Günter Kuhnke
| Günter Kuhnke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
7 September 1912 Elbing, West Prussia |
| Died |
11 October 1990 (aged 78) Schortens |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Weimar Republic (to 1933).svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch |
.svg.png){kind=small} Reichsmarine.svg.png){kind=small} Kriegsmarine German Navy |
| Years of service |
1931–45 1955–72 |
| Rank |
Korvettenkapitän (Kriegsmarine) Konteradmiral (Bundesmarine) |
| Unit |
SSS Niobe cruiser Karlsruhe |
| Commands held |
U-28 U-125 U-853 10th U-boat Flotilla 33rd U-boat Flotilla destroyer Z-2 (D171) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Stern zum Großen Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland |
Günter Kuhnke (7 September 1912 – 11 October 1990) was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and later a Konteradmiral with the Bundesmarine. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
He commanded the U-28, U-125 and U-853, sinking eleven ships on nine patrols, for a total of 42,252 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping plus the special service vessel HMS Prunella. He commanded 10th U-boat Flotilla from January 1942 until October 1944, then 33rd U-boat Flotilla until May 1945.
Fregattenkapitän Günter Kuhnke commanded the destroyer Z-2 (D171) (formerly USS Ringgold (DD-500)) from 14 July 1959 until November 1960.
Summary of career
Ships attacked
| Date | Name of Ship | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September 1939 | Vancouver City |  United Kingdom |
4,955 | Sunk |
| 17 November 1939 | Sliedrecht |  Netherlands |
5,133 | Sunk |
| 25 November 1939 | Royston Grange | United Kingdom |
5,144 | Sunk |
| 21 January 1940 | Protesilaus | United Kingdom |
9,577 | Total loss (mine) |
| 9 March 1940 | P. Margoronis | .svg.png){kind=small} Greece |
4,979 | Sunk |
| 11 March 1940 | Eulota | Netherlands |
6,236 | Sunk |
| 18 June 1940 | Samartia |  Finland |
2,417 | Sunk |
| 19 June 1940 | Adamandios Georgandis | Greece |
3,443 | Sunk |
| 21 June 1940 | HMS Prunella |  Royal Navy |
4,443 | Sunk |
| 27 August 1940 | Eva |  Norway |
1,599 | Sunk |
| 28 August 1940 | Kyno | United Kingdom |
3,946 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1940 | Mardinian | United Kingdom |
2,431 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1940 | Harpenden | United Kingdom |
4,678 | Damaged |
| 9 September 1940 | Maas | Netherlands |
1,966 | Sunk |
| 26 October 1940 | Matina | United Kingdom |
5,389 | Damaged |
Promotions
Reichsmarine (1931–35)
- Offiziersanwärter (officer candidate) - 1 April 1931
- Seekadett (officer cadet) - 1 April 1932
- Fähnrich zur See (midshipman) - 1 April 1933
- Oberfähnrich zur See (senior midshipman) - 1 January 1935
- Leutnant zur See (acting sub-lieutenant) - 1 April 1935
Kriegsmarine (1935–45)
- Oberleutnant zur See (sub-lieutenant) - 1 January 1937
- Kapitänleutnant (lieutenant) - 1 October 1939
- Korvettenkapitän (corvette captain/lieutenant-commander) - 1 March 1943
Bundesmarine (1955–72)
- Joined 16 November 1955[2]
- Fregattenkapitän (frigate captain/commander) - 16 June 1956
- Kapitän zur See (captain) - 16 October 1962
- Flottillenadmiral (flotilla admiral/commodore) - 28 January 1965
- Konteradmiral (rear-admiral) - 1 April 1966
- Retired 30 September 1972[3]
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th class (2 October 1936)[4]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944)[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-28[5]
- Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (26 June 1969)[6]
- Grand Merit Cross with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany (30 September 1972)[6]
References
Citations
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-28". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ↑ Bundesarchiv/Militärarchiv Bestand BM 25
- ↑ Bundesarchiv/Militärarchiv Bestand BM 10
- 1 2 3 4 Busch and Röll 2003, p. 67.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 279.
- 1 2 Busch and Röll 2003, p. 68.
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 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Günter Kuhnke". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Korvettenkapitän Georg Schewe |
Commander of the 33rd U-boat Flotilla September – October 1944 |
Succeeded by — |
| Preceded by — |
Commander of German destroyer Z-2 (formerly USS Ringgold) July 1959 – November 1960 |
Succeeded by Fregattenkapitän Otto Ites |
| Preceded by Kapitän zur See Hans Dominik |
Commander of Kommando der Zerstörer (Destroyer Commando) 16 October 1960 – 1 October 1964 |
Succeeded by Kapitän zur See Theodor von Mutius |
| Preceded by Konteradmiral Albrecht Obermaier |
Chief of the Navy Office 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1972 |
Succeeded by Konteradmiral Günter Luther |
Chiefs of the German Navy Office  | ||
|---|---|---|
|  | |
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