WWII German U-boat Commander Sigfried Koitachka Knights Cross Signed Photo

Description: Siegfried Koitschka Kapitänleutnant (Crew 37a) Successes 2 warships sunk, total tonnage 2,181 tons 2 ships damaged, total tonnage 17,754 GRT Born 6 Aug 1917Siebitz, Bautzen Died 17 May 2002(84)Lohra / Hessen, Germany Siegfried Koitschka Ranks 3 Apr 1937 Offiziersanwärter 21 Sep 1937 Seekadett 1 May 1938 Fähnrich zur See 1 Jul 1939 Oberfähnrich zur See 1 Aug 1939 Leutnant zur See 1 Sep 1941 Oberleutnant zur See 1 Jun 1944 Kapitänleutnant Decorations 8 May 1941 Iron Cross 2nd Class 8 May 1941 U-boat War Badge 1939 7 Oct 1941 Iron Cross 1st Class 19 Nov 1943 German Cross in Gold 27 Jan 1944 Knights Cross U-boat Commands U-boatFromTo U-7 16 Jan 1942 7 Oct 1942 No war patrols U-616 8 Oct 1942 17 May 1944 9 patrols (204 days) Oblt. Siegfried Koitschka after patrol Siegfried Koitschka began his naval career in April 1937. After some months on the cruiser Admiral Hipper and in a training unit he transferred to the U-boat force in June 1940. Six months later he became second watch officer (II WO) on the newly commissioned U-552, the famous "Red Devil Boat". He accompanied the U-boat on her first six patrols under the command of Erich Topp. He left U-552, certainly with a lot of combat experience, in December 1941. After the commander training course in the 26th (Training) Flotilla, he became commander of the school boat U-7. But in December of the same year he took command of his own front boat, the type VIIC U-boat U-616. After one patrol in the North Atlantic he managed to break through the Straits of Gibraltar in May 1943. After six patrols in the Mediterranean, where he sank a US destroyer in October 1943 and damaged two ships in May 1944 with a total of more than 17,000 tons (he claimed more sinkings, but they were not confirmed successes), he left Toulon on 30 April for his last patrol. Two weeks later, east of Cartagena, Spain, one of the longest U-boat hunting operations of the war took place. After torpedoing two ships, Kptlt. Koitschka with U-616 was located by US destroyers on 14 May, 1944. The next three days U-616 was attacked by the destroyer and also British Wellington aircraft before being forced to surface on the 17 May. All the crew survived the scuttling of the U-boat (Niestlé, 1998). Siegfried Koitschka spent more than two years in Allied captivity before he was released in June 1946. Sources Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II. Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1997). Der U-Bootkrieg 1939-1945 (Band 2). Niestlé, A. (1998). German U-boat losses during World War II. Patrol info for Siegfried Koitschka U-boatDepartureArrival 1.U-6166 Feb 1943 Kiel 26 Mar 1943 St. Nazaire Patrol 1,49 days 2.U-61619 Apr 1943 St. Nazaire 17 May 1943 La Spezia Patrol 2,29 days 3.U-61628 Jul 1943 La Spezia 18 Aug 1943 Toulon Patrol 3,22 days 4.U-6168 Sep 1943 Toulon 18 Sep 1943 Toulon Patrol 4,11 days 5.U-6163 Oct 1943 Toulon 15 Oct 1943 Toulon Patrol 5,13 days 6.U-61620 Nov 1943 Toulon 12 Dec 1943 Toulon Patrol 6,23 days 7.U-6163 Jan 1944 Toulon 15 Jan 1944 Toulon Patrol 7,13 days 8.U-61619 Feb 1944 Toulon 15 Mar 1944 Toulon Patrol 8,26 days 9.U-61630 Apr 1944 Toulon 17 May 1944 Sunk Patrol 9,18 days 9 patrols, 204 days at sea Ships hit by Siegfried Koitschka DateU-boatCommanderName of shipTonsNat.Convoy 9 Oct 1943U-616Siegfried KoitschkaUSS Buck (DD 420)1,570am 11 Oct 1943U-616Siegfried Koitschka HMS LCT-553611br 14 May 1944U-616Siegfried Koitschka Fort Fidler (d.)7,127brGUS-39 14 May 1944U-616Siegfried Koitschka G.S. Walden (d.)10,627brGUS-39 19,935 2 ships sunk (2,181 tons) and 2 ships damaged (17,754 tons). Legend We have a picture of this vessel. (d.) means the ship was damaged. **PLEASE NOTE*** I'm not a collector or expert so please see all photos for condition and let me know if you have any questions or need any more photographs. Due to the reason of light and the display, you can see the picture may have a slight color difference problem, this is inevitable, please understand. Please review images to make your judgment on cosmetic condition which I believe is a matter of personal opinion. You will get what you see. Please keep in mind that the majority of the items in my store are used, vintage or antique. I try to list every item accurately and to the best of my ability including any damage that I may find. There may be surface wear, scuffing or minor things to items that would come with normal use so if there is something specific you are concerned about please ask. 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Price: 31.88 USD

Location: San Diego, California

End Time: 2025-02-10T15:28:16.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.49 USD