Siegfried Wuppermann
Encyclopedia
Siegfried Wuppermann was a Kapitänleutnant with the Kriegsmarine
during World War II
and later served with the Bundesmarine. He was a recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
.
in 1935 and was promoted to Leutnant zur See in 1938 and as adjutant was transferred to the U-boat-Schulflottille.
Wuppermann joined the Schnellboot service in March 1939 and took command of a Schnellboot in the 1. Schnellbootflottille. During the Invasion of Poland he participated on patrols in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and in the English Channel
.
In early November 1940 he took charge of a Gruppe in the 3. Schnellbootflottille and takes command of Schnellboot "S 60" on 21 December 1940. Siegfried saw action with this boat near Boulogne
. 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 which leads to the destruction of two destroyers and three merchant vessels.
On "S 60" he participates in Operation Barbarossa
. On 21 June 1941, one day before the invasion of the Soviet Union, he operated against the harbor of Windau
laying 30 mines. Siegfried 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 receives the coveted Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 14 April 1943.
Kapitänleutnant Wuppermann helps establish the 21. and 22. Schnellbootflottillen in Eckernförde
in May 1943 and is then transferred to the Stab of the Führer der Schnellboote. In March 1945 he takes command of the 1. Schnellboot Division and fights with this unit in the Adriatic Sea
.
After the war he joins the Bundesmarine. Siegfried Wuppermann died on 15 April 2005 in Osnabrück
.
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and later served with the Bundesmarine. He was a recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Military career
Siegfried Wuppermann was born on 15 December 1916 in Berlin. He joined the KriegsmarineKriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
in 1935 and was promoted to Leutnant zur See in 1938 and as adjutant was transferred to the U-boat-Schulflottille.
Wuppermann joined the Schnellboot service in March 1939 and took command of a Schnellboot in the 1. Schnellbootflottille. During the Invasion of Poland he participated on patrols in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
In early November 1940 he took charge of a Gruppe in the 3. Schnellbootflottille and takes command of Schnellboot "S 60" on 21 December 1940. Siegfried saw action with this boat near Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
. In February 1941 he became acting commander of the 3. Schnellbootflottille because Friedrich Kemnade
Friedrich Kemnade
Friedrich Kemnade was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and later served with the Bundesmarine. He was a recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
was on vacation. Wuppermann led a patrol on 7 March 1941 against Allied convoys which leads to the destruction of two destroyers and three merchant vessels.
On "S 60" he participates in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. On 21 June 1941, one day before the invasion of the Soviet Union, he operated against the harbor of Windau
Windau
Windau may refer to:* Ventspils, Latvia * Venta River, Latvia...
laying 30 mines. Siegfried 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 receives the coveted Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 14 April 1943.
Kapitänleutnant Wuppermann helps establish the 21. and 22. Schnellbootflottillen in Eckernförde
Eckernförde
Eckernförde is a German city in Schleswig-Holstein, Kreis Rendsburg-Eckernförde at the Baltic Sea near Kiel. The population is about 23,000.All German submarines are stationed in Eckernförde....
in May 1943 and is then transferred to the Stab of the Führer der Schnellboote. In March 1945 he takes command of the 1. Schnellboot Division and fights with this unit in the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
After the war he joins the Bundesmarine. Siegfried Wuppermann died on 15 April 2005 in Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
- 2nd Class (20 April 1940)
- 1st Class (28 May 1940)
- Fast Attack Craft War BadgeFast Attack Craft War BadgeThe E-Boat War Badge is a German military decoration awarded to Kriegsmarine members for service on fast attack craft or torpedo boats worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the naval service tunic, underneath the 1st class Iron Cross if awarded, or equivalent grade award...
with Diamonds (10 June 1943) - Medaglia d'Argento al Valore MilitareSilver Medal of Military ValorThe 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 May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
(24 January 1943) - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 3 August 1941 as OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
of the Reserves 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. Schnellbootflottille
- Knight's Cross on 3 August 1941 as Oberleutnant