Hans-Joachim Förster
Encyclopedia
Hans-Joachim Förster was a German
U-boat
commander in World War II
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. He is credited with the sinking of two merchant ships for a total of plus a further two
warships for a total of , including the HMCS Alberni
and HMS Loyalty
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
commander in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. He is credited with the sinking of two merchant ships for a total of plus a further two
warships for a total of , including the HMCS Alberni
HMCS Alberni (K103)
HMCS Alberni was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy .-Construction:She was ordered on 14 February 1940 from Yarrows Ltd. in Esquimalt, British Columbia and laid down on 29 April. She was launched on 22 August 1940 and commissioned into the RCN on 4 February 1941. She...
and HMS Loyalty
HMS Loyalty (J217)
HMS Loyalty was an of the Royal Navy. She served during the Second World War.-Service:Loyalty was laid down as HMS Rattler on 14 April 1941 at Harland and Wolff, Belfast, and launched on 9 December 1942. She was commissioned on 22 April 1943, and renamed HMS Loyalty in June 1943...
.
Ranks
- OffiziersanwärterOfficer CandidateOfficer Candidate is a rank in some militaries of the world that is an appointed position while a person is in training to become an officer. More often than not, an Officer Candidate was a civilian who applied to join the military directly as an officer...
- 1 October 1938 - Seekadett - 1 July 1939
- Fähnrich zur See - 1 December 1939
- Oberfähnrich zur See - 1 August 1940
- Leutnant zur See - 1 April 1941
- Oberleutnant zur See - 1 April 1943
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- U-boat War BadgeU-boat War BadgeThe U-Boat War Badge was a German war badge that was awarded to U-boat crew members during World War I and World War II.-History:The U-boat War Badge was originally instituted during the First World War on February 1, 1918. It was awarded to recognize U-boat crews who had completed three war patrols...
(1939) - Minesweeper War BadgeMinesweeper War BadgeThe Minesweeper War Badge or Minesweepers, Sub-Chasers and Escort-Vessel War Badge is a German military decoration awarded to Kriegsmarine members for service on Minesweepers boats Criteria for the award included recommendation...
(1940) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 18 October 1944 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-480