Hermann Stuckmann

Hermann Stuckmann (2 January 1921 in Wuppertal-Barmen – 23 August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay) 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. In his short combat career he sank one ship, and damaged two others.

Career
Stuckmann joined the Kriegsmarine in September 1939. After training aboard the ship SMS Schleswig-Holstein, he took part in the occupation of Denmark in April 1940. In July 1941 he joined the U-boat force and served as Watch Officer for more than a year aboard GS U-571 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Helmut Möhlmann.

In August 1943 Stuckmann commissioned the Type VIIC U-boat GS U-316, and was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See in October 1943. He commanded U-316 as a school boat in the Baltic Sea until May 1944, when he took command of the combat boat GS U-621. During the summer of 1944 he operated against Allied landing ships in the English Channel.

Stuckmann died on 18 August 1944, when U-621 was sunk with all hands in the Bay of Biscay near La Rochelle by depth charges from the Canadian destroyers HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and HMCS Chaudière.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (15 May 1942)
 * 1st Class (18 November 1942)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (15 May 1942)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 August 1944 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-621