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Johann Friedrich Wessels

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Years of service
  
1923–45

Name
  
Johann-Friedrich Wessels

Battles/wars
  
World War II

Battles and wars
  
World War II


Born
  
28 May 1904 Wilhelmshaven-Rustringen (
1904-05-28
)

Allegiance
  
Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany

Service/branch
  
Reichsmarine  Kriegsmarine

Rank
  
Korvettenkapitan (Ing.)

Died
  
February 9, 1988, Oldenburg, Germany

Awards
  
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Unit
  
SMS Schlesien, German submarine U-23

Johann-Friedrich Wessels (28 May 1904 in Wilhelmshaven-Rustringen – 9 February 1988 in Oldenburg) was a German chief engineer on a U-boat 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. Wessels was chief engineer on board of U-47 for four war patrols, including Gunther Priens' infiltration of Scapa Flow and sinking of HMS Royal Oak. He then transferred to U-198 under the command of Werner Hartmann with whom he went on one patrol lasting 199 days. His final posting was on U-870 under Ernst Hechler.

Awards

  • Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936)
  • Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (17 October 1939)
  • U-boat War Badge (1939) (19 December 1939)
  • U-boat Front Clasp in Bronze (4 October 1944)
  • Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 March 1944 as Kapitanleutnant (Ing.) and chief engineer on U-198

    • References

    Johann-Friedrich Wessels Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA