Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

March 19th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

July 18th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zu See der Reserve

Unit:

Kommandant Torpedoboot "TA 20"

Awarded on:

November 5th, 1944

The following press article (dated 07.11.1944) describes why Guhrke would receive the Knight’s Cross…

“As reported by the Wehrmachtbericht of the 05.11.1944, two German submarine chasers and a torpedo boat were sunk in the Adriatic after a bitter battle against far superior British naval forces. This battle will remain forever as a glorious chapter in the German Kriegsmarine.

The German ships, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Thorwest, had the mission to protect an important convoy against naval attack during its voyage along the Adriatic coast.

Combat began in the evening hours of the 01.11.1944 near the island of Trstenik, west of the island of Pag. The German ships immediately attacked the overwhelming enemy with all available weapons and were able to significantly damage multiple ships (particularly the destroyer ‘HMS Avondale’) by a volley of well aimed shots. After repulsing several enemy attacks from the sea and the air, the torpedo boat (commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Guhrke) and the two submarine chasers (commanded by Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Trautwein and Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Wenke) were sunk with flags at full mast. Their mission was however fulfilled, the German convoy reached its destination harbour undamaged.

The Führer rewarded this sacrificial demonstration of duty by awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross to these naval officers, and also decorated the members of their exemplary fighting crews at the same time.

As the British fast attack craft had only recently suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the two German submarine chasers in the same naval area, the enemy saw himself forced to engage the German craft with units that were overwhelmingly superior in weight and armament. On the night of the 23./24.10.1944 the now-sunk German submarine chasers were engaged in heavy combat with British fast attack craft west of the island of Maun. Over the course of several battles on this night 6 fast attack craft were sunk and more heavily damaged. The British admiralty has been silent concerning these battles until now.

The supreme commander of the Kriegsmarine, Großadmiral Dönitz, gave a special recognition over the radio to the brave crews of the two German submarine chasers for this act. Just before being decorated these men found heroes’ deaths while fulfilling their difficult task. Only a few were rescued from the waters before going into captivity.”