Hans-Werner Kraus

Hans-Werner Kraus (1 July 1915 – 25 May 1990) was a German U-boat commander in the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Kraus served as 1st watch officer on from January 1940 until November 1940 having replaced Engelbert Endrass. He later commanded and .

He was on board the latter when it was attacked by Brazilian Air Force aircraft on 27 June 1943. Kraus evaded only to be targeted by a VP-74 Mariner (BuNo 6571) piloted by Lt. Harold C. Carey. The German crew shot it down and the crew were killed.

On 22 July 1943, the U-199 commanded by Kraus, nicknamed "Lobo Cinzento", attacked the fishing vessel "Shangri-lá", fatally killing at least 10 civilians in Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, including Deocleciano Pereira da Costa. Later, his family would fill a lawsuit against the German Federal Republic in the Brazilian Federal Justice. The Brazilian Supreme Court (STF - Supremo Tribunal Federal), in a historical decision, removed the diplomatic immunity of the German Federal Republic, saing it was liable by acts of ius imperii that violated human rights even in the context of war.

Kraus was sunk by aircraft off the coast of Brazil on 31 July 1943. Captured, he was sent as a POW to the United States. Kraus was one of the 25 POWs who escaped from Camp Papago Park, Arizona, during the night of 23–24 December 1944 but was recaptured.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

Awards Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class U-boat War Badge (1939) (29 April 1940) Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 22 March 1942