Hans Heidtmann

Hans Heidtmann (8 August 1914 in Lübeck – 5 April 1976 in Hamburg) 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.

U-559 under the command of Heidtmann came under attack by several British warships and an aircraft on 30 October 1942. Fatally damaged and forced to the surface, the U-boat was abandoned after scuttling herself in the Mediterranean. A British boarding party, consisting of Lieutenant Francis Anthony Blair Fasson, Able Seaman Colin Grazier, and Canteen Assistant Tommy Brown, from destroyer HMS Petard recovered the cryptographic materials, but the U-boat sank before the Enigma cipher machine could be brought out. Eight German crewmen and two British seamen were lost, and 37 German survivors were taken prisoner of war.

Ships attacked
As a U-boat commander of GS U-559 Hans Heidtmann is credited with the sinking of four ships for a total of, further damaging two ships of that they had to be declared a total loss and sinkging one warship, the HMAS Parramatta (U44), of 1,060 MT.

Awards

 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (8 April 1938)
 * Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (6 June 1939)
 * Sudetenland Medal (16 September 1939)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (26 November 1939)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (27 November 1939)
 * 1st Class (23 September 1941)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 12 April 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-559
 * Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 12 June 1942