Siegfried Koitschka

'''Dr. med. vet. Siegfried Koitschka''' (6 August 1917 – 17 May 2002) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and 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. He is credited with the sinking of the USS Buck (DD-420).

Before taking command of his first U-boat, Koitschka served as watch officer on GS U-552 under the command of Erich Topp. Koitschka and his entire crew were taken prisoner of war following the scuttling of U-616 on 17 May 1944. U-616 sank in position 36.76667°N, 0.86667°W after three days of sustained depth charging from the US destroyers USS Nields, USS Gleaves, USS Ellyson, USS Macomb, USS Hambleton, USS Rodman and USS Emmons, and by depth charges from a British Vickers Wellington aircraft from No. 36 Squadron.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (8 May 1941)
 * 1st Class (7 October 1941)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (8 May 1941)
 * German Cross in Gold on 19 November 1943 as Oberleutnant zur See on U-616/29. Unterseeboots-Flottille
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 January 1944 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-616