Date of birth:

November 3rd, 1902 (Hamburg/Hamburg, Germany)

Date of death:

June 6th, 1963 (Kiel/Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Promotions:

01-10-1922 – Obermatrose
01-10-1923 – Matrosengefreiter
01-01-1926 – Matrosenobergefreiter
01-04-1926 – Steuermannsmaat
01-04-1928 – Obersteuermannsmaat
03-09-1931 – Steuermann
01-01-1936 – Obersteuermann
01-10-1939 – Stabsobersteuermann
01-07-1940 – Leutnant zur See der Reserve
01-01-1942 – Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve

Heinrich Petersen joined the Reichswehr/Reichsmarine on September 1st 1919 and served till October 1923 with a coastal defence unit. Then he switched to a seagoing unit and served on several ships until the end of his 12 year service time. Petersen left the Reichsmarine September 3rd 1931 and joined the navy again on January 1st 1935. Petersen served on a Torpedo boat till he became an Obersteuermann on the U 23 in October 1937.

In that same month Oberleutnant zur See Otto Kretschmer took command of the U 23 and together they made several successful combat patrols. In April 1940 they both left the U 23 and transferred to the newly build U 99. With this U-boat they made also several successful combat patrols till they came under depth charge attack by the British destroyer HMS Walker on March 17th 1941. During this attack the U 99 was severely damaged and sank southwest of Iceland with the loss of just 3 man.

Stabsobersteuermann Heinrich Petersen and the rest of the crew were captured and spend the remainder of the war in a British POW camp. Petersen was later replaced to a German officer’s camp in Canada. Heinrich Petersen was released on June 24th 1947 and he returned to Germany.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Stabsobersteurmann (Petty Officer 2nd Class)

Unit:

Steuermann U 23, Unterseebootsflottille Weddingen, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Stabsobersteurmann (Petty Officer 2nd Class)

Unit:

Steuermann U 23, Unterseebootsflottille Weddingen, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

November 19th, 1939

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Stabsobersteurmann (Petty Officer 2nd Class)

Unit:

Steuermann U 23, 1. Unterseebootsflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

February 25th, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Stabsobersteurmann (Petty Officer 2nd Class)

Unit:

Wachoffizier / Steuermann U 99, 7. Unterseebootsflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

November 5th, 1940

Here follows an excerpt describing how Petersen received his Knight’s Cross…

“Stabsobersteuermann Petersen has been a U-Boat helmsman since the start of the war, participating in 12 war patrols under the command of Kapitänleutnant Kretschmer. As a watch officer he has shown great responsibility, reliability and outstanding professional skill while serving on the bridge. During long-distance missions he has been of invaluable help for the successes of the commander through his precise navigation and tireless efforts. Through his achievements Petersen has earned a place among our first U-Boat helmsmen.”

• Photo 1: GMIC
• Photo: Gordon Williamson via Gentlemen’s Military Interest Club
  
• - FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
  - RAINER BUSCH & HANS-JOACHIM RÖLL, Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945, Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GMBH, 2003.
  - Gentlemen’s Military Interest Club
  - das-ritterkreuz.de
  - uboat.net