The Award Documents To U-Boat Ace & Kc Recipient, Commander Karl-Heinz Moehle

Moehle was the 39th highest scoring U-Boat Captain Commander. Offered here are his awarded documents including the following:

A permission certificate for the acceptance of the Knight’s Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of Merit (211x298mm, very fine) to Oberleutnant Moehle, dated to Berlin on December 19, 1939. It carries a facsimile of A.H., as well as a signature in black ink by Chief of the Presidential Chancellery of the Führer and Chancellor, Otto Meissner (1880–1953).

A U-boat Badge certificate (210x300mm, near extremely fine) to Kapitänleutnant Moehle. The document is dated to Wilhelmshaven on October 17, 1939 and carries a facsimile of Commander of U-Boats Karl Dönitz (1891–1980).

A War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords certificate (146x208mm, extremely fine) to Corvette Captain Moehle. The document is dated to “on board” on January 30, 1945 and signed in blue ink by Commanding Admiral of the U-boats Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (1895–1945), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross.

A War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords certificate (149x208mm, extremely fine) to Corvette Captain Moehle. The document is dated to “on board” on September 1, 1944 and signed in blue ink by Friedeburg once more.

A Long Service Award 4th Class certificate (209x297mm, extremely fine), stating that Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) Moehle of the Command of the U-boat School has served in the Wehrmacht for 6 years, for which he receives the award. The document is dated to Kiel on October 2, 1936 and signed in black ink by the Commanding Admiral of the Navy Station in the Baltic Sea, Conrad Albrecht (1880–1969), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the House Order of Hohenzollern.

A Sudetenland Medal certificate (211x298mm, better than very fine) to Kapitänleutnant Moehle of U Flotilla Lohs “U 20”, dated to Kiel on December 20, 1939 and signed in black ink by Corvette Captain and Flotilla Chief Hans Eckermann (1905–1985).

The cover page of the statutes of the Hungarian Order of Merit (205x300mm, better than very fine).

Footnote: Karl-Heinz Moehle was born on July 31, 1910 in Norden, East Frisia. He joined the Kriegsmarine in 1930 and received training on board the school ship “Schleswig-Holstein”. In early 1936, already in the rank of Lieutenant, Moehle changed his career trajectory and transferred to the U-boats. He was promoted to Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) shortly after, in June. After some time as a guard officer, his first command followed in late 1937 when Moehle became the Commander of U-20. He was promoted to Kapitänleutnant on April 1, 1939. Moehle had gone on two patrols before the beginning of the war, and would go on three more with U-20 afterwards. His area of operation was the North Sea. During his time on board, he sank four ships. At the end of May of 1940, Moehle took command of U-123, one of the most famous U-boats of the war. His success rate improved dramatically. On his first patrol, Moehle managed to sink six merchant ships, and on his second patrol he sank five ships in just five hours. The next four patrols saw him sink another five ships. In nine patrols, Moehle sank 21 ships with a combined GRT of over 90,000. For this he received the Knight’s Cross on February 26, 1941. This marked the end of his frontline service. He took command of the 5th U-boat Flotilla and the U-boat base in Kiel. In March 1943, his final promotion to Corvette Captain followed. Just before the end of the war, Moehle received the German Cross in Silver on May 1, 1945. Very little is known about his post-war life. Moehle died on November 17, 1996 at the age of 86.