Bartels, Robert (U-561)

Date of birth:: April 28th, 1911 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)
Date of death:: August 20th, 1943 (near Madagaskar)
Buried on:: German Submarines Memorial
Grave: UNK.
Nationality:: German

Biography

Robert Bartels reached the rank of Korvettenkapitän. He was killed on August 20th, 1943 when the "U 197" was sunk by No. 259 Squadron and No. 265 Squadron with Convoy AHL67, near Madagaskar at 28.40S / 42.36O. In 9 operational sails (383 days at sea), he sunk 8 ships with a total of 43.436BRT and damaged 2 ships with a total of 11.224BRT.

Promotions:
01.07.1935: Fähnrich zur See
01.01.1937: Oberfähnrich zur See
01.04.1937: Leutnant zur See
01.04.1939: Oberleutnant zur See
01.02.1942: Kapitänleutnant
01.08.1943: Korvettenkapitän

Career:
00.00.1934: Handelsschiffsoffizier
01.04.1935: Offiziersanwärter, entered the Reichsmarine
01.04.1935-00.00.1937: Fähnrichslehrgänge, U-Bootsausbildung
00.00.1937-00.06.1940: Wachoffizier, U 21
00.07.1940-23.07.1940: Kommandantenschüler and Baubelehrung U 139, U-Boote Ostsee, Kiel
24.07.1940-20.12.1940: Kommandant "U 139"
21.12.1940-12.03.1941: 1. U-Flottille, Kiel and Baubelehrung U 561, K.L.A. U-Nordsee, Bremen
13.03.1941-05.09.1942: Kommandant "U 561"
06.09.1942-09.10.1942: Baubelehrung U 197, 6. K.L.A., Bremen
10.10.1942-20.08.1943: Kommandant "U 197", 12. U-Flottille
20.08.1943: U 197 waterbombed by Catalina C flown by Flt.Lt. L.O. Barnett from UK 259th Squadron and then waterbombed by "Catalina N" flown by Flt.Off. C.E. Robin from 265th Squadron sunk in KQ 8251 - 28°40' South - 42°36' East, south of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean
All hands lost (67 KIA)