Summary
Fritz Frauenheim (9 January 1912 – 28 September 1969) was a German U-boat commander of the Second World War. From September 1939 until retiring from front line service in December 1940, he sank 19 ships for a total of 78,853 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged two others. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
Fritz Frauenheim | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 9 March 1912 Berlin-Friedenau |
| Died | 28 September 1969 (aged 57) Hamburg |
| Allegiance |  Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1930–45 |
| Rank | Fregattenkapitän |
| Unit | 2nd U-boat Flotilla 1st U-boat Flotilla 7th U-boat Flotilla 23rd U-boat Flotilla 29th U-boat Flotilla |
| Commands held | U-21, 1 October 1937 - 6 January 1940 U-101, 11 March 1940 - 18 November 1940 |
| Awards | Spanish Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Order of the Roman Eagle |
| Other work | Oil industry |
Early life edit
Frauenheim was born in Berlin-Friedenau on 9 March 1912. He entered the navy and spent his initial training on the cadet ship Schleswig-Holstein, followed by a period on the light cruiser Karlsruhe. He was transferred to the U-boat force in January 1936 and rose quickly through the ranks and on 1 April 1939 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant.[1] He appears to have spent time with the German forces supporting the Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War, as he was awarded the Spanish Cross on 6 June 1939.[1]
Wartime career edit
Frauenheim had been made watch officer on U-25 in 1938, eventually spending over a year in this role, until October 1939.[1] He was appointed to command U-21 on 1 October 1937, eventually carrying out five patrols, eventually sinking four merchant ships. He also laid mines, one of which damaged HMS Belfast on 21 November, putting her out of action for nearly three years.[1] The Net-class boom defence vessel Bayonet was sunk by one of U-21’s mines on 21 December.[1]
Frauenheim left U-21 on 6 January 1940, taking over command of the newly built U-101 on 11 March 1940. He commissioned the boat and took her on four successful patrols. He sank a total of 12 ships, including three sunk and one damaged from convoy SC 7.[1] He left U-101 on 18 November 1940 and became a teacher in the 2nd ULD. He went on to hold a number of staff positions, before taking command of 23rd U-boat Flotilla in the Mediterranean in September 1941. In 1942 he moved to command 29th U-boat Flotilla. On 1 March 1943 he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän.[1] In February 1944 Frauenheim joined the staff of the Admiral der Kleinkampfverbände (Admiral of Small Battle Units), where he remained for the rest of the war. He was again promoted, this time to Fregattenkapitän on 1 December 1944.[1]
Post war edit
After the end of the war Frauenheim spent eight months in Allied captivity before being released.[1] Frauenheim for almost 20 years until his death worked at the Mobil Oil AG in the Federal Republic of Germany. His last position was a member of the board and head of the department of Marine Transportation and Pipelines.[2] He died in Hamburg on 28 September 1969, aged 57.
Awards edit
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936)[3]
- Spanish Cross in Bronze (6 June 1939)[3]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Sudetenland Medal (20 December 1938)[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-101[5][6]
- Knight's Cross of the Order of the Roman Eagle with Swords (18 June 1943)[4]
- German Cross in Gold on 23 November 1944 as Korvettenkapitän with the Admiral of the Kleinkampfverbände[7]
Promotions edit
| 10 October 1930: | Seekadett (Midshipman)[8] |
| 1 January 1932: | Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[8] |
| 1 April 1934: | Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[8] |
| 1 October 1934: | Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[8] |
| 1 June 1936: | Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[8] |
| 1 April 1939: | Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[8] |
| 1 March 1943: | Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain), effective as of 1 March 1943 with rank age dated 1 April 1943[9] |
| 1 December 1944: | Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain)[9] |
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2013). "Fritz Frauenheim". The Men – U-boat Commanders – Top U-boat Aces. Guðmundur Helgason.
- ^ Erdöl & Kohle, Erdgas, Petrochemie. Vol. 22. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Mineralölwissenschaft und Kohlechemie (Hrsg.), Industrieverlag von Hernhaussen. 1969. p. 650.
- ^ a b Busch & Röll 2003, p. 58.
- ^ a b c d Busch & Röll 2003, p. 59.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 317.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 186.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 121.
- ^ a b c d e f Busch & Röll 2003, p. 58.
- ^ a b Busch & Röll 2003, p. 59.
Bibliography edit
- 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.
- Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- 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.
