Günther Heydemann
| Günther Heydemann | |
|---|---|
|
Flotillenchef Rösing decorates Heydemann with the Knight's Cross | |
| Born |
11 January 1914 Greifswald |
| Died |
2 January 1986 (aged 71) Hamburg-Wedel |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
.svg.png){kind=small} Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1933–45 |
| Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
| Unit |
SSS Gorch Fock cruiser Karlsruhe Schlesien Schleswig-Holstein |
| Commands held | U-575 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Günther Heydemann (11 January 1914 in Greifswald – 2 January 1986 in Hamburg-Wedel) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and 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.
Prior to taking command of U-575, Heydemann made two war patrols as watch officer on board U-69 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Jost Metzler.
Summary of career
As commander of U-575 Günther Heydmann is credited with the sinking of eight ships for a total of 48,920 gross register tons (GRT).
Ships attacked
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 October 1941 | Tuva |  Netherlands |
4,652 | Sunk |
| 16 April 1942 | Robin Hood |  United States |
6,887 | Sunk |
| 4 July 1942 | Norlandia | United States |
2,689 | Sunk |
| 9 July 1942 | Empire Explorer |  United Kingdom |
5,345 | Sunk |
| 18 July 1942 | Comrade | United Kingdom |
69 | Sunk |
| 18 July 1942 | Glacier | United Kingdom |
75 | Sunk |
| 18 July 1942 | San Gaspar | United Kingdom |
12,910 | Damaged |
| 29 July 1942 | Abosso | United Kingdom |
11,330 | Sunk |
| 25 January 1943 | City of Flint | United States |
4,963 | Sunk |
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (1 April 1937)[2]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (12 April 1941)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 July 1943 Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-575[3][4]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Günther Heydemann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
- private Homepage about U-575
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