Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel

Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel
Born (1917-06-16)16 June 1917
Berlin-Wilmersdorf
Died 2 July 1944(1944-07-02) (aged 27)
Atlantic Ocean, south-west of Tenerife
25°34′N 21°36′W / 25.567°N 21.600°W / 25.567; -21.600
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1936–44
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Commands held U-140
U-96
U-543
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards U-boat War Badge
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel (16 June 1917 – 2 July 1944) was a Kapitänleutnant with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He sailed with U-140, U-96 and U-543, sinking three ships on seven patrols, for a total of 10.969 tons of Allied shipping. He was also a 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.

Hellriegel and the entire crew of U-543 were killed by depth charges and a homing torpedo from Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft (VC-58) of the US escort carrier USS Wake Island on 2 July 1944.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of U-140, U-96 and U-543 Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel is credited with the sinking of three merchant ships for a total of 10,969 gross register tons (GRT), a warship of 206 long tons (209 t) and damaging two ships of 17,179 GRT.

Date U-boat Name of ship Flag Tonnage Fate
21 July 1941 U-140 submarine M-94  Soviet Navy 206 Sunk at 58°51′N 22°02′E / 58.850°N 22.033°E / 58.850; 22.033 (M-94 (ship))
10 September 1942 U-96 Elisabeth van Belgie  Belgium 4,241 Sunk at 51°30′N 28°25′W / 51.500°N 28.417°W / 51.500; -28.417 (Elisabeth van Belgie (ship))
10 September 1942 U-96 F.J. Wolfe  United Kingdom 12,190 Damaged at 51°30′N 28°25′W / 51.500°N 28.417°W / 51.500; -28.417 (F.J. Wolfe (ship))
10 September 1942 U-96 Sveve  Norway 6,313 Sunk at 51°28′N 28°30′W / 51.467°N 28.500°W / 51.467; -28.500 (Sveve (ship))
11 September 1942 U-96 Delães  Portugal 415 Sunk at 50°03′N 29°32′W / 50.050°N 29.533°W / 50.050; -29.533 (Delães (ship))
25 September 1942 U-96 New York  United Kingdom 4,989 Damaged at 54°34′N 25°44′W / 54.567°N 25.733°W / 54.567; -25.733 (New York (ship))

Awards

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 422.
  2. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 221.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2. 
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 

External links

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