robert Sherwood, RN, in HMS Tay but was given the reply:

"'Not approved to pick up survivors'"

The corvettes HMS Sunflower and HMS Snowflake then turned back to protect the convoy leaving the men in the water. Kptlt. Folkers and his crew of 54 men died during that night.

Ships attacked
As commander of U-125, Folkers is credited with the sinking of 17 merchant ships totalling.

Awards

 * Bulgarian Order of Military Merit 4th Class with Crown (1 November 1936)
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (8 April 1938)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 January 1940)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (26 March 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 March 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-125
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 22 May 1942