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Franz Kohlauf Military person

Franz Kohlauf (3 December 1910 – 26 April 1944) was a Fregattenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a 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. He was killed in action when Torpedoboot T-29 was sunk by HMCS Haida.He commanded the 4. Torpedo Boat Flotilla, consisting of large Elbing-class torpedo boats, among others. Kohlauf led the five torpedo boats T-23, T-26, T-27, T-22 and T-25 in a night battle on 22/23 October 1943 in which the Germans sunk the British cruiser HMS Charybdis and escort destroyer HMS Limbourne, without losses. After this action, he was awarded the Knight's Cross.In December 28 of that year he fought in the Battle of the Bay of Biscay but managed to escape harm.