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Dr. jur. Kurt Dobratz
File:File:Kurt Dobratz.jpg
Born (1904-04-09)April 9, 1904
Died 21 December 1996 (1996-12-22) (aged 92)
Place of birth Stettin
Place of death Bremen
Allegiance Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Flag of German Reich (1935–1945) Nazi Germany
Service/branch Flag of Weimar Republic (jack) Reichsmarine 1923–1935
Balkenkreuz   Luftwaffe 1935–1943
War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945 Kriegsmarine 1943–1945
Years of service 1923–1945
Rank Kapitän zur See
Unit Braunschweig
SSS Niobe
Berlin
Hamburg
Leipzig
Schleswig-Holstein
Hannover
Commands held U-1232
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Dr. jur. Kurt Dobratz[Note 1] (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 (German language: 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—2nd Bomber Group of the 1st Demonstration Wing) and at the same time commander of the Fliegerhorst (airfield) Schwerin.[1][unreliable source?] 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.

Summary of career[]

Ships attacked[]

As a U-boat commander of U-1232 Kurt Dobratz is credited with the sinking of three ships for a total of 17,355 gross register tons (GRT), further damaging a ship of 2,373 GRT and damaging one ship of 7,176 GRT so severely that it had to be considered a total loss.

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate[2]
4 January 1945 Nipiwan Park Flag of Canada Canada 2,373 Damaged
4 January 1945 Polarland Flag of Norway Norway 1,591 Sunk
14 January 1945 Athelviking Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 8,779 Sunk
14 January 1945 British Freedom Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 6,985 Sunk
14 January 1945 Martin Van Buren US flag 48 stars United States 7,176 Total loss

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. In German a Doctor of Law is abbreviated as Dr. iur. (Doctor iuris) or Dr. jur. (Doctor juris).

References[]

Citations
  1. Schumann 2007, p. 64.
  2. http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u1232.html
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Busch and Röll 2003, p. 501.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 275.
Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer & Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939-1945 - Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 3-8132-0515-0.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 - 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Schumann, Ralf (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 des LG 1 (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-86619-013-9.

External links[]


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