Günther Heydemann

Günther Heydemann (11 January 1914 in Greifswald – 2 January 1986 in Hamburg-Wedel) 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-575, Heydemann made two war patrols as watch officer on board U-69 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Jost Metzler.

As commander of U-575 Günther Heydmann is credited with the sinking of eight ships for a total of 48,920 gross register tons (GRT).

Ships attacked

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
2 October 1941	Tuva	Netherlands	4,652	Sunk
16 April 1942	Robin Hood	United States	6,887	Sunk
4 July 1942	Norlandia	United States	2,689	Sunk
9 July 1942	Empire Explorer	United Kingdom	5,345	Sunk
18 July 1942	Comrade	United Kingdom	69	Sunk
18 July 1942	Glacier	United Kingdom	75	Sunk
18 July 1942	San Gaspar	United Kingdom	12,910	Damaged
29 July 1942	Abosso	United Kingdom	11,330	Sunk
25 January 1943	City of Flint	United States	4,963	Sunk

Awards

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (1 April 1937)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (17 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (12 April 1941)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (12 April 1941)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 July 1943 Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-575

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-575". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2015. 
• ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 364.
• Fellgiebel 2000, p. 226.
• Scherzer 2007, p. 389.