Heinz Franke
Encyclopedia
Heinz Franke was a German
U-boat
commander in World War II
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
in April 1936 and served for more than two years on the battlecruiser
, and was on board during her two patrols in 1939.
Franke transferred to the U-boat force in October 1940 and after training became first watch officer (I WO) of . After three patrols he took command of the school boat in December 1941, and spent ten months in the Baltic Sea
.
In October 1942 he was appointed commander of and on his first patrol he sank the Norwegian Flower class corvette
. In May 1943 Franke was ordered to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
to pick up some captured U-boat men who planned to escape, but the breakout failed.
In November 1943, while on patrol with U-262, Franke was involved in three convoy battles; his conduct was marked by diligent efficient shadowing and determined attack, particularly against the last, Convoy SL 140/MKS 31
. For this, and despite a lack of success, he was awarded the Knights Cross (see citation).
In January 1944 Franke was attached to the BdU
staff. After serving in several staff positions and in a midget U-boat unit, he took command of in March 1945. When the U-boat was damaged on 4 April 1945 he transferred to , which he commanded up until the end of the war on 8 May. After the war he spent six months in captivity, then served in a minesweeper unit
.
In 1957 he joined the newly-formed Bundesmarine, retiring in March 1972 as a Fregattenkapitän.
Heinz Franke died on 5 April 2003.
Franke was the only U-boat commander awarded the Knights Cross in 1943.
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...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Biography
Franke joined the KriegsmarineKriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
in April 1936 and served for more than two years on the battlecruiser
Battlecruiser
Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...
, and was on board during her two patrols in 1939.
Franke transferred to the U-boat force in October 1940 and after training became first watch officer (I WO) of . After three patrols he took command of the school boat in December 1941, and spent ten months in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
.
In October 1942 he was appointed commander of and on his first patrol he sank the Norwegian Flower class corvette
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
. In May 1943 Franke was ordered to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
to pick up some captured U-boat men who planned to escape, but the breakout failed.
In November 1943, while on patrol with U-262, Franke was involved in three convoy battles; his conduct was marked by diligent efficient shadowing and determined attack, particularly against the last, Convoy SL 140/MKS 31
Convoy SL 140/MKS 31
Convoys SL 140/MKS 31 were two Allied convoys which ran during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. SL 140 was part of the OS/SL series, between Britain and the South Atlantic, MKS 31 was one of the KMS/MKS series between Britain and the Mediterranean....
. For this, and despite a lack of success, he was awarded the Knights Cross (see citation).
In January 1944 Franke was attached to the BdU
Befehlshaber der U-Boote
Befehlshaber der U-Boote was the title of the supreme commander of the Kriegsmarines U-boat Arm during World War II. The term also referred to the Command HQ of the U-boat arm itself....
staff. After serving in several staff positions and in a midget U-boat unit, he took command of in March 1945. When the U-boat was damaged on 4 April 1945 he transferred to , which he commanded up until the end of the war on 8 May. After the war he spent six months in captivity, then served in a minesweeper unit
German Mine Sweeping Administration
The German Mine Sweeping Administration was formed from former crews and vessels of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine for the purpose of mine sweeping after the Second World War, predominantly in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and existed from June 1945 to January 1948.-History:The GMSA was formed on 21...
.
In 1957 he joined the newly-formed Bundesmarine, retiring in March 1972 as a Fregattenkapitän.
Heinz Franke died on 5 April 2003.
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....
2nd Class - 23 February 1940 - 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 - 21 November 1941 - Iron Cross 1st Class - 12 December 1941
- 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 30 November 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-262 - U-boat Front ClaspU-boat Front ClaspThe U-boat Front Clasp or U-boat Combat Clasp, as it is better known, was a German badge that was awarded to holders of the U-boat War Badge to recognize continued combat service and valor during World War II.-History:...
- 24 January 1945
Citation
Franke's citation on being awarded the Knights Cross read:
"Francke has repeatedly been the only one of those participating in operations who has forced his way into the convoy against the strongest air and sea defences. In the present situation the possibilities of sinkings are slight. In awarding distinctions I shall evaluate toughness and tenacity so much the more, even when it is not crowned with success."
Franke was the only U-boat commander awarded the Knights Cross in 1943.