Waldemar Kophamel | |
---|---|
Born | August 16, 1880 |
Died | November 4, 1934 (aged 54) |
Place of birth | Graudenz |
Place of death | Plön |
Allegiance | German Empire |
Service/branch | Kaiserliche Marine |
Years of service | 1898 - 1920 |
Rank | Fregattenkapitän |
Commands held |
U-35, Nov 3, 1914 – Nov 12, 1915 U-140, Mar 28, 1918 – Nov 11, 1918 |
Battles/wars | U-boat Campaign (World War I) |
Awards |
Iron Cross 1st class Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern Order of the Red Eagle 4th class Pour le Mérite |
Commander Waldemar Kophamel (August 16, 1880 – November 4, 1934) was a successful and highly decorated German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I.
In his time as commander of U-35 and U-140 he succeeded in sinking 54 ships for a total tonnage of 148,852 gross register tons (GRT). One of his notable actions was sinking the Diamond Shoal Lightship No. 71 (LV-71). Before doing so he allowed the crew, as well as survivors they had rescued from another of his victims, the SS Merak, to evacuate the ship.
Awards and decorations
- Order of the Red Eagle, 4th class (Prussia)
- Lifesaving Medal (Prussia)
- Iron Cross (1914), 1st and 2nd class
- Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords
- Pour le Mérite
- Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg
- Military Merit Cross, 1st class (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)
The original article can be found at Waldemar Kophamel and the edit history here.