Years of service 1927–45
1953–66 | Name Klaus Scholtz | |
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Born 22 March 1908
Magdeburg ( 1908-03-22 ) Allegiance Weimar Republic (to 1933)
Nazi Germany (to 1945)
West Germany Service/branch Reichsmarine
Kriegsmarine
German Navy Rank Fregattenkapitan
Kapitan zur See Battles/wars World War II
Battle of the Atlantic Died May 1, 1987, Bad Schwartau, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic, World War II Unit SMS Schleswig-Holstein, Group of Eight Commands held German submarine U-108, 12th U-boat Flotilla | ||
Klaus Scholtz (22 March 1908 – 1 May 1987) was a commander in the Kriegsmarine (navy) of Nazi Germany during World War II. He commanded the Type IXB U-boat U-108. Scholtz was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
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Career
Scholtz joined the Reichsmarine in 1927 as member of "Crew 1927" (the incoming class of 1927) and served in torpedo boats, before transferring to the U-bootwaffe ("U-boat arm") in April 1940. From October 1940 he commanded U-108, sinking 25 ships on 8 patrols, for a total of 128,190 tons of Allied shipping, including the British armed merchant cruiser Rajputana. In October 1942 Scholtz formed and took command of 12th U-boat Flotilla based at Bordeaux, France. He claimed sinking twenty-five ships on eight patrols, for a total of 128,190 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping.
In August 1944 the approach of Allied troops meant that the base had to be evacuated. The last U-boats escaped by sea, and Scholtz attempted to lead the remaining men (about 220) back to Germany on foot. They left Bordeaux on 26 August, but were captured on 11 September by American forces in Loire. Scholtz spent the next 18 months in US captivity.
Post-war, Scholtz served in the Bundesgrenzschutz-See - the naval arm of the Federal Border Guards - from 1953 to 1956, then transferred to the Bundesmarine, serving as commander of several naval bases, including Kiel, Cuxhaven, and Wilhelmshaven. He retired in 1966 with the rank of Kapitän zur See, and died in 1987.