| Heinrich Petersen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 November 1902 |
| Died | 6 June 1963 (aged 60) |
| Place of birth | Hamburg |
| Place of death | Kiel |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
Reichsmarine Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1919–1945 |
| Rank | Oberleutnant zur See of the Reserves |
| Unit |
Berlin tender Nordsee minesweeper M-75 torpedo boat T-152, T-155 U-23 U-99 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Heinrich Petersen (3 November 1902 – 6 June 1963) was a German U-boat machinist in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He participated on eight war patrols on U-23 before transferring to U-99 for further eight war patrols. All of his war patrols were made under the command of Otto Kretschmer.
Kretschmer had recommended Petersen for the Knight's Cross after twelve war patrols for saving U-99 from enemy detection. Petersen was taken prisoner of war on 17 March 1941 when U-99 was scuttled after depth charging by HMS Walker.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 November 1940 as Stabsobersteuermann and watch officer and coxswain on U-99[2]
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 3-8132-0515-0.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
