Ulrich Folkers

Ulrich Folkers
Born (1915-03-06)6 March 1915
Kiel
Died 6 May 1943(1943-05-06) (aged 28)
North Atlantic
52°30′N 45°20′W / 52.500°N 45.333°W / 52.500; -45.333
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1934–43
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
destroyer Bruno Heinemann
U-37
Commands held U-125
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ulrich Folkers (6 March 1915 in Kiel – killed in action 6 May 1943 in the North Atlantic) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and 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. U-125 was fatally damaged at 52°30′N 45°20′W / 52.500°N 45.333°W / 52.500; -45.333 by the British destroyer Oribi and gunfire from the British corvette Snowflake.

The crew of U-125 scuttled their boat with 5 explosive charges while almost alongside the HMS Snowflake and waited in the water to be rescued. Another corvette Sunflower did reach the scene about this time. The commander of the corvette radioed the escort commander, Robert Sherwood, RN, in Tay but was given the reply:

"Not approved to pick up survivors"

The corvettes HMS Sunflower and HMS Snowflake then turned back to protect the convoy leaving the men in the water. Kptlt. Folkers and his crew of 54 men died during that night.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of U-125, Folkers is credited with the sinking of 17 merchant ships totalling 82,873 gross register tons (GRT).

Date[1] Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate
26 January 1942 West Ivis  United States 5,666 Sunk
23 April 1942 Lammot Du Pont  United States 5,102 Sunk
3 May 1942 San Rafael  Dominican Republic 1,973 Sunk
4 May 1942 Tuscaloosa City  United States 5,687 Sunk
6 May 1942 Empire Buffalo  United Kingdom 6,404 Sunk
6 May 1942 Green Island  United States 1,946 Sunk
9 May 1942 Calgarolite  Canada 11,941 Sunk
14 May 1942 Comayagua  Honduras 2,493 Sunk
18 May 1942 Mercury Sun  United States 8,893 Sunk
18 May 1942 William J. Salman  United States 2,616 Sunk
1 September 1942 Ilorin  United Kingdom 815 Sunk
23 September 1942 Bruyère  United Kingdom 5,335 Sunk
29 September 1942 Baron Ogilvy  United Kingdom 3,391 Sunk
30 September 1942 Empire Avocet  United Kingdom 6,015 Sunk
30 September 1942 Kumsang  United Kingdom 5,447 Sunk
8 October 1942 Glendene  United Kingdom 4,412 Sunk
4 May 1943 Lorient  United Kingdom 4,737 Sunk

Awards

Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Friday, 22 May 1942 Bei den Erfolgen in amerikanischen Gewässern haben sich Boote unter Führung der Kapitänleutnante Thurmann, Würdemann und Folkers besonders ausgezeichnet.[5] Boats under the commands of the Kapitänleutnants Thurmann, Würdemann und Folkers distinguished themselves in the success in the American Waters.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-125 - U-boat Successes". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  2. 1 2 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 338.
  3. 1 2 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 339.
  4. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 314.
  5. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, p. 138.

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. 
  • Huß, Jürgen; Viohl, Armin (2003). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes der preußischen Provinz Schleswig-Holstein und der Freien und Hansestadt Lübeck 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Bearers of the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein and the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck 1939–1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-79-9. 
  • 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. 
  • 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 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 

External links

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