Reinhart Reche

Reinhart Reche
Born 13 December 1915
Kreuzburg
Died 3 March 1993 (1993-03-04) (aged 77)
Bad Godesberg
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
 German Navy
Years of service 1934–45
1956–74
Rank Kapitänleutnant (Kriegsmarine)
Kapitän zur See (Bundesmarine)
Unit SSS Gorch Fock
cruiser Emden
Schlesien
SSS Horst Wessel
U-751
Commands held U-255
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Reinhart Reche (13 December 1915 in Kreuzburg – 3 March 1993 in Bad Godesberg) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and 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. Prior to taking command of U-255, Reche served as first watch officer on U-751 (31 January 1941 – 30 September 1941), at the time under the command of Gerhard Bigalk. He was credited with sinking four ships from convoy PQ 17.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of U-255 Reche sank nine commercial ships for 47,229 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged another commercial ship for a total loss of 7,191 GRT.[1]

Date[1] Ship[1] Nationality[1] Tonnage
GRT[1]		 Fate and location[1]
6 July 1942 John Witherspoon  United States 7,191 Sunk at 72°05′N 40°30′E / 72.083°N 40.500°E / 72.083; 40.500 (John Witherspoon (ship))
7 July 1942 Alcoa Ranger  United States 5,116 Sunk at 71°38′N 49°35′E / 71.633°N 49.583°E / 71.633; 49.583 (Alcoa Ranger (ship))
8 July 1942 Olopana  United States 6,069 Sunk at 72°10′N 51°00′E / 72.167°N 51.000°E / 72.167; 51.000 (Olopana (ship))
13 July 1942 Paulus Potter  Netherlands 7,168 Sunk at 70°00′N 52°00′E / 70.000°N 52.000°E / 70.000; 52.000 (Paulus Potter (ship))
20 September 1942 Silver Sword  United States 4,937 Sunk at 75°52′N 00°20′W / 75.867°N 0.333°W / 75.867; -0.333 (Silver Sword(ship))
26 January 1943 Krasnyj Partizan  Soviet Union 2,418 Sunk at 73°45′N 17°30′E / 73.750°N 17.500°E / 73.750; 17.500 (Krasnyj Partizan (ship))
29 January 1943 Ufa  Soviet Union 1,892 Sunk at 73°40′N 24°30′E / 73.667°N 24.500°E / 73.667; 24.500 (Ufa (ship))
3 February 1943 Greylock  United States 7,460 Sunk at 70°52′N 00°21′W / 70.867°N 0.350°W / 70.867; -0.350 (Greylock (ship))
5 March 1943 Executive  United States 4,978 Sunk at 72°44′N 11°27′E / 72.733°N 11.450°E / 72.733; 11.450 (Executive (ship))
10 March 1943 Richard Bland  United States 7,191 Total loss at 66°53′N 14°10′W / 66.883°N 14.167°W / 66.883; -14.167 (Richard Bland (ship))

Awards

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWII U-boat successes: Ships hit by U-255". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 322.
  3. 1 2 Busch & Röll 2003, p. 323.
  4. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 351.
  5. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 615.

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. 
  • 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. 


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