Quick Facts
Biography
Horst-Arno Fenski (3 November 1918 – 10 February 1965) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Fenski is credited with the sinking of six merchant ships for a total of 43,032 gross register tons (GRT) and two warships, including HMS Penelope on 18 February 1944. On 3 May 1944 he attacked and damaged USS Menges. The following day U-371 was sunk by USS Joseph E. Campbell, USS Pride and other warships, killing three of her crew. Fenski was taken prisoner of war, spending three years in US captivity. Prior to taking command of his first U-boat, Fenski served as first watch officer on U-752 (24 May 1941 – 15 June 1942), at the time under the command of Karl-Ernst Schroeter.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (10 October 1941)
- 1st Class (28 March 1943)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (13 December 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 November 1943 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-410
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 20 February 1944
- ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 406.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 306.