Fritz Frauenheim
| Fritz Frauenheim | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
9 March 1912 Berlin-Friedenau |
| Died | 28 September 1969 (aged 57) Hamburg |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 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 |
| Other work | Oil industry |
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. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), among other commendations. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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. 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.
Frauenheim had been made watch officer on U-25 in 1938, eventually spending over a year in this role, until October 1939. 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. The Net-class boom defence vessel Bayonet was sunk by one of U-21’s mines on 21 December.
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