Siegfried Wuppermann

Siegfried Wuppermann
Born	(1916-12-15)15 December 1916 Berlin
Died	Osnabrück
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine German Navy
Years of service	1936–45
Rank	Kapitänleutnant (Kriegsmarine) Kapitän zur See of the Reserves (Bundesmarine)
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Siegfried Wuppermann (15 December 1916 – 15 April 2005) was a Kapitänleutnant with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and later served with the Bundesmarine. He was a recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

Military career

Siegfried Wuppermann was born on 15 December 1916 in Berlin. He joined the Kriegsmarine in 1936 and was promoted to Leutnant zur See in 1938 and as adjutant was transferred to the U-boat-Schulflottille.

Wuppermann joined the Schnellboot service in March 1939 and took command of a Schnellboot in the 1. Schnellbootflottille. During the Invasion of Poland he participated on patrols in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and in the English Channel.

In early November 1940 he took charge of a Gruppe in the 3. Schnellbootflottille and takes command of Schnellboot "S 60" on 21 December 1940. Siegfried saw action with this boat near Boulogne. In February 1941 he became acting commander of the 3. Schnellbootflottille because Friedrich Kemnade was on vacation. Wuppermann led a patrol on 7 March 1941 against Allied convoys which leads to the destruction of two destroyers and three merchant vessels.

On "S 60" he participates in Operation Barbarossa. On 21 June 1941, one day before the invasion of the Soviet Union, he operated against the harbor of Windau laying 30 mines. Siegfried Wuppermann received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 August 1941 during these battles.

After the 3. Schnellbootflottille was transferred to the Mediterranean to guard the Axis convoys to North Africa. Wuppermann receives the coveted Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 14 April 1943.

Kapitänleutnant Wuppermann helps establish the 21. and 22. Schnellbootflottillen in Eckernförde in May 1943 and is then transferred to the Stab of the Führer der Schnellboote. In March 1945 he takes command of the 1. Schnellboot Division and fights with this unit in the Adriatic Sea.

After the war he joins the Bundesmarine. Siegfried Wuppermann died on 15 April 2005 in Osnabrück.

Awards

• Iron Cross
  • 2nd Class (20 April 1940)
  • 1st Class (28 May 1940)
• Fast Attack Craft War Badge (16 December 1940)
  • with Diamonds (10 June 1943)
• War Cross for Military Valor with Swords (Italy, 10 May 1942)
• Bronze Medal of Military Valor (Italy, 21 May 1942)
• Silver Medal of Military Valor (Italy, 24 January 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 3 August 1941 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of "S-60" in the 3. Schnellbootflottille
  • 226th Oak Leaves on 14 April 1943 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of "S-56" in the 3. Schnellbootflottille
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht on 9 March 1941 and 30 June 1941

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Sunday, 9 March 1941	Bei dem im gestrigen Wehrmachtbericht bekanntgegebenen großen Erfolg der Schnellbootwaffe haben sich die unter der Führung des Korvettenkapitäns Petersen, des Kapitänleutnants Birnbacher und des Oberleutnants zur See Wuppermann stehenden Schnellbootverbände besonders ausgezeichnet.	In yesterdays in the Wehrmacht report announced huge success of the fast attack craft force, have fast attack craft units under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander Petersen, the Captain Lieutenant Birnbacher and Lieutenant at Sea Wuppermann particularly distinguished themselves.

External links

• Siegfried Wuppermann @ World War 2 Awards.com
• Siegfried Wuppermann @ Ritterkreuzträger 1939–45
• Siegfried Wuppermann @ Lexikon der Wehrmacht