Date of birth:

June 5th, 1915 (Kanagawa, Japan)

Date of death:

August 13th, 1982 (Villingen/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Herbert Wohlfahrt served as Wachoffizier op "U 16", Kommandant "U 14", Kommandant "U 137" and Kommandant "U 556". During 9 operational sails (137 days at sea) he sunk a total of 21 ships with 66.932BRT and damaged three ships with a total of 20.455BRT. He became a POW to the British when his ship "U 556" was sunk by the Royal Navy on June 27th, 1941.

Career:
?: Wachoffizier "U 16";
October 1939 - June 1940: Kommandant "U 14";
June 1940 - December 1940: Kommandant "U 137";
February 1941 - June 1941: Kommandant "U 566";
June 27th, 1941 - July 14th, 1947: POW to the British.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)

Unit:

Kommandant "U 556"

Awarded on:

May 15th, 1941

The following newspaper excerpt (dated 27.05.1941) describes why Wohlfarth received the Knight’s Cross…

“Kapitänleutnant and U-Boat captain Herbert Wohlfarth has sunk a total of 22 armed enemy merchant ships (with 95977 GRT), a total which included a patrol vessel. He sunk 18 of these ships (with 75477 GRT) whilst serving as commander of a small U-Boat. Such a success with a U-Boat of this class is exceptional. His success is attributable to his particular skill in operations against convoys as well as his unflagging determination.”

In reality he had by this time sunk 18 ships (with 46593 GRT) and damaged 3 more (with 20455 GRT).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 1st, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 1st, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 6th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 31st, 1937

Awarded on:

December 20th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 26th, 1940

A small submarine under the command of First Lieutenant at Sea Wohlfarth has sunk out of a convoy four steamers of 25,000 GRT, including a tanker.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

November 20th, 1940

A small submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Wohlfarth, which on its last undertaking had sunk four enemy merchant ships of 23,880 GRT, so far destroyed a total of 61,500 GRT enemy merchant shipping.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

May 23rd, 1941

In attacks against the already mentioned enemy convoy distinguished themselves from the rest the submarines under the leadership of Captain Lieutenant Wohlfahrt (sic) and Captain Lieutenant Gysae.

• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - Uboat.net
  - Bochumer Anzeiger (Edition 122)