Date of birth:

October 19th, 1913 (Gerdauen/ East Prussia, Germany)

Date of death:

April 29th, 1982 (Kronshagen/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

Nationality:

German

Promotions:

Kriegsmarine:
23-09-1933 – Seekadett
01-07-1934 – Fähnrich zur See
01-04-1936 – Oberfähnrich zur See
01-10-1936 – Leutnant zur See
01-06-1938 – Oberleutnant zur See
01-11-1940 – Kapitänleutnant

Bundesmarine:
01-10-1956 – Korvettenkapitän
24-07-1958 – Fregattenkapitän
26-03-1963 – Kapitän zur See

Hans Jenisch joined the Reichsmarine in April 1933, served during his trainings period on several warships and in May 1937 he transferred to the U Boat Force. Between January 1938 and February 1940 he served first as II. Wachoffizier (WO) and later as the I. WO on the U 32 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Paul Büchel. During this period Jenisch made as I. WO two combat patrols and received after these patrols the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse and the U-Boots Kriegabzeichen. After finishing the commander training course Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch took over the command of the U 32 on February 12th 1940.

As U-Boat commander Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch was 114 days at sea, made 6 combat patrols and sank 17 ships with a total tonnage of 110.139 BRT. He also damaged 3 ships with a total tonnage of 22.749 BRT.

On October 30th 1940 during the 6th combat patrol the U 32 came under depth charge attack by two British Destroyers (HMS Harvester en HMS Highlander) and got sunk Northwest of Ireland with the loss of nine man. Oberleutnant zur See Hans Jenisch and 32 man managed to escape the sinking ship and became prisoners of war. (POW no. 60639) Hans Jenisch stayed in England and Canada during the war years and was released on June 20th 1947. After his release Hans Jenisch served from October 1956 till his retirement in March 1972 in the Bundesmarine.

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• Photo 1: Known to STIWOT
• - DIXON, JEREMY, The U-boat Commanders, Naval Institute Press, 2019.
  - RAINER BUSCH & HANS-JOACHIM RÖLL, Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945, Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GMBH, 2003.
  - das-ritterkreuz.de
  - uboat.net