Günter Kuhnke
Günter Kuhnke
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File:Kapitänleutnant Günter Kuhnke.jpg | |
Born | Elbing, West Prussia |
7 September 1912
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Schortens |
Allegiance | Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
Service/ |
Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine German Navy |
Years of service | 1931–45 1955–72 |
Rank | Korvettenkapitän (Kriegsmarine) Konteradmiral (Bundesmarine) |
Unit | SSS Niobe cruiser Karlsruhe |
Commands held | U-28 U-125 U-853 10th U-boat Flotilla 33rd U-boat Flotilla destroyer Z-2 (D171) |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Stern zum Großen Verdienstkreuz des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland |
Günter Kuhnke (7 September 1912 – 11 October 1990) was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and later a Konteradmiral with the Bundesmarine. 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.
He commanded the U-28, U-125 and U-853, sinking eleven ships on nine patrols, for a total of 42,252 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping plus the special service vessel HMS Prunella. He commanded 10th U-boat Flotilla from January 1942 until October 1944, then 33rd U-boat Flotilla until May 1945.
Fregattenkapitän Günter Kuhnke commanded the destroyer Z-2 (D171) (formerly USS Ringgold (DD-500)) from 14 July 1959 until November 1960.
Contents
Summary of career
Ships attacked
Date | Name of Ship | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate[1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 September 1939 | Vancouver City | United Kingdom | 4,955 | Sunk |
17 November 1939 | Sliedrecht | Netherlands | 5,133 | Sunk |
25 November 1939 | Royston Grange | United Kingdom | 5,144 | Sunk |
21 January 1940 | Protesilaus | United Kingdom | 9,577 | Total loss (mine) |
9 March 1940 | P. Margoronis | Greece | 4,979 | Sunk |
11 March 1940 | Eulota | Netherlands | 6,236 | Sunk |
18 June 1940 | Samartia | Finland | 2,417 | Sunk |
19 June 1940 | Adamandios Georgandis | Greece | 3,443 | Sunk |
21 June 1940 | HMS Prunella | Royal Navy | 4,443 | Sunk |
27 August 1940 | Eva | Norway | 1,599 | Sunk |
28 August 1940 | Kyno | United Kingdom | 3,946 | Sunk |
9 September 1940 | Mardinian | United Kingdom | 2,431 | Sunk |
9 September 1940 | Harpenden | United Kingdom | 4,678 | Damaged |
9 September 1940 | Maas | Netherlands | 1,966 | Sunk |
26 October 1940 | Matina | United Kingdom | 5,389 | Damaged |
Promotions
Reichsmarine (1931–35)
- Offiziersanwärter (officer candidate) - 1 April 1931
- Seekadett (officer cadet) - 1 April 1932
- Fähnrich zur See (midshipman) - 1 April 1933
- Oberfähnrich zur See (senior midshipman) - 1 January 1935
- Leutnant zur See (acting sub-lieutenant) - 1 April 1935
Kriegsmarine (1935–45)
- Oberleutnant zur See (sub-lieutenant) - 1 January 1937
- Kapitänleutnant (lieutenant) - 1 October 1939
- Korvettenkapitän (corvette captain/lieutenant-commander) - 1 March 1943
Bundesmarine (1955–72)
- Joined 16 November 1955[2]
- Fregattenkapitän (frigate captain/commander) - 16 June 1956
- Kapitän zur See (captain) - 16 October 1962
- Flottillenadmiral (flotilla admiral/commodore) - 28 January 1965
- Konteradmiral (rear-admiral) - 1 April 1966
- Retired 30 September 1972[3]
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th class (2 October 1936)[4]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944)[4]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 September 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-28[5]
- Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (26 June 1969)[6]
- Grand Merit Cross with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany (30 September 1972)[6]
References
Citations
Bibliography
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External links
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Military offices | ||
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Preceded by
Korvettenkapitän Georg Schewe
|
Commander of the 33rd U-boat Flotilla September – October 1944 |
Succeeded by — |
Preceded by
—
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Commander of German destroyer Z-2 (formerly USS Ringgold) July 1959 – November 1960 |
Succeeded by Fregattenkapitän Otto Ites |
Preceded by
Kapitän zur See Hans Dominik
|
Commander of Kommando der Zerstörer (Destroyer Commando) 16 October 1960 – 1 October 1964 |
Succeeded by Kapitän zur See Theodor von Mutius |
Preceded by
Konteradmiral Albrecht Obermaier
|
Chief of the Navy Office 1 April 1966 – 30 September 1972 |
Succeeded by Konteradmiral Günter Luther |
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles containing German-language text
- 1912 births
- 1990 deaths
- People from Elbląg
- People from West Prussia
- German military personnel of World War II
- U-boat commanders
- Knight Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Recipients of the War Merit Cross, 2nd class
- Bundesmarine admirals
- Counter admirals of the German Navy