Harald Gelhaus

Harald Gelhaus (24 July 1915 in Göttingen – 2 December 1997 in Bochum) 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. As commander of U-143 and U-107 Harald Gelhaus is credited with the sinking of 19 ships (including SS Clan Alpine) for a total of 100,373 gross register tons (GRT) and further damaging one ship of 10,068 GRT.

Harald Gelhaus
Born(1915-07-24)24 July 1915
Göttingen
Died2 December 1997(1997-12-02) (aged 82)
Bochum
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Kriegsmarine
Years of service1935–45
RankKapitänleutnant
Unitcruiser Karlsruhe
battleship Gneisenau
Commands heldU-143
U-107
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of U-143 and U-107 Gelhaus is credited with the sinking of 19 ships for a total of 100,373 gross register tons (GRT) and further damaging one ship of 10,068 GRT.

Date U-boat Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Fate
23 August 1941 U-143 Inger  Norway 1,409 Sunk at 58°58′N 07°50′W
31 January 1942 U-107 San Arcadio  UK 7,419 Sunk at 38°10′N 63°50′W
6 February 1942 U-107 Major Wheeler  USA 3,431 Sunk at east of Cape Hatteras
21 February 1942 U-107 Egda  Norway 10,068 Damaged at 41°12′N 52°55′W
29 May 1942 U-107 Western Head  UK 2,599 Sunk at 19°57′N 74°18′W
1 June 1942 U-107 Bushranger  Panama 4,536 Sunk at 18°15′N 81°25′W
7 June 1942 U-107 Castilla  Honduras 3,910 Sunk at 20°15′N 83°18′W
8 June 1942 U-107 Suwied  USA 3,249 Sunk at 20°00′N 84°48′W
10 June 1942 U-107 Merrimack  USA 2,606 Sunk at 19°47′N 85°55′W
19 June 1942 U-107 Cheerio  USA 35 Sunk at 18°02′N 67°40′W
26 June 1942 U-107 Jagersfontein  Netherlands 10,083 Sunk at 31°56′N 54°48′W
3 September 1942 U-107 Hollinside  UK 4,172 Sunk at 38°00′N 09°00′W
3 September 1942 U-107 Penrose  UK 4,393 Sunk at 38°00′N 09°00′W
7 October 1942 U-107 Andalucia Star  UK 14,943 Sunk at 06°38′N 15°46′W
22 February 1943 U-107 Roxborough Castle  UK 7,801 Sunk at 38°12′N 26°22′W
13 March 1943 U-107 Oporto  UK 2,352 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W
13 March 1943 U-107 Marcella  UK 4,592 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W
13 March 1943 U-107 Sembilangan  Netherlands 4,990 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W
13 March 1943 U-107 SS Clan Alpine  UK 5,442 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W
1 May 1943 U-107 Port Victor  UK 12,411 Sunk at 47°49′N 22°02′W

Awards

Dates of rank
1 July 1936:Fähnrich zur See
1 January 1938:Oberfähnrich zur See
1 April 1938:Leutnant zur See
1 October 1939:Oberleutnant zur See
1 April 1942:Kapitänleutnant

References

Citations
  1. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 328.
  2. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 329.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 193.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 331.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.

Helgason, Guðmundur. "Harald Gelhaus". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

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