Hans-Werner Kraus

Hans-Werner Kraus
Born	(1915-07-01)1 July 1915 Beulwitz/Saalfeld
Died	25 May 1990(1990-05-25) (aged 74) Wanger/Allgäu
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1934–43
Rank	Kapitänleutnant
Unit	SSS Gorch Fock cruiser Karlsruhe cruiser Königsberg U-47
Commands	U-83, U-199
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of the Atlantic Great Papago Escape
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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 U-47 from January 1940 until November 1940 having replaced Engelbert Endrass. He later commanded U-83 and U-199.

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.^[1]

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.