Quick Facts
Biography
Heinz Bielfeld (30 August 1916 – 11 July 1944) was a German U-boat commander in World War II.
Naval career
Heinz Bielfeld joined the Reichsmarine in April 1934. From November 1938 to April 1940 he served with the Aircraft Weapons School. Between May and September 1940 he served with the Küstenfliegersgruppe 506. From October 1940 to February 1941, Bielfeld went through U-boat training, including a stint as a supernumerary watch officer on U-97. Bielfeld then went through U-boat commander sea training as Watch Officer on the school boat U-151 during February to August 1941.
From August to October 1941 he went through the U-boat commander course and U-boat familiarisation (Baubelehrung) before taking command of U-703 on 16 October 1941. Bielfeld would then take the boat on seven patrols of 150 days at sea. In July 1943 he was again sent to be a part of construction crew, this time taking command of U-1222 on 1 September 1943.
Death
On 11 July 1944, 87 days into its first war patrol, U-1222 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle, in position 46°31′N 05°29′E / 46.517°N 5.483°ECoordinates: 46°31′N 05°29′E / 46.517°N 5.483°E, by depth charges from a British Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn 201/P). As well as Bielfeld all 55 members of the crew were killed.
Summary of Career
Ships attacked
| Date | U-boat | Name of ship | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1942 | U-703 | Syros |  United States | 6,191 | Sunk |
| 5 July 1942 | U-703 | Empire Byron |  United Kingdom | 6,645 | Sunk |
| 5 July 1942 | U-703 | River Afton | United Kingdom | 5,479 | Sunk |
| 20 September 1942 | U-703 | HMS Somali | United Kingdom | 1,870 | Sunk |
Awards
- Iron Cross 2nd Class - 1940
- U-boat War Badge 1939 - 1 June 1942
- Iron Cross 1st Class - 16 July 1942
- German Cross in Gold on 31 December 1943 as Kapitänleutnant on U-1222/10. Unterseebootsflottille
- Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 42.