Gerhard Bielig

Gerhard Bielig (28 April 1916 – 29 September 2004) was a German U-boat engineer (Ing.) 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.

Military career
Gerhard Bielig joined the Reichsmarine as a Seekadett on 26 September 1934. He was promoted to Fähnrich (Ing.) on 1 July 1935 and to Oberfähnrich (Ing.) on 1 January 1937. Bielig was transferred to the U-boat service in October 1937. Now a Leutnant (Ing.), he was posted to U-20 as chief engineer (German language: Leitender Ingenieur LI). Bielig participated on eight patrols onboard of U-20. Oberleutnant (Ing.) Bielig left U-20 in March 1940 and was assigned to U-103 as chief engineer in July 1940. He went on five patrols with this U-boat. He left the boat as Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) in December 1941 only to be transferred to U-177 in March 1942. U-177 at the time was under command of Robert Gysae. Here he was bestowed with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 February 1943 after he saved the U-boat from severe depth charging. After two combat patrols he left U-177 in October 1943 again and became an instructor at the 2. Unterseeboots-Lehr-Division.

On 16 November 1944 he married Marianne Bastian. The marriage produced two sons, Detlef born 1948 and Frank born 1949.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd class (23 November 1939)
 * 1st class (21 October 1940)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (17 October 1939)
 * German Cross in Gold on 9 December 1941 as Oberleutnant (Ing) on U-103/29. Unterseeboots-Flottille
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 February 1943 as Kapitänleutnant (Ing) and chief engineer on U-177
 * U-Boat Front Clasp in Bronze (10 October 1944)