Allegiance Nazi Germany Name August Maus Commands held German submarine U-185 | Rank Kapitanleutnant Service/branch Kriegsmarine | |
Born 7 February 1915
Wuppertal ( 1915-02-07 ) Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
U-68 Battles/wars World War II
Battle of the Atlantic
Great Papago Escape Died September 28, 1996, Hamburg, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic, Great Papago Escape, World War II | ||
August Maus (7 February 1915 – 28 September 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. Prior to taking command of U-185 he served as I. Wachoffizier (1st watch officer) on U-68 under the command of Korvettenkapitan Karl-Friedrich Merten.
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Maus was captured following the sinking of U-185 and was sent as a prisoner of war to the United States. He was involved in the escape tunnel which enabled 25 POWs to escape from Camp Papago Park, Arizona, during the night of 23–24 December 1944. Due to an injury, he himself did not attempt to escape.
Summary of career
As a U-boat commander of U-185 August Maus is credited with the sinking of nine ships for a total of 62,761 gross register tons (GRT) and damaging one ship of 6,840 GRT.