Kurt Dobratz

'''Dr. jur. Kurt Dobratz''' (9 April 1904 – 21 December 1996) 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.

From 1 July 1939 until 15 May 1940 Major Dobratz was Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG 1&mdash;2nd Bomber Group of the 1st Demonstration Wing) and at the same time commander of the Fliegerhorst (airfield) Schwerin. Serving on the staff of the Befehlshaber der U-Boote he succeeded Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg as the last Kommandierender Admiral der U-Boote (Commanding Admiral of the U-boats) during the final days of World War II.

Ships attacked
As a U-boat commander of GS U-1232 Kurt Dobratz is credited with the sinking of three ships for a total of, further damaging a ship of and damaging one ship of  so severely that it had to be considered a total loss.

Awards

 * Combined Pilots-Observation Badge (1 October 1935)
 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award (2 October 1936)
 * Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Bombers in Bronze (15 June 1941)
 * Spanish Cruz blanca II. Clase al mérito militar (18 February 1942)
 * Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty 3rd Class (27 February 1942)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (18 August 1941)
 * 1st Class (18 August 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 January 1945 as Kapitän zur See and commander of U-1232
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (15 February 1945)
 * U-boat Front Clasp (1945)