Ernst Bauer (Kapitän zur See)

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Ernst Bauer
File:Ernst Bauer.jpg
Nickname(s) "Dwarf"
Born (1914-01-03)3 January 1914
Fürth
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Westerland auf Sylt
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
 German Navy
Years of service 1933–45, 1955–72
Rank Korvettenkapitän (Kriegsmarine)
Kapitän zur See (Bundesmarine)
Commands held U-120
U-126
27th U-boat Flotilla
26th U-boat Flotilla
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Ernst Bauer (3 January 1914 – 12 March 1988) was a German naval officer and an U-boat commander in World War II. He commanded the U-boats U-120 and U-126, sinking 25 ships on five patrols, for a total of 118,560 long tons (120,460 t) of Allied shipping, to stand 22nd on the list of highest scoring U-Boat aces of World War II.[1] 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.

Career

Bauer joined the Reichsmarine on 23 September 1933. He served on the light cruiser Königsberg before transferring to the U-boat arm in 1938. He served as watch officer on U-20 and U-37 before commanding the training U-boat U-120 from April 1940. On 1 March 1941, he was given command of U-126, and conducted 5 combat patrols, sinking 25 merchant ships for a total of 118,560 long tons (120,460 t).[1]

On 22 November, Bauer was aboard the auxiliary cruiser Atlantis in the south Atlantic, when she was sunk by the British heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire. U-126 crash-dived, leaving her captain behind, and after Devonshire left the area, she resurfaced to pick up survivors.

From March 1943, Bauer served as training officer in 27th U-boat Flotilla based at Gotenhafen, becoming commander of the unit in October 1944. During the last month of the war, he was transferred to command of 26th U-boat Flotilla at Warnemünde.[1]

Post-war

Bauer joined the Bundesmarine in 1955 and held several staff positions, before retiring in 1972 with the rank of Kapitän zur See. He died in 1988.[1]

Summary of career

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht references

The daily Wehrmachtbericht (Wehrmacht propaganda report) noted the following:

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Wednesday, 30 July 1941 In der Atlantikschlacht haben sich die Unterseeboote unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Mützelburg, Kapitänleutnant Bauer und Oberleutnant zur See Schüler besonders ausgezeichnet.[6] The submarines under the command of Captain Lieutenant Mützelburg, Captain Lieutenant Bauer and First Lieutenant at Sea Schüler have particularly distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Sunday, 15 March 1942 Bei den Operationen deutscher Unterseeboote in westindischen Gewässern hat sich das Unterseeboot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Bauer besonders ausgezeichnet.[7] The submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Bauer has particularly distinguished itself in the operations in West Indian waters.

Promotions

23 September 1933: Seekadett (Midshipman)[8]
1 July 1934: Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[8]
1 April 1936: Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[8]
1 October 1936: Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[8]
1 June 1938: Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[2]
1 March 1941: Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[2]
5 April 1945: Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain), effective as of 1 April 1945 with rank age dated 20 April 1945[2]
1 April 1956: Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain)[2]
1 April 1956: Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea)[5]

References

Citations

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 200.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 123.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 204.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 201.
  6. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 628.
  7. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 2, p. 57.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 199.

Bibliography

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External links

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Military offices
Preceded by
Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp
Commander of 27th U-boat Flotilla
October 1944 – March 1945
Succeeded by
disbanded
Preceded by
Fregattenkapitan Helmut Brümmer-Patzig
Commander of 26th U-boat Flotilla
April – May 1945
Succeeded by
disbanded
Preceded by
Fregattenkapitän Otto Schuhart
Commander of the Marinestützpunktkommando Kiel
April 1965 – October 1967
Succeeded by
Kapitän zur See Dietrich Hoffmann