Kurt Dobratz
| Kurt Dobratz | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 9 April 1904 Stettin |
| Died |
21 December 1996 (aged 92) Bremen |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Reichsmarine 1923–35 Luftwaffe 1935–43 Kriegsmarine 1943–45 |
| Years of service | 1923–45 |
| Rank | Kapitän zur See |
| Unit |
Braunschweig SSS Niobe Berlin Hamburg Leipzig Schleswig-Holstein Hannover |
| Commands held | U-1232 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Dr. jur. Kurt Dobratz (9 April 1904 – 21 December 1996) 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.
From 1 July 1939 until 15 May 1940 Major Dobratz was Gruppenkommandeur of the II.(Kampf)/Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG 1—2nd Bomber Group of the 1st Demonstration Wing) and at the same time commander of the Fliegerhorst (airfield) Schwerin. Serving on the staff of the Befehlshaber der U-Boote he succeeded Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg as the last Kommandierender Admiral der U-Boote (Commanding Admiral of the U-boats) during the final days of World War II.
As commander of U-1232 Kurt Dobratz is credited with the sinking of three ships for a total of 17,355 gross register tons (GRT), further damaging a ship of 2,373 GRT and damaging one ship of 7,176 GRT so severely that it had to be considered a total loss.
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