Allegiance Nazi Germany Rank Kapitanleutnant Service/branch Kriegsmarine | Years of service 1937–45 Name Siegfried Koitschka | |
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Born 6 August 1917
Siebitz, district of Bautzen ( 1917-08-06 ) Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
cruiser Admiral Hipper
U-552 Battles/wars World War II
Battle of the Atlantic Other work Veterinary in Lohra, district Marburg-Biedenkopf Died May 17, 2002, Lohra, Germany Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Battles and wars Battle of the Atlantic, World War II Commands held German submarine U-7, German submarine U-616 | ||
Dr. med. vet. Siegfried Koitschka (6 August 1917 – 17 May 2002) 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. He is credited with the sinking of the USS Buck (DD-420).
Before taking command of his first U-boat, Koitschka served as watch officer on U-552 under the command of Erich Topp. Koitschka and his entire crew were taken prisoner of war following the scuttling of U-616 on 17 May 1944. U-616 sank in position 36°46′N 00°52′E after three days of sustained depth charging from the US destroyers Nields, Gleaves, Ellyson, Macomb, Hambleton, Rodman and Emmons, and by depth charges from a British Vickers Wellington aircraft from No. 36 Squadron.