Ernst Kals (2 August 1905 – 2 November 1979) was a Kapitän zur See with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded the Type IXC U-boat U-130 on five patrols. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Ernst Kals | |
|---|---|
 Ernst Kals | |
| Born | 2 August 1905 Glauchau, Saxony, German Empire |
| Died | 2 November 1979 (aged 74) Emden, West Germany |
| Allegiance |
|
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1924–45 |
| Rank | Kapitän zur See |
| Unit | |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Career
editKals joined the Reichsmarine in 1924. In October 1940, after a period of service on torpedo boats and light cruisers, he transferred to the Ubootwaffe ("U-boat force"). After one patrol on U-37 under the command of Nicolai Clausen as commander in training, he took command of U-130 in June 1941. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1941.[1]
In April 1942, Kals, in U-130, bombarded the Allied petroleum tank farm on Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles. He went on to sink a total of 20 ships on five patrols, for a total of 145,656 tons of Allied shipping. In five minutes he sank three United States troopships, the Edward Rutledge, Hugh L. Scott and Tasker H. Bliss.[1]
In January 1943 Kals became commander of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla, based in Lorient, France. Promoted to Kapitän zur See in September 1944, he remained in this position until the end of the war.[1]
Later life
editKals was held in French captivity from May 1945 to January 1948. He died at Emden in 1979 at the age of 74.[1]
Awards
edit- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (18 December 1939) & 1st Class (18 December 1941)[2]
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (18 December 1941)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 September 1942 as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-130[3]
- War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944)[2]
References
editNotes
editBibliography
edit- 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
