Heinz Sieder

Heinz Sieder
File:Heinz Sieder.jpg
Born	(1920-06-28)28 June 1920 Munich
Died	Bay of Biscay
Buried
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1938–44
Rank	Oberleutnant zur See
Unit	SSS Gorch Fock Schlesien Scharnhorst U-440
Commands held	U-984
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of the Atlantic
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinz Sieder (28 June 1920 – 20 August 1944) 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.

U-984 was sunk with all hands lost on 20 August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest by depth charges from the Canadian destroyers HMCS Ottawa, Kootenay and Chaudière.

Career

Sieder was born on 28 June 1920 in Munich. He joined the Kriegsmarine on 1 October 1938 as a member of "Crew 1938" (the incoming class of 1938). He underwent basic military training in the 2nd company of the 7th standing ship department of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund (1 October 1938 – 27 February 1939). Sieder was then transferred to the training ship Gorch Fock (28 February 1939 – 1 July 1939) and attained the rank of Seekadett (midshipman) on 1 July 1939. He then boarded Schlesien (2 July 1939 – 14 October 1939) for further ship based training. He then took the main cadet training course at the Naval Academy Mürwik in Flensburg-Mürwik (15 October 1939 – 1 March 1940). During this training period he advanced in rank to Fähnrich zur See (officer cadet) on 1 December 1939.

In January 1942, he became first watch officer on the newly commissioned U-440 and served on four patrols. He left U-440 in April 1943 just one month before U-440 was sunk; and commissioned the Type VIIC U-boat U-984 in June 1943.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As a U-boat commander of U-984 Heinz Sieder is credited with damaging one merchant ship of 7,240 gross register tons (GRT), damaging one warship for a total loss of 1,300 metric tons (1,300 long tons; 1,400 short tons), and damaging three ships for a total loss of 21,550 GRT.

Date	Ship	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
25 June 1944	HMS Goodson	Royal Navy	1,300	Total loss
29 June 1944	Edward M. House	United States	7,240	Damaged
29 June 1944	H.G. Blasdel	United States	7,176	Total loss
29 June 1944	John A. Treutlen	United States	7,198	Total loss
29 June 1944	James A. Farrell	United States	7,176	Total loss

Awards

• High Seas Fleet Badge (16 October 1942)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (29 January 1943)
  • 1st Class (28 February 1944)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (16 November 1942)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8 July 1944 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-984

References

Bibliography

• Debus, Marc and Nell, Alfred (2008). Das letzte Geleit - vom Vorpostenboot zur U-Boot Flotte(the story of a boatmember U-984 from Heinz Sieder). Monsenstein und Vannerdat. ISBN 978-3-86582-677-0.