| Johann-Friedrich Wessels | |
|---|---|
|
File:Johann-Friedrich Wessels.jpg Johann-Friedrich Wessels | |
| Born | 28 May 1904 |
| Died | 9 February 1988 (aged 83) |
| Place of birth | Wilhelmshaven-Rüstringen |
| Place of death | Oldenburg |
| Allegiance |
 Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1923 – 1945 |
| Rank | Korvettenkapitän (Ing.) |
| Unit |
SMS Schlesien Cruiser Leipzig U-23 U-47 U-198 U-870 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Johann-Friedrich Wessels (28 May 1904 in Wilhelmshaven-Rüstringen – 9 February 1988 in Oldenburg) was a German chief engineer on a U-boat 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. Wessels was chief engineer on board of U-47 for four war patrols, including Günther Priens' infiltration of Scapa Flow and sinking of HMS Royal Oak. He then transferred to U-198 under the command of Werner Hartmann with whom he went on one patrol lasting 199 days. His final posting was on U-870 under Ernst Hechler.
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936)[1]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (19 December 1939)[1]
- U-boat Front Clasp in Bronze (4 October 1944)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 March 1944 as Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) and chief engineer on U-198[3]
References
- Citations
- 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 (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.
- 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
External links
- "Johann-Friedrich Wessels". uboat.net. http://uboat.net/men/wessels.htm. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- "Johann-Friedrich Wessels" (in German). Lexikon der Wehrmacht. http://www.rktraeger.de/Personenregister/W/WesselsJ.htm. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- "Johann-Friedrich Wessels" (in German). Deutsche Marinesoldaten. http://www.deutsche-marinesoldaten.de/lebenslaeufe/ritterkreuz/t-z/wessels.htm. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
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