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Ambrosius, Wilhelm

    Date of birth:
    June 14th, 1903 (Tuchel/Western Prussia, Germany)
    Date of death:
    September 19th, 1955 (Durban, South Africa)
    Nationality:
    German

    Biography

    Wilhelm Ambrosius entered the navy in 1921.
    On 8th May 1945 he became a POW of the British from whom he was released on 8th December 1948.

    Promotions:
    3rd October 1921: Rekrut
    3rd March 1923: Funkgast
    3rd October 1923: Oberfunkgast
    1st May 1925: Obermatrose
    1st November 1925: Matrosenobergefreiter
    1st April 1926: Offiziersanwärter
    1st April 1928: Fähnrich zur See
    1st July 1930: Oberfähnrich zur See
    1st October 1930: Leutnant zur See
    1st October 1932: Oberleutnant zur See
    1st April 1936: Kapitänleutnant
    1st November 1940: Korvettenkapitän
    1st June 1944: Fregattenkapitän

    Career:
    - U-Lehrgang u. Kommandantenschießlehrgang Unterseebootsabwehrschule, Kiel-Wik: 1935 until 30th April 1936;
    - Kommandant zur Verfügung U-Flottille Saltzwedel, Wilhelmshaven: 11st May 1936 until 11th September 1936;
    - Kommandant U 28 / U-Flottille Salzwedel, Wilhelmshaven: 12th September 1936 until 1st November 1938 during which he was in April 1937 temporarily Kommandant U 21 / U-Flottille Weddigen, Kiel;
    - Flottillenchef in Vertretung U-Flottille Hundius, Wilhelmshaven: 6th August 1938 until 31st July 1939;
    - Baubelehrung U 43 Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG [AG Weser], Bremen / Marinelehrwerkstatt, Wilhelmshaven: 1st August until 25th August 1939;
    - Kommandant U 43 / U-Flottille Hundius, Wilhelmshaven u. 2.U-Flottille, Wilhelmshaven / Lorient: 26th August 1939 until 20th October 1940;
    - Kommandeur 1. Abteilung / 2.Unterseeboots-Lehr-Division, Gotenhafen: 1st November 1940 until 30th June 1943;
    - Flottillenchef 22.U-Flottille, Gotenhafen: 1st January 1941 until 4th January 1944;
    - Kommandeur in Vertretung 2.Unterseeboots-Lehr-Division, Gotenhafen: 3rd December 1943 until 16th February 1944;
    - Flottillenchef 2.Minensuchflottille: February 1944 until August 1944;
    - Kommandeur Sperrschule Kiel-Wik: October 1944 until February 1945;
    - Führer 11.Sicherungsdivision: March 1945 until 8th May 1945;

    Achievements:
    As commander of U 43: Completed five war patrols 176 days, made one transit sailing 3 days. Sank 7 merchant ships 38.403 GRT and sank 1 tanker 8.627 GRT. Kptlt. Wilhelm Ambrosius was removed from the command and replaced by Oblt. Wolfgang Lüth.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Kapitänleutnant
    Unit:
    Kommandant U 28
    Awarded on:
    June 6th, 1939
    Spanienkreuz, Silber
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Kapitänleutnant
    Unit:
    Kommandant U 28
    Awarded on:
    August 21st, 1939
    Cruz Naval con distintivo Blanco
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Kapitänleutnant
    Unit:
    Kommandant U 43
    Awarded on:
    December 15th, 1939
    Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Kapitänleutnant
    Unit:
    Kommandant U 43
    Awarded on:
    April 8th, 1940
    U-boot Kriegsabzeichen (ohne Brillianten)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Kapitänleutnant
    Unit:
    Kommandant U 43
    Awarded on:
    September 1940
    Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Korvettenkapitän
    Unit:
    22.U-bootsflotille
    Awarded on:
    April 20th, 1943
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Korvettenkapitän
    Unit:
    Chef 22.U-bootsflotille
    Awarded on:
    September 1st, 1943
    Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse mit Schwertern
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Fregattenkapitän
    Unit:
    Flottillenchef 2.Minensuchflottille
    Awarded on:
    September 8th, 1944
    Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

    Sources

    • - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
      - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
      - Archives Fernando Almeida

    Photo