Klaus was a German naval officer. He was the older of two sons of Admiral Dönitz. When his younger brother Peter was killed in the sinking of U-954 on 19 May 1943, Klaus was allowed to withdraw from active service to begin training as a naval doctor. However, he was killed on the E-boat S-141 whilst accompanying it on a raid on Selsey, during which it was sunk by the French ship La Combattante.
It was Klaus's birthday.
Reportedly, Gross Admiral Karl Dönitz showed little emotion when he received notification of his sons death. He continued his daily duties, but was not as organized as he usually was. After his morning staff meeting/conference, the Admiral went home and told his wife for the second time in a year that a son had been killed in action. Their youngest son, Peter, was lost on May 19, 1943 on the U-Boat, U-954. There was a meeting scheduled that day in the Dönitz home with the Japanese Ambassador and a number of Japanese officers. The Admiral and his wife hosted the meeting as planned. Ingaborg did not let her pain show during the meeting in any way but as soon as the delegation left she reportedly collapsed under the terrible emotional stress of a mother who had lost her two boys.
Klaus's body was recovered and he was buried in the park of the Column of the Grande Armée.
Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Dönitz earned the following badges/decorations for his service to the Kriegsmarine during World War II:
- 1939 German Minesweeper Badge
- 1939 Iron Cross Second Class
- Navy Combat Service Badge Second Class
Klaus was a German naval officer. He was the older of two sons of Admiral Dönitz. When his younger brother Peter was killed in the sinking of U-954 on 19 May 1943, Klaus was allowed to withdraw from active service to begin training as a naval doctor. However, he was killed on the E-boat S-141 whilst accompanying it on a raid on Selsey, during which it was sunk by the French ship La Combattante.
It was Klaus's birthday.
Reportedly, Gross Admiral Karl Dönitz showed little emotion when he received notification of his sons death. He continued his daily duties, but was not as organized as he usually was. After his morning staff meeting/conference, the Admiral went home and told his wife for the second time in a year that a son had been killed in action. Their youngest son, Peter, was lost on May 19, 1943 on the U-Boat, U-954. There was a meeting scheduled that day in the Dönitz home with the Japanese Ambassador and a number of Japanese officers. The Admiral and his wife hosted the meeting as planned. Ingaborg did not let her pain show during the meeting in any way but as soon as the delegation left she reportedly collapsed under the terrible emotional stress of a mother who had lost her two boys.
Klaus's body was recovered and he was buried in the park of the Column of the Grande Armée.
Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Dönitz earned the following badges/decorations for his service to the Kriegsmarine during World War II:
- 1939 German Minesweeper Badge
- 1939 Iron Cross Second Class
- Navy Combat Service Badge Second Class
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