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Korvettenkapitän Karl Thurmann
(†) Karl Thurmann (♥4 September 1909—✟20 January 1943) was a German U-Boot 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.
Decorations:
◆ 21 Jul 1941 Iron Cross 2nd Class
◆ 23 Oct 1941 Iron Cross 1st Class
◆ 23 Oct 1941 U-Boot War Badge 1939
◆ 24 Aug 1942 Knights Cross
Life and career
Thurmann was born in Mühlheim, Ruhr. He joined the Reichsmarine in April 1928, serving aboard the light cruisers Emden and Köln, and also spending 18 months in a coastal artillery unit. In April 1940 he transferred to the U-Boat force.
After training, and sailing on a patrol as Kommandantenschüler (Commander-in-Training") aboard U-29 under Otto Schuhart, Thurmann commissioned the Type VIIC U-Boot U-553 on 23 December 1940. Thurmann took U-553 out on nine patrols in 1941 and 1942, mostly in the North Atlantic, but also on the US east coast and in the Caribbean, sank 14 ships totalling ♚ 77,588 ♚ tons and damaging one other totalling 8,106 tons.
Ships sunk:
SS Susan Maersk (2,355 GRT), sunk 12 June 1941.
SS Ranella (5,590 GRT), sunk 12 June 1941.
SS Ila (1,583 GRT), sunk October 1941.
MV Silvercedar (4,354 GRT), sunk 15 October 1941.
SS Bold Venture (3,222 GRT), sunk 17 October 1941.
HMS Gladiolus (K 34) (925 GRT), sunk 17 October 1941
MV Diala (8,106 GRT), damaged 15 January 1942.
SS Innerøy (8,260 GRT), sunk 22 January 1942.
SS Leto (4,712 GRT), sunk 12 May 1942.
SS Nicoya (5,364 GRT), sunk 12 May 1942.
MV Mattawin (6,919 GRT), sunk 2 June 1942.
SS Belgian Soldier (7,167 GRT), sunk 3 August 1942.
MV Blankaholm (2,845 GRT), sunk 18 August 1942.
MV Empire Bede (6,959 GRT), damaged 18 August 1942, sunk by gunfire from HMS Pimpernel.
SS John Hancock (7,176 GRT), sunk 18 August 1942.
MV Charles L D (5,273 GRT), sunk 9 December 1942.
On 16 January 1943, Thurmann left La Pallice, France, on his tenth patrol. On 20 January, he sent the radio message: Seerohr unklar ("Periscope not clear"). U-553 was never heard from again and her fate remains a mystery.
Korvettenkapitän Karl Thurmann
(†) Karl Thurmann (♥4 September 1909—✟20 January 1943) was a German U-Boot 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.
Decorations:
◆ 21 Jul 1941 Iron Cross 2nd Class
◆ 23 Oct 1941 Iron Cross 1st Class
◆ 23 Oct 1941 U-Boot War Badge 1939
◆ 24 Aug 1942 Knights Cross
Life and career
Thurmann was born in Mühlheim, Ruhr. He joined the Reichsmarine in April 1928, serving aboard the light cruisers Emden and Köln, and also spending 18 months in a coastal artillery unit. In April 1940 he transferred to the U-Boat force.
After training, and sailing on a patrol as Kommandantenschüler (Commander-in-Training") aboard U-29 under Otto Schuhart, Thurmann commissioned the Type VIIC U-Boot U-553 on 23 December 1940. Thurmann took U-553 out on nine patrols in 1941 and 1942, mostly in the North Atlantic, but also on the US east coast and in the Caribbean, sank 14 ships totalling ♚ 77,588 ♚ tons and damaging one other totalling 8,106 tons.
Ships sunk:
SS Susan Maersk (2,355 GRT), sunk 12 June 1941.
SS Ranella (5,590 GRT), sunk 12 June 1941.
SS Ila (1,583 GRT), sunk October 1941.
MV Silvercedar (4,354 GRT), sunk 15 October 1941.
SS Bold Venture (3,222 GRT), sunk 17 October 1941.
HMS Gladiolus (K 34) (925 GRT), sunk 17 October 1941
MV Diala (8,106 GRT), damaged 15 January 1942.
SS Innerøy (8,260 GRT), sunk 22 January 1942.
SS Leto (4,712 GRT), sunk 12 May 1942.
SS Nicoya (5,364 GRT), sunk 12 May 1942.
MV Mattawin (6,919 GRT), sunk 2 June 1942.
SS Belgian Soldier (7,167 GRT), sunk 3 August 1942.
MV Blankaholm (2,845 GRT), sunk 18 August 1942.
MV Empire Bede (6,959 GRT), damaged 18 August 1942, sunk by gunfire from HMS Pimpernel.
SS John Hancock (7,176 GRT), sunk 18 August 1942.
MV Charles L D (5,273 GRT), sunk 9 December 1942.
On 16 January 1943, Thurmann left La Pallice, France, on his tenth patrol. On 20 January, he sent the radio message: Seerohr unklar ("Periscope not clear"). U-553 was never heard from again and her fate remains a mystery.