Siegfried Koitschka

Dr. med. vet.
Siegfried Koitschka

Koitschka, as 1st watch officer, next to Erich Topp (white cap)
Born (1917-08-06)6 August 1917
Siebitz, district of Bautzen
Died 17 May 2002(2002-05-17) (aged 84)
Lohra
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1937–45
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
cruiser Admiral Hipper
U-552
Commands held U-7
U-616
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Other work Veterinary in Lohra, district Marburg-Biedenkopf

Dr. med. vet. Siegfried Koitschka[Note 1] (6 August 1917 – 17 May 2002) 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. He is credited with the sinking of USS Buck.

Before taking command of his first U-boat, Koitschka served as watch officer on U-552 under the command of Erich Topp. Koitschka and his entire crew were taken prisoner of war following the scuttling of U-616 on 17 May 1944. U-616 sank in position 36°46′N 00°52′E / 36.767°N 0.867°E / 36.767; 0.867 (scuttling of U-616) after three days of sustained depth charging from the US destroyers Nields, Gleaves, Ellyson, Macomb, Hambleton, Rodman and Emmons, and by depth charges from Wellington K of No. 36 Squadron RAF.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

Date Name of Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate
9 October 1943 USS Buck  United States Navy 1,570 Sunk
11 October 1943 HMS LCT-553  Royal Navy 611 Sunk
14 May 1944 Fort Fidler  United Kingdom 7,127 Damaged
14 May 1944 G.S. Walden  United Kingdom 10,627 Damaged

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ In German a Doctorate in Veterinary medicine is abbreviated as Dr. med. vet. (Doctor medicinae veterinariae).

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 416.
  2. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 243.
  3. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 463.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 268.

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. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • 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. 


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