Harald Gelhaus

Harald Gelhaus
Born (1915-07-24)24 July 1915
Göttingen
Died 2 December 1997(1997-12-02) (aged 82)
Bochum
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1935–45
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit cruiser Karlsruhe
battleship Gneisenau
Commands held U-143
U-107
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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.

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 / 58.967°N 7.833°W / 58.967; -7.833 (Inger (ship))
31 January 1942 U-107 San Arcadio  UK 7,419 Sunk at 38°10′N 63°50′W / 38.167°N 63.833°W / 38.167; -63.833 (San Arcadio (ship))
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 / 41.200°N 52.917°W / 41.200; -52.917 (Egda (ship))
29 May 1942 U-107 Western Head  UK 2,599 Sunk at 19°57′N 74°18′W / 19.950°N 74.300°W / 19.950; -74.300 (Western Head (ship))
1 June 1942 U-107 Bushranger  Panama 4,536 Sunk at 18°15′N 81°25′W / 18.250°N 81.417°W / 18.250; -81.417 (Bushranger (ship))
7 June 1942 U-107 Castilla  Honduras 3,910 Sunk at 20°15′N 83°18′W / 20.250°N 83.300°W / 20.250; -83.300 (Castilla (ship))
8 June 1942 U-107 Suwied  USA 3,249 Sunk at 20°00′N 84°48′W / 20.000°N 84.800°W / 20.000; -84.800 (Suwied (ship))
10 June 1942 U-107 Merrimack  USA 2,606 Sunk at 19°47′N 85°55′W / 19.783°N 85.917°W / 19.783; -85.917 (Merrimack (ship))
19 June 1942 U-107 Cheerio  USA 35 Sunk at 18°02′N 67°40′W / 18.033°N 67.667°W / 18.033; -67.667 (Cheerio (ship))
26 June 1942 U-107 Jagersfontein  Netherlands 10,083 Sunk at 31°56′N 54°48′W / 31.933°N 54.800°W / 31.933; -54.800 (Jagersfontein (ship))
3 September 1942 U-107 Hollinside  UK 4,172 Sunk at 38°00′N 09°00′W / 38.000°N 9.000°W / 38.000; -9.000 (Hollinside (ship))
3 September 1942 U-107 Penrose  UK 4,393 Sunk at 38°00′N 09°00′W / 38.000°N 9.000°W / 38.000; -9.000 (Penrose (ship))
7 October 1942 U-107 Andalucia Star  UK 14,943 Sunk at 06°38′N 15°46′W / 6.633°N 15.767°W / 6.633; -15.767 (Andalucia Star (ship))
22 February 1943 U-107 Roxborough Castle  UK 7,801 Sunk at 38°12′N 26°22′W / 38.200°N 26.367°W / 38.200; -26.367 (Roxborough Castle (ship))
13 March 1943 U-107 Oporto  UK 2,352 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W / 42.750; -13.517 (Oporto (ship))
13 March 1943 U-107 Marcella  UK 4,592 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W / 42.750; -13.517 (Marcella (ship))
13 March 1943 U-107 Sembilangan  Netherlands 4,990 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W / 42.750; -13.517 (Sembilangan (ship))
13 March 1943 U-107 SS Clan Alpine  UK 5,442 Sunk at 42°45′N 13°31′W / 42.750°N 13.517°W / 42.750; -13.517 (Clan Alpine (ship))
1 May 1943 U-107 Port Victor  UK 12,411 Sunk at 47°49′N 22°02′W / 47.817°N 22.033°W / 47.817; -22.033 (Port Victor (ship))

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. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 

External links

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

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