Quick Facts
Biography
Siegfried Strelow (15 April 1911 – 15 July 1943) 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), awarded for extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He and the entire crew of U-435 were killed in action west of Figueira da Foz Municipality, Portugal, in position 39°48′N 14°22′W when their boat was sunk by four depth charges from a Royal Air Force (RAF) Vickers Wellington bomber of No. 179 Squadron RAF.
Summary of career
Ships Attacked
As commander of U-435 Strelow is credited with the sinking of nine merchant ships for a total of 53,712 gross register tons (GRT), further sinking one auxiliary warship of 2,456 GRT and three warships of 855 long tons (869 t).
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 March 1942 | Effingham |  United States | 6,421 | Sunk |
| 13 April 1942 | El Occidente |  Panama | 6,008 | Sunk |
| 13 April 1942 | Harpalion |  United Kingdom | 5,486 | Sunk |
| 20 September 1942 | HMS Leda (J 93) |  Royal Navy | 835 | Sunk |
| 22 September 1942 | Bellingham | United States | 5,345 | Sunk |
| 22 September 1942 | Grey Ranger | United Kingdom | 3,313 | Sunk |
| 22 September 1942 | Ocean Voice | United Kingdom | 7,174 | Sunk |
| 29 December 1942 | Empire Shackleton | United Kingdom | 7,068 | Sunk |
| 29 December 1942 | Norse King |  Norway | 5,701 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1942 | HMS Fidelity (D57) | Royal Navy | 2,456 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1942 | HMS LCV-752 | Royal Navy | 10 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1942 | HMS LCV-754 | Royal Navy | 10 | Sunk |
| 17 March 1943 | William Eustis | United States | 7,196 | Sunk |
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award (2 October 1936)
- Sudetenland Medal (1 August 1939)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (25 April 1940)
- 1st Class (25 May 1940)
- Destroyer War Badge (19 February 1941)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (15 April 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 October 1942 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-435
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit hy U-435". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
- ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 270.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 415.
- Scherzer 2007, p. 731.