Günther Heydemann

Günther Heydemann
300px Flotillenchef Rösing decorates Heydemann with the Knight's Cross
Born	(1914-01-11)11 January 1914 Greifswald
Died	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 Battle of the Atlantic
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 a U-boat 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
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)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (12 April 1941)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (12 April 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 July 1943 Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-575

References

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 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
• Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2.
• Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
• 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Günther Heydemann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
• private Homepage about U-575