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Kaden, Wolfgang (UJ 116)

Date of birth:
December 5th, 1899 (Leipzig, Germany)
Date of death:
July 9th, 1942 (near Hammerfest, Germany)
Buried on:
German Submarines Memorial
Grave: UJ 1110.
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Wolfgang Kaden is credited with the sinking of at least three submarines including the British submarine HMS H49 on 18 October 1940 off of Texel and the Soviet submarine K-23 commanded by Magomet Gadzhiyev on 12 May 1942 off of Nordkyn.
He was killed in action on 9 July 1942 when his submarine chaser U-Jäger 1110 ran into a naval mine and sunk near Hammerfest.
He was posthumously promoted to Korvettenkapitän der Reserve.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
December 15th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Kapitänleutnant der Reserve (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Kommandant, "UJ 116", 11. Unterseebootsjagdflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
December 18th, 1940
The following press article, dated 30.12.1940, describes why Kaden was decorated with the Knight’s Cross…

“Since the beginning of the war Kapitänleutnant Kaden has been the captain of a submarine chaser. During the Norwegian campaign he participated in all the military operations of his flotilla, including submarine hunting/security as well as the escort of troop and munition transports. Here he showed himself to be a consistently bold and reliable sailor. Particular noteworthy are his successes during combat against submarines. Through his skillful approaches and expert employment of the tools at his disposal he rendered several enemy submarines harmless. His irresistible determination and exemplary conduct have brought about great achievements for himself and his crew.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

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