Günther Heydemann

Günther Heydemann

Flotillenchef Rösing decorates Heydemann with the Knight's Cross
Born (1914-01-11)11 January 1914
Greifswald
Died 2 January 1986(1986-01-02) (aged 71)
Hamburg-Wedel
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1933–45
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Karlsruhe
Schlesien
Schleswig-Holstein
Commands held U-575
Battles/wars

World War II

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

References

Citations

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-575". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 364.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 226.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 389.

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


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