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Klaus Bargsten

1911 – 2000

German World War II U-boat commander

SubmarinerSoldier Marineoffizier
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About Klaus Bargsten

Lived 1911 – 2000 (aged 88). Klaus Bargsten was a German submariner, soldier and marineoffizier.

Klaus Bargsten (31 October 1911 – 25 October 2000) was the captain and sole survivor of the sunken German submarine . He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

Career

U-521 under Bargsten's command was sunk on 2 June 1943 by the United States submarine chaser east of Cape Hatteras. Bargsten was the sole survivor.

Bargsten was interrogated and held as a prisoner of war until his release in 1946. The Kriegsmarine falsely reported the entire crew of U-521 as missing in action.

Ranks and military decorations

Ranks The following is a list of dates for Kptlt. Bargsten's promotions during World War II. Date Rank 1 July 1936 Fähnrich zur See 1 January 1938 Oberfähnrich zur See 1 April 1938 Leutnant zur See 1 October 1939 Oberleutnant zur See 1 August 1942 Kapitänleutnant

Decorations The following is a list of Kptlt. Bargsten's awards and decorations. Date Decoration 23 July 1940 Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 10 August 1940 U-boat War Badge (1939) 25 September 1940 Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class 30 April 1943 Knight's Cross as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-521

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Submariner, soldier, Marineoffizier
Nationality
Positions held
Officer of the watch, Commandant
Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross; U-boat War Badge

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Klaus Bargsten's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Klaus Bargsten?

German World War II U-boat commander

When was Klaus Bargsten born?

Klaus Bargsten was born on 31 October 1911 in Bad Oldesloe.

When did Klaus Bargsten die?

Klaus Bargsten died on 13 August 2000 in Bremen.

What was Klaus Bargsten's occupation?

Klaus Bargsten was a submariner, soldier and marineoffizier.

What nationality was Klaus Bargsten?

Klaus Bargsten was German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Klaus Bargsten

· Wikidata: Q2615084

· DBpedia: Klaus Bargsten

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Klaus Bargsten. https://biography.guide/klaus-bargsten/

MLA: "Klaus Bargsten." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/klaus-bargsten/.

Chicago: "Klaus Bargsten." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/klaus-bargsten/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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