Allegiance Nazi Germany Rank Kapitanleutnant Died May 25, 1990, Allgau | Years of service 1934–45 Name Hans-Werner Kraus Service/branch Kriegsmarine | |
Born 1 July 1915
Beulwitz/Saalfeld ( 1915-07-01 ) Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Karlsruhe
cruiser Konigsberg
U-47 Battles/wars World War II
Battle of the Atlantic
Great Papago Escape Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic, Great Papago Escape, World War II Commands held German submarine U-83, German submarine U-199 | ||
Hans-Werner Kraus (1 July 1915 – 25 May 1990) 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.
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Kraus served as 1st watch officer on U-47 from January 1940 until November 1940 having replaced Engelbert Endrass. He later commanded U-83 and U-199. He was on board the latter when it was bombed and sunk by aircraft off the coast of Brazil on 31 July 1943. Captured, he was sent as a POW to the United States. Kraus was one of the 25 POWs who escaped from Camp Papago Park, Arizona, during the night of 23–24 December 1944.
Kraus was repatriated to Germany in February 1946 and released from imprisonment in the British zone of Allied-occupied Germany on 22 May 1946.
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