Allegiance Nazi Germany Rank Kapitanleutnant Service/branch Kriegsmarine | Years of service 1934–43 Name Max-Martin Teichert Commands held German submarine U-456 | |
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Born 31 January 1915
Kiel ( 1915-01-31 ) Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
torpedo boat Iltis
destroyer Wolfgang Zenker
destroyer Friedrich Ihn
6th U-boat Flotilla11th U-boat Flotilla1st U-boat Flotilla Battles/wars World War II
Battle of the Atlantic
Operation Wunderland Awards Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class
U-boat War Badge
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Died May 12, 1943, Atlantic Ocean Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic, Operation Wunderland, World War II | ||
Max-Martin Teichert (31 January 1915 in Kiel – 12 May 1943 in the North Atlantic) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and posthumous 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.
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Career
Teichert joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1934. He first served on the torpedo boat Iltis, and then the destroyer Z14 Friedrich Ihn. In June 1940 he transferred to the U-boat force, and served as 1.WO (second-in-command) to Herbert Kuppisch aboard the Type VIIC U-boat U-94 for two patrols.
In September 1941 he commissioned U-456 and completed nine patrols in the Arctic Sea during 1942. He sank three ships, including the naval trawler HMS Sulla, a staggler of Convoy PQ 13, and seriously damaged the British Town class light cruiser HMS Edinburgh, which was sunk some days later. In December 1942 U-456 was transferred to 1st U-boat Flotilla, and operated in the northern Atlantic, sinking another four merchant vessels.
Teichert died on 12 May 1943, during his 11th patrol, when U-456 was lost with all hands in the North Atlantic, in position 46°39′N 26°54′W. The U-boat surfaced after being hit by a Fido homing torpedo dropped by a British Liberator aircraft from No. 86 Squadron RAF. When the O-class destroyer HMS Opportune arrived the U-boat dived, but almost certainly immediately sank to the ocean floor.
Ships attacked
Max-Martin Teichert as commander of U-456 sank six merchant ships totalling 31,528 GRT, damaged another of 6,421 GRT, and also engaged and damaged the 11,500 GRT Town class light cruiser HMS Edinburgh.