serviceyears branch commands death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards battles birth_date rank article_title name
1924 -- 45 weimar republic nazi germany u-18 1936 2 erzhausen 16 february 1975 hildesheim weimar republic -lrb- to 1933 -rrb- nazi germany sss 1940 2 '' gorch fock '' u-20 1936 2 u-123 knight 's cross of the iron cross world war ii 5 september 1905 '' kapitänleutnant '' karl fleige
 karl fleige
karl fleige

karl fleige -lrb- 5 september 1905 in hildesheim -- 16 february 1975 in erzhausen -rrb- was a german u-boat commander in world war ii and recipient of the knight 's cross of the iron cross -lrb- -rrb- .
the knight 's cross of the iron cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership .
