Max-Martin Teichert

Max-Martin Teichert
Born (1915-01-31)31 January 1915
Kiel
Died 12 May 1943(1943-05-12) (aged 28)
North Atlantic
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1934–43
Rank Kapitänleutnant
Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
torpedo boat Iltis
destroyer Wolfgang Zenker
destroyer Friedrich Ihn
6th U-boat Flotilla
11th U-boat Flotilla
1st U-boat Flotilla
Commands held U-456
(18 September 1941–12 May 1943)
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class
U-boat War Badge
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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 (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.[1]

Career

Edinburgh's wrecked stern after being struck by a torpedo on 30 April 1942

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 U-94 for two patrols.[1]

In September 1941 he commissioned 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, 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.[1]

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°39′N 26°54′W / 46.650°N 26.900°W / 46.650; -26.900. 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 arrived the U-boat dived, but almost certainly immediately sank to the ocean floor.[2]

Summary of career

Ships attacked

Max-Martin Teichert as commander of U-456 sank six merchant ships totalling 31,528 GRT, damaged another of 6,421 GRT, and also engaged and damaged the 11,500 GRT Town class light cruiser HMS Edinburgh.

Date Ship Nationality Tons Fate
30 March 1942 Effingham  United Kingdom 6,421 Damaged
30 April 1942 HMS Edinburgh  Royal Navy 11,500 Damaged
5 July 1942 Honomu  United States 6,977 Sunk
22 August 1942 Chaika  Soviet Union 80 Sunk
2 February 1943 Jeremiah Van Rensselaer  United States 7,177 Sunk
3 February 1943 Inverilen  United Kingdom 9,456 Sunk
23 February 1943 Kyleclare  Ireland 700 Sunk
11 May 1943 Fort Concord  United Kingdom 7,138 Sunk

Awards

Wehrmachtbericht reference

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Monday, 4 May 1941 Im nördlichen Eismeer haben Unter- und Überwasserstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine im Zusammenwirken mit Verbänden der Luftwaffe feindliche Geleitzüge, die durch starke Kampfgruppen gesichert waren, in tagelangen Angriffen bei Sturm, hohem Seegang und Vereisung bekämpft. Dabei hat ein Unterseeboot unter Führung des Kapitänleutnants Teichert zwei Torpedotreffer auf einen britischen 10000-Tonnen-Kreuzer erzielt, der bewegungslos liegen blieb und später gesunken ist.[6] In the northern Arctic Ocean, submarine and naval surface forces in cooperation with units of the air force, have attacked enemy convoys, which were protected by strong battle groups, in storms, rough seas and icing. In these battles, a submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Teichert scored two torpedo hits on a British 10000-ton cruiser that lay motionless and later sank.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 Helgason, Guðmundur. "Kapitänleutnant Max-Martin Teichert". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC U-boat U-456". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 413.
  4. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 738.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 419.
  6. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, p. 103.
Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2. 
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Huß, Jürgen; Viohl, Armin (2003). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes der preußischen Provinz Schleswig-Holstein und der Freien und Hansestadt Lübeck 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Bearers of the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein and the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck 1939–1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-79-9. 
  • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2. 
  • Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1. 
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 
  • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 2, 1 January 1942 to 31 December 1943] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2. 

External links

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