Harald Gelhaus
Harald Gelhaus | |
---|---|
Born | Göttingen | 24 July 1915
Died | 2 December 1997 Bochum | (aged 82)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1935–45 |
Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
Unit | cruiser Karlsruhe battleship Gneisenau |
Commands held | U-143 U-107 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Harald Gelhaus (24 July 1915 in Göttingen – 2 December 1997 in Bochum) 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. As commander of U-143 and U-107 Harald Gelhaus is credited with the sinking of 19 ships (including SS Clan Alpine) for a total of 100,373 gross register tons (GRT) and further damaging one ship of 10,068 GRT.
Summary of career[]
Ships attacked[]
As commander of U-143 and U-107 Gelhaus is credited with the sinking of 19 ships for a total of 100,373 gross register tons (GRT) and further damaging one ship of 10,068 GRT.
Date | U-boat | Name | Flag | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23 August 1941 | U-143 | Inger | ![]() |
1,409 | Sunk at 58°58′N 07°50′W / 58.967°N 7.833°W |
31 January 1942 | U-107 | San Arcadio | ![]() |
7,419 | Sunk at 38°10′N 63°50′W / 38.167°N 63.833°W |
6 February 1942 | U-107 | Major Wheeler | ![]() |
3,431 | Sunk at east of Cape Hatteras |
21 February 1942 | U-107 | Egda | ![]() |
10,068 | Damaged at 41°12′N 52°55′W / 41.200°N 52.917°W |
29 May 1942 | U-107 | Western Head | ![]() |
2,599 | Sunk at 19°57′N 74°18′W / 19.950°N 74.300°W |
1 June 1942 | U-107 | Bushranger | ![]() |
4,536 | Sunk at 18°15′N 81°25′W / 18.250°N 81.417°W |
7 June 1942 | U-107 | Castilla | ![]() |
3,910 | Sunk at 20°15′N 83°18′W / 20.250°N 83.300°W |
8 June 1942 | U-107 | Suwied | ![]() |
3,249 | Sunk at 20°00′N 84°48′W / 20.000°N 84.800°W |
10 June 1942 | U-107 | Merrimack | ![]() |
2,606 | Sunk at 19°47′N 85°55′W / 19.783°N 85.917°W |
19 June 1942 | U-107 | Cheerio | ![]() |
35 | Sunk at 18°02′N 67°40′W / 18.033°N 67.667°W |
26 June 1942 | U-107 | Jagersfontein | ![]() |
10,083 | Sunk at 31°56′N 54°48′W / 31.933°N 54.800°W |
3 September 1942 | U-107 | Hollinside | ![]() |
4,172 | Sunk at 38°00′N 09°00′W / 38.000°N 9.000°W |
3 September 1942 | U-107 | Penrose | ![]() |
4,393 | Sunk at 38°00′N 09°00′W / 38.000°N 9.000°W |
7 October 1942 | U-107 | Andalucia Star | ![]() |
14,943 | Sunk at 06°38′N 15°46′W / 6.633°N 15.767°W |
22 February 1943 | U-107 | Roxborough Castle | ![]() |
7,801 | Sunk at 38°12′N 26°22′W / 38.200°N 26.367°W |
13 March 1943 | U-107 | Oporto | ![]() |
2,352 | Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W |
13 March 1943 | U-107 | Marcella | ![]() |
4,592 | Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W |
13 March 1943 | U-107 | Sembilangan | ![]() |
4,990 | Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W |
13 March 1943 | U-107 | SS Clan Alpine | ![]() |
5,442 | Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W |
1 May 1943 | U-107 | Port Victor | ![]() |
12,411 | Sunk at 47°49′N 22°02′W / 47.817°N 22.033°W |
Awards[]
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (5 April 1939)[1]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (31 December 1940)[2]
- U-boat Front Clasp in Bronze (1 October 1944)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-107[3][4]
- War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (1 September 1944)[2]
Dates of rank[]
1 July 1936: | Fähnrich zur See |
1 January 1938: | Oberfähnrich zur See |
1 April 1938: | Leutnant zur See |
1 October 1939: | Oberleutnant zur See |
1 April 1942: | Kapitänleutnant |
References[]
Citations[]
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.
- (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. "Harald Gelhaus". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
- 1915 births
- 1997 deaths
- People from Göttingen
- U-boat commanders (Kriegsmarine)
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- People from the Province of Hanover