Siegfried Wuppermann (15 December 1916 – 15 April 2005) was a captain with the

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official military branch, branche ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and later served with the

Bundesmarine The German Navy (, ) is part of the unified (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Marine'' (German Navy) became the official ...

. He was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. While it was lower in precedence than the Grand C ...

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

Military career

Siegfried Wuppermann was born on 15 December 1916 in Berlin. He joined the

in 1936 and was transferred to the Schnellboot service in March 1939, where he took command of a boat in the 1. Schnellbootflottille. During the

Invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ...

he participated on patrols in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and in the

English Channel The English Channel, also known as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France. It links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end. It is the busi ...

. In early November 1940 he took charge of a ''Gruppe'' in the ''3. Schnellbootflottille'' and took command of ''Schnellboot "S 60"'' on 21 December 1940. Siegfried saw action with this boat near

Boulogne Boulogne-sur-Mer (; ; ; or ''Bononia''), often called just Boulogne (, ), is a coastal city in Hauts-de-France, Northern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Pas-de-Calais. Boul ...

. In February 1941 he became acting commander of the ''3. Schnellbootflottille'' because Friedrich Kemnade was on vacation. Wuppermann led a patrol on 7 March 1941 against Allied convoys. On ''S 60'' he participated in

Operation Barbarossa Operation Barbarossa was the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany and several of its European Axis allies starting on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II. More than 3.8 million Axis troops invaded the western Soviet Union along ...

. On the night of 21/22 June 1941, just after hostilities with the Soviet Union began, ''S 60'' together with ''S 59'' sank the cargo ship off

Ventspils Ventspils () is a state city in northwestern Latvia in the historical Courland region of Latvia, and is the sixth largest city in the country. At the beginning of 2020, Ventspils had a population of 33,906. It is situated on the Venta River and ...

, while on the night of 26/27 June, the ''3. Schnellbootflottille'' clashed with Soviet naval forces on minelaying duties, with ''S 60'' being credited (along with ''S 35'') with sinking the Soviet minesweeper ''T208''. Wuppermann received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 August 1941 during these battles. After the 3. ''Schnellbootflottille'' was transferred to the Mediterranean to guard the Axis convoys to North Africa. Wuppermann received the coveted Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 14 April 1943.

Kapitänleutnant , short: KptLt/in lists: KL, ( or ''lieutenant captain'') is an officer grade of the captains' military hierarchy group () of the modern German . The rank is rated Ranks and insignia of NATO navies' officers, OF-2 in NATO, and equivalent to i ...

Wuppermann helped establish the 21. and ''22. Schnellbootflottillen'' in

Eckernförde Eckernförde (; , sometimes also ; , sometimes also ) is a city located in the of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. Situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, approximately 30 km north-west of Kiel, it has a populat ...

in May 1943 and was then transferred to the Stab of the ''Führer der Schnellboote''. In March 1945 he took command of the ''1. Schnellboot Division'' and fought with this unit in the

Adriatic Sea The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...

. After the war he joined the ''

''. Siegfried Wuppermann died on 15 April 2005 in

Osnabrück Osnabrück (; ; archaic English: ''Osnaburg'') is a city in Lower Saxony in western Germany. It is situated on the river Hase in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest. With a population of 168 ...

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

** 2nd Class (20 April 1940)Dörr 1996, p. 374.Thomas 1998, p. 464. ** 1st Class (28 May 1940) *

Fast Attack Craft War Badge The Fast Attack Craft War Badge or S-Boat War Badge () was a World War II German military decoration awarded to members of the ''Kriegsmarine'' for service on fast attack craft or patrol/torpedo boats. The award was instituted on 30 May 1941. Requ ...

(16 December 1940) ** with Diamonds (10 June 1943) *

War Cross for Military Valor The War Cross for Military Valor () is an Italian order for military valor. Established in 1922, the cross may be awarded only in time of war. Appearance The medal is a Greek cross made of copper. Inscribed on the horizontal arms is ''Al Val ...

with Swords (Italy, 10 May 1942) *

Bronze Medal of Military Valor The Bronze Medal of Military Valor () is an Italian medal for gallantry. It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on 26 March 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold Medal of Military Valor and Silver Medal of Military Valor, which were ...

(Italy, 21 May 1942) *

Silver Medal of Military Valor The Silver Medal of Military Valor () is an Italian medal for gallantry. Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on 21 May 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal. These were intended for j ...

(Italy, 24 January 1943) *

** Knight's Cross on 3 August 1941 as ''

Oberleutnant zur See (''OLt zS'' or ''OLZS'' in the German Navy, ''Oblt.z.S.'' in the ''Kriegsmarine'') is traditionally the highest rank of Lieutenant in the German Navy. It is grouped as Ranks and insignia of officers of NATO Navies, OF-1 in NATO. The rank was ...

'' and commander of "S-60" in the 3. Schnellbootflottille ** 226th Oak Leaves on 14 April 1943 as ''Oberleutnant zur See'' and commander of "S-56" in the 3. SchnellbootflottilleFellgiebel 2000, p. 68.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wuppermann, Siegfried 1916 births 2005 deaths Military personnel from Berlin Military personnel from the Province of Brandenburg Kriegsmarine personnel of World War II German Navy personnel Recipients of the Bronze Medal of Military Valor Recipients of the Silver Medal of Military Valor Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves