Ulrich Folkers

Ulrich Folkers
File:Ulrich Folkers.jpg
Born	(1915-03-06)6 March 1915 Kiel
Died	North Atlantic
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 Operation Paukenschlag
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 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	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

• Bulgarian Order of Military Merit 4th Class with Crown (1 November 1936)
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (8 April 1938)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (15 January 1940)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (26 March 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 March 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-125
• Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 22 May 1942

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.	Boats under the commands of the Kapitänleutnants Thurmann, Würdemann und Folkers distinguished themselves in the success in the American Waters.