Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. U-125 was fatally damaged at 52°30′North 45°20′West by the British destroyer Oribi and gunfire from the British corvette Snowflake. The crew of U-125 scuttled their boat with 5 explosive charges while almost alongside the HMS Snowflake and waited in the water to be rescued.
Another corvette Sunflower did reach the scene about this time.
The commander of the corvette radioed the escort commander, Robert Sherwood, Registered Nurse, in Tay but was given the reply: "Not approved to pick up survivors" The corvettes HMS Sunflower and HMS Snowflake then turned back to protect the convoy leaving the men in the water. Kptlt. Folkers and his crew of 54 men died during that night.
Ships attacked As commander of U-125, Folkers is credited with the sinking of 17 merchant ships totalling 82,873 gross register tons (GRT). Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht Bibliography.