Hermann Rasch

Hermann Rasch
Born 26 August 1914
Wilhelmshafen
Died 10 June 1974 (aged 59)
Hamburg
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit Schleswig-Holstein
Panzerschiff Admiral Scheer
SSS Albert Leo Schlageter
Commands held U-106
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hermann Rasch (26 August 1914 – 10 June 1974) was a German U-boat commander of U-106 in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

On 14 May 1942 Reinhard Suhren, commander of U-564, sunk the Mexican oil tanker Potrero del Llano.[1] The sinking of this ship, compounded with U-106‍ '​s attack on another tanker, the Faja de Oro, would bring Mexico to declare "A State of War" on the Axis powers.[2]

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As a U-boat commander of U-106 Rasch is credited with the sinking of 12 ships for a total of 78,553 gross register tons (GRT), further damaged one ship of 4,639 GRT and damaging one auxiliary warship of 8,246 metric tons (8,116 long tons; 9,090 short tons).

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Saturday, 7 February 1942 An der Ostküste Nordamerikas versenkten deutsche Unterseeboote sechs feindliche Handelsschiffe mit zusammen 30 000 BRT. Dabei zeichnete sich das Unterseeboot des Kapitänleutnants Rasch besonders aus.[6] On the east coast of North America sank German submarines six enemy merchant vessels with a total of 30,000 GRT. Thereby particularly distinguished itself the submarine of Captain Lieutenant Rasch.

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Hickam 1996, p. 217.
  2. ↑ Salinas 1997, pp. 135–138
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 295.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 350.
  5. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 613.
  6. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 29.
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). 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.
  • Hickam, Homer H. (1996). Torpedo Junction: U-Boat War Off America's East Coast, 1942. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-362-6.
  • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2.
  • Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
  • Salinas, María Emilia Paz (1997). Strategy, Security, and Spies: Mexico and the U.S. as Allies in World War II. University Park, PA: Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-01666-5.
  • 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 Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.

External links