Max-Martin Teichert

Max-Martin Teichert (31 January 1915 in Kiel—12 May 1943 in the North Atlantic) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career
Teichert joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1934. He first served on the torpedo boat Iltis, and then the destroyer Z14 Friedrich Ihn. In June 1940 he transferred to the U-boat force, and served as 1.WO (second-in-command) to Herbert Kuppisch aboard the Type VIIC U-boat GS U-94 (1940) for two patrols.

In September 1941 he commissioned GS U-456 and completed nine patrols in the Arctic Sea during 1942. He sank three ships, including the naval trawler HMS Sulla, a staggler of Convoy PQ 13, and seriously damaged the British Town class light cruiser HMS Edinburgh (16), which was sunk some days later. In December 1942 U-456 was transferred to 1st U-boat Flotilla, and operated in the northern Atlantic, sinking another four merchant vessels.

Teichert died on 12 May 1943, during his 11th patrol, when U-456 was lost with all hands in the North Atlantic, in position 46.65°N, -26.9°W. The U-boat surfaced after being hit by a Fido homing torpedo dropped by a British Liberator aircraft from No. 86 Squadron RAF. When the O-class destroyer HMS Opportune (G80) arrived the U-boat dived, but almost certainly immediately sank to the ocean floor.

Ships attacked
Max-Martin Teichert as commander of U-456 sank six merchant ships totalling, damaged another of , and also engaged and damaged the Town class light cruiser HMS Edinburgh (16).

Awards

 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award (1 April 1938)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 December 1939)
 * 1st Class (7 June 1941)
 * Destroyer War Badge (19 October 1940)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (7 June 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 19 December 1943 (posthumous) as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-456
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 4 May 1942