Hermann Rasch


Hermann Rasch was a German U-boat commander of in World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.
On 14 May 1942, Reinhard Suhren, commander of, sunk the Mexican oil tanker Potrero del Llano. The sinking of this ship, compounded with U-106s attack on another tanker, the Faja de Oro, compelled Mexico to declare war on the Axis powers.

Military Service

Source:
Rasch began his naval service in April 1934. He entered the U-boat force in April of 1940, reporting to U-106 in September of that year. After attending a commander school, he assumed command of U-106 in October 1941. U-106 went on six patrols in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico from October 1941 until his departure in April of 1943, accounting for 12 ships sunk, and another two damaged. Following U-106, Rasch served as an Admiral Staff Officer with the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine. He then served as commander of Kommando der Kleinkampfverbände, overseeing operations with Seehund- and Biber-class midget u-boats, from October 1944 until the end of the war.
Date of RankRank
April 1934Seekadett
July 1935Fähnrich zur See
April 1937Leutnant zur See
April 1939Oberleutnant zur See
March 1942Kapitänleutnant

Post-war and death

After the war, Rasch spent a year in Allies of [World War II|Allied] captivity. He then left the navy and worked as a journalist; most notably, as editor-in-chief of der Mittag, a Düsseldorf-based midday newspaper.
Hermann Rasch died in Hamburg, West Germany on 10 June 1974, aged 59.

Awards