Date of birth:

March 25th, 1921 (Stettin, Germany)

Date of death:

July 15th, 2004 (Bremerhaven, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Crew of 1938

Promotions
01.12.1939: Fähnrich zur See
01.08.1940: Oberfähnrich zur See
01.04.1941: Leutnant zur See
01.01.1943: Oberleutnant zur See
10.03.1960: Kapitänleutnant der Reserve
22.10.1968: Korvettenkapitän der Reserve

Career:
01.10.1938: entered the Kriegsmarine
18.08.1940-31.03.1944: Kdt and Gruppenführer 3.Räumbootsflottille
01.04.1944-13.06.1945: Chef 8.Artillerieträger-Flottille
14.06.1945-30.06.1947: Kdt. 'M-328'
01.07.1947-12.01.1948: Kdt. 'R-170'
12.01.1948: and of captivity
1960-1968: Reserve Bundesmarine

Autor of the book:
'Plattbugkreuzer' Artillerieträger Der Marine Im Einsatz.
ISBN 10 : 381320555X - ISBN 13 : 9783813205558 - Mittler & Sohn - 1998

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zur See

Unit:

Kommandant Räumboot "R 35" / 3.Räumbootsflottille

Awarded on:

May 13th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zur See

Unit:

Chef 8.Artillerieträgerflottille / Rotterdam

Awarded on:

October 3rd, 1944

The following telex from the Führerhauptquartier explains why Schneider received the Knight’s Cross…

“The Führer has awarded the Knight’s Cross to Oberleutnant zur See Gerd-Dietrich Schneider, commander of a battle ferry flotilla. Since the Invasion began he has distinguished himself through exemplary daring and bravery in many operations against the Eastern flank of the enemy landing fleet, and has had a decisive share in the successes of our fleet in this part of the Channel. In the course of many hard battles with overwhelming enemy naval forces, he has sunk a destroyer and an MTB with his battle ferries. Another destroyer was damaged, 5 enemy aircraft were shot down by his ships.

Despite the presence of an enemy mine barrier, as well as multiple contacts with enemy destroyers, he also succeeded in escorting a transport carrying vital ammunition supplies to the blockaded port of Le Havre. Finally, he achieved an outstanding success by leading his flotilla of slow battle ferries back through the Straits of Calais to safety despite constant attacks by enemy fighter bombers, coastal artillery and MTBs.”

Preliminary document dated 3-10-1944 Nr. 3212 / 44

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 4th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

September 20th, 1940

• Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
• Photo: Willi Schumacher collection
  - Deutsches Marinearchiv
  
• - DÖRR, MANFRED, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehmacht 1939–1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1996.
  - Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
  - Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
  - Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
  - Dörr M., Einer von Dreiunddreissig, Internationales Militaira Magazine Nr 124, september-oktober 2006, Heinz Nickel Buchbetrieb, Zweibrücken
  - Ehrentafel der Deutschen Kriegsmarine dd 18-11-1944
  - Williamson G., World War II German Battle Insignia, Men-at-Arms series nr 365, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2002
  - Nordheide-Versand Kai Winkler
  - Gerd-Dietrich Schneider | Military Wiki | Fandom