View source for Reinhard Suhren

{{Short description|German WW2 U-Boat commander}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Reinhard Suhren
|birth_date={{birth date|1916|4|16|df=y}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1984|8|25|1916|4|16|df=y}}
|birth_place=[[Langenschwalbach]], [[Taunus]], [[German Empire]]
|death_place=[[Halstenbek]], [[Hamburg]], [[West Germany]]
|placeofburial=[[Ohlsdorf Cemetery]] in Hamburg
|image=Reinhard Suhren.jpg
|caption=Reinhard Suhren
|nickname=Teddy
|allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}}
|serviceyears=1935–1945
|rank=''[[Fregattenkapitän]]'' (Frigate Captain)
|branch={{navy|Nazi Germany}}
|commands={{GS|U-564||2}}, <small>3 April 1941 – 1 October 1942</small><br />[[Führer der Unterseeboote|F.d.U. Nordmeer]]
|unit=[[Gorch Fock (1933)|SSS ''Gorch Fock'']]<br />{{Ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}}<br />[[German destroyer Z3 Max Schultz|destroyer Z3 ''Max Schultz'']]<br />[[1st U-boat Flotilla]]<br />[[27th U-boat Flotilla]]
|battles=[[World War II]]
*[[Battle of the Atlantic]]
|awards=[[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]]
|relations=[[Gerd Suhren]]
|laterwork=[[Petroleum industry]]
}}

'''Reinhard Johann Heinz Paul Anton Suhren''' (16 April 1916 – 25 August 1984) was a German [[U-boat]] commander in [[World War II]] and younger brother of ''[[Korvettenkapitän]] (Ing.)'' and [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] recipient [[Gerd Suhren]].

Suhren was born in [[Langenschwalbach]], the second of four children, and grew up in the [[Weimar Republic]] and [[Nazi Germany]]. He joined the navy in 1935 and began his U-boat career in March 1938. He spent a year as 1st watch officer on {{GS|U-48|1939|2}} where he received the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross for his contribution in the sinking of {{GRT|200,000|disp=long}} of merchant shipping. In April 1941 he took command of {{GS|U-564||2}}. As a commander, he is credited with the sinking of 18 merchant vessels of {{GRT|95,544|link=off}}, 1 warship of {{convert|900|LT|abbr=off}} and damaged four merchant vessels of {{GRT|28,907|link=off}} for which he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]].

Suhren left the boat and became an instructor in October 1942. He then served in the [[27th U-boat Flotilla]] along with ''Korvettenkapitän'' [[Erich Topp]]. During the last year of the war ''[[Fregattenkapitän]]'' Suhren was the [[Führer der Unterseeboote|''Führer der Unterseeboote Norwegen'']] (Leader of U-boats in Norwegian waters) and from September 1944 the Commander-in-Chief of U-boats of the North Sea. After the war he worked in the [[petroleum industry]] and died of [[stomach cancer]] on 25 August 1984.

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Childhood, education and early career==
Suhren was born on 16 April 1916 in [[Langenschwalbach]] in the [[Taunus]] in his grandmothers house. He was the second child of Geert Suhren and his wife Ernestine Ludovika Suhren, née Ludovika. Suhren had an older brother [[Gerd Suhren|Gerd]] and a younger brother Ernst, and sister Almut.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|pp=13–14}} He received his ''[[Abitur]]'' from the ''Landständischen [[Oberschule]]'' in [[Bautzen]]. Prior to graduation, during his last summer vacation, Suhren was allowed and accepted at a [[sailing]] course at the Hanseatic Yacht School in [[Neustadt in Holstein]]. The course had some paramilitary components and learning to [[Marching|march]] was one of them. During one of these marches the boy behind Suhren yelled out: "Hey Reinhard, when I look at you marching, it reminds me of a [[Teddy bear]]." Later, the same boy met Suhren again during [[basic military training]] and greeted Suhren with the words: "Hey, Teddy, you're here too?" The [[nickname]] "Teddy" would stick with him from then on.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=13}}

[[File:University of cooperative education Bautzen 100.JPG|thumb|left|''Landständische Oberschule'' in Bautzen]]
He began his naval career with the ''[[Reichsmarine]]'' on 5 April 1935 as a member of "Crew 35" (the incoming class of 1935).<ref group="Note">The German ''[[Reichsmarine]]'' was renamed to ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' on 1 June 1935.</ref> He received his military basic training in the 2nd company in the 2nd department of the standing ship division of the [[Baltic Sea]] in [[Stralsund]] (5 April 1935&nbsp;– 17 June 1935).<ref group=Tr>2nd company—2. ''Kompanie''</ref><ref group=Tr>2nd department—II. ''Abteilung''</ref><ref group=Tr>standing ship division—''Schiffsstammdivision''</ref> He was then transferred to the [[school ship]] [[Gorch Fock (1933)|''Gorch Fock'']] (18 June 1935&nbsp;– 26 September 1935) attaining the rank of ''[[Midshipman|Seekadett]]'' (midshipman) on 25 September 1935. Following his promotion he was posted to the light cruiser {{Ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}} (27 September 1935&nbsp;– 16 June 1936).{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=92}}

Suhren sailed on ''Emden''{{'}}s sixth training cruise, which started on 23 October 1935 and took him and her crew to the [[Azores]], [[West Indies]] and [[Venezuela]], through the [[Panama Canal]] to [[Guayaquil]], where they celebrated [[Christmas]]. The journey then continued to [[Puerto San José]] and  [[Portland, Oregon]] to [[Honolulu]]. From Honolulu they continued to [[Middle America (Americas)|Middle America]], back through the Panama Canal and after visiting a few harbours in the West Indies to [[Baltimore]] and [[Montreal]]. Their final stopover was [[Pontevedra]], Spain before they returned home on 11 June 1936.{{sfn|Hildebrand|Röhr|Steinmetz|1993|loc=volume 3|p=56}}

Following his journey on ''Emden'', Suhren attended the main cadet course at the [[Naval Academy Mürwik]] (20 June 1936&nbsp;– 31 March 1937).<ref group=Tr>main cadet course—''Hauptlehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> This course was briefly interrupted for two navigational training courses, the first on the tender ''Nordsee'' (10–15 August 1936) and the second on the steamer ''Hecht'' (16–21 November 1936). During this time frame at the naval academy he advanced in rank to ''[[Fähnrich zur See]]'' (officer cadet) on 1 July 1936.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=92}} His military career almost came to an unexpected end on ''[[Rosenmontag]]'' (Rose Monday), the highlight of the German "Karneval" ([[carnival]]), 8 February 1937. The cadets of "Crew 1935" had been given special leave to celebrate carnival. Every company had to be back at the academy by 6:00, except for Suhren's company, who had to return by 5:00. Suhren missed the curfew and was reported to the company chief. Naval cadets at the time were rated on scale of 1 to 9 regarding the service worthiness (''Diensttüchtigkeit''). Prior to this incidence, Suhren was rated at 7.5, which had placed him at the top of his class. After this incidence, he was down rated to 4, later corrected to 5, which then placed him last in his class. The service worthiness rating in combination with the officers' final exam would determine the ranking in the navy and had implications on an officers' future naval career. Suhren was especially disappointed by the behavior of his commanding officer, his group commander ''Kapitänleutnant'' Walther Kölle. Kölle, who was present during the inquiry, could have spoken on Suhren's behalf, but chose to remain quiet.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=19}}

He then underwent a number of specialized training courses which included a torpedo course in [[Mürwik]] (1 April – 19 May 1937),<ref group=Tr>torpedo course for cadets—''Torpedolehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> an anti-aircraft artillery course at Wilhelmshaven (20 May – 7 June 1937),<ref group=Tr>anti-aircraft artillery course for cadets—''Fla-Waffenlehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> a pathfinder course for cadets at Kiel-Wik (8–12 June 1937),<ref group=Tr>pathfinder course for cadets—''Sperrlehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> a communication course for cadets at Mürwik again (13 June – 3 July 1937),<ref group=Tr>communication course for cadets—''Nachrichtenlehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> a naval infantry course for cadets at Stralsund (4–28 July 1937),<ref group=Tr>infantry course for cadets—''Infanterielehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> and lastly an artillery course for cadets at Kiel-Wik (29 July – 2 October 1937).<ref group=Tr>artillery course for cadets—''Artillerielehrgang für Fähnriche''</ref> Suhren was then transferred to the [[German destroyer Z3 Max Schultz|destroyer Z3 ''Max Schultz'']] (3 October 1937 – 29 March 1938) for further ship based training. On this assignment he was promoted to ''Oberfähnrich zur See'' (Senior Ensign) on 1 January 1938.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}

''Max Schultz'' at the time was under the command of ''[[Korvettenkapitän]]'' (Corvette Captain) Martin Baltzer. Baltzer would later be promoted in rank to ''[[Vizeadmiral]]'' (Vice Admiral) and hold the position of chief of the ''Marinepersonalamt'' (Naval Personnel Office) in the [[Oberkommando der Marine]].{{sfn|Hildebrand|Röhr|Steinmetz|1993|loc=volume 6|pp=55–56}} Suhren and Baltzer did not share a positive personal relationship during their career. According to Suhren, their conflict began during their mutual time on ''Max Schultz''. Suhren claimed that later during his career, Baltzer personally prevented him from advancing in rank to ''[[Kapitän zur See]]'' (Captain at Sea).{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|pp=29–34}}

Suhren career with the U-boat force started on 30 March 1938 with his assignment to the U-boat school. In parallel he attended another torpedo course (30 March – 11 June 1938) at Flensburg. He was promoted to ''[[Leutnant zur See]]'' (Second Lieutenant) on 1 April 1938. His training at the U-boat school included a specialized U-boat Torpedo Officer course (13 June – 2 July 1938) and U-boat course (3 July – 28 August 1938) which concluded his stay at the U-boat school. As a second Watch Officer he served on {{GS|U-51|1938|2}}, {{GS|U-46|1938|2}} and {{GS|U-47|1938|2}}, under the command of [[Günther Prien]], from 6 November 1938 to 21 April 1939 in the [[7th U-boat Flotilla|Wegener Flotilla]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}

==World War II==
The German [[invasion of Poland]] began on 1 September 1939, and marked the beginning of [[European theatre of World War II|World War II in Europe]]. Suhren spent one and a half years as first Watch Officer on {{GS|U-48|1939|2}} (22 April 1939&nbsp;– 9 November 1940) going on nine war patrols. Here he served under the command of [[Herbert Schultze]] on five war patrols, under [[Hans-Rudolf Rösing]] on two war patrols, and under [[Heinrich Bleichrodt]] for a further two war patrols.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}} [[Otto Ites]] was the second Watch Officer and [[Horst Hofmann]] the coxswain on all of these patrols, and [[Erich Zürn]] was the chief engineer on all but three patrols. Suhren received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) for assisting in the sinking of {{GRT|200,000|disp=long}} of allied shipping. The award had been requested by Bleichrodt on account of his Knight's Cross presentation by [[Karl Dönitz]], at the time ''Vizeadmiral'' and ''[[Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote]]'' (Commander of the Submarines). Bleichrodt expressed that he would refuse to wear his Knight's Cross if Suhren was not also honoured. He argued that the success of ''U-48'' was more so attributed to Suhren than himself as commander. The request, with the support of [[Engelbert Endrass]], was approved and the Knight's Cross was presented by [[Hans-Georg von Friedeburg]], the 2nd Admiral of the U-boats and responsible for staffing.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=65}}

On this occasion Suhren inquired when he would be given command of his own U-boat. Von Friedburg responded that Dönitz had given the order that a U-boat commander had to be at least 25 years of age before receiving his own command. Suhren was still six months shy of this criterion and had to be "parked" before he could take command of a U-boat.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=65}} To breach this period (10 November 1940&nbsp;– 2 March 1941), he was sent to lecture at the torpedo firing school of the [[24th U-boat Flotilla]] in [[Klaipėda|Memel]], present-day Klaipėda. At the same time he was listed as a commander-in-training.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}} While serving on ''U-48'', a total of 119 torpedoes were fired; 65 torpedoes were aimed and fired by Suhren while ''U-48'' was surfaced, 30 of which found their mark.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=24}}

===Command of ''U-564''===
In April 1941 he took command of {{GS|U-564||2}}, a  [[German Type VII submarine|Type VIIC]] U-boat. Construction training began at the [[Blohm & Voss]] shipbuilding works in [[Hamburg]] on 3 March 1941. A month later, on 3 April, U-564 was commissioned into the [[1st U-boat Flotilla]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}} Work-up and training was done with AGRU-Front in [[Hel, Poland|Hela]] in the Eastern Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=69}}<ref group="Tr">''Technische Ausbildungsgruppe für Front U-Boote''—technical training group for front-line U-boats</ref> Suhren's chief engineer (''[[Leitender Ingenieur]]'') on ''U-564'' was ''Oberleutnant zur See'' (Ing.) [[Ulrich Gabler]]. After World War II, Gabler became one of the leading experts on conventional submarine construction and [[Honorary title (academic)|honorary professor]] at the [[University of Hamburg]] for [[shipbuilding]]. Suhren had recommended Gabler for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, a request that was turned down and Gabler received the [[German Cross]] in Gold ({{lang|de|Deutsches Kreuz in Gold}}) on 15 October 1942.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=188}} ''U-564'' was in [[Gotenhafen]], present-day Gdynia, when on 5 May, [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Wilhelm Keitel]], with a large entourage, arrived to visit the [[battleship]]s [[German battleship Bismarck|''Bismarck'']] and [[German battleship Tirpitz|''Tirpitz'']], which were also in Gotenhafen at the time. Suhren, and his brother Gerd, who also happened to be in Gotenhafen at the time, both already decorated with the Knight's Cross, were invited to lunch with Hitler and his entourage.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=69}}

Suhren's first patrol (17 June 1941&nbsp;– 27 July 1941) as a commander, his tenth overall, took ''U-564'' from Kiel to [[Brest, France|Brest]]. On this patrol into the [[North Atlantic]] he was credited with sinking three ships of {{GRT|18678|link=off}} and further damaging one ship of {{GRT|9467|link=off}}.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}

On his second patrol (16 August 1941&nbsp;– 27 August 1941) from Brest he sank two ships of {{GRT|2587|link=off}} and the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[corvette]] {{HMS|Zinnia|K98|6}}, of {{convert|900|MT|abbr=off}}.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}

====Third patrol and Oak Leaves====
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Rogge-Lehmann-Willenbrock-Suhren.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bernhard Rogge]], [[Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock]] and Suhren receive the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross from [[Adolf Hitler]] on 10 January 1942. [[Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer]], Hitler's naval adjutant is standing to left.]] -->
Following his third patrol (16 September 1941&nbsp;– 1 November 1941) Suhren was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub}}) on 31 December 1941. The patrol had left Brest and headed for the North Atlantic, [[North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)|North Channel]], before [[Gibraltar]], and [[Cape Trafalgar]]. ''U-564'' was resupplied with fuel at [[Cádiz]], Spain before arriving in [[Lorient]], France. On this patrol he was credited with sinking three ships of {{GRT|7198|link=off}}, including the {{SS|Carsbreck}} on 24 October 1941.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}

====Fourth patrol====
The fourth patrol (11 January 1942&nbsp;– 6 March 1942) left Lorient on 11 January 1942 and took ''U-564'' to [[La Pallice]] on 12 January. They left La Pallice again on 18 January heading for the [[East Coast of the United States]] and arrived in Brest on 6 March 1942. On this patrol he sank one ship of {{GRT|11410}} and damaged another of {{GRT|6195}}. Suhren had to abort the patrol prematurely as the muzzle doors of the torpedo tubes had been damaged in a collision with {{GS|U-107|1940|2}} off of [[Cape Hatteras]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|pp=94–95}}

====Fifth patrol====
Suhren took ''U-564'' on its fifth patrol (4 April 1942&nbsp;– 6 June 1942) back to the East Coast of the United States again, departing and returning to Brest. Although a number of torpedoes malfunctioned on this patrol, four ships of {{GRT|24390|link=off}} were sunk and another two of {{GRT|13245|link=off}} damaged.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=95}} On 14 May 1942 he sunk the Mexican [[oil tanker]] ''[[SS Potrero del Llano|Potrero del Llano]]''.{{sfn|Hickam|1996|p=217}} The sinking of this ship, compounded with {{GS|U-106|1940|2}}'s attack on another tanker, the ''[[Faja de Oro]]'', on 21 May 1942, would bring [[Mexico in World War II|Mexico]] to declare "A State of War" on the [[Axis powers]].{{sfn|Salinas|1997|pp=135–138}}

====Sixth patrol and Swords====
{{Quote_box
|quote=After returning from his last and longest mission, when ''U-564'' came to the port of Brest, Suhren greeted his friend [[Horst Uphoff]]—named Hein and commander of {{GS|U-84|1941|2}}—with the words "{{Lang|de|Hein, Hein, sind die Nazis noch am Ruder?}}" Literally translating to "Hein, Hein, are the Nazis still at the rudder?" This made news in the entire U-Boat service.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=123}}<ref>{{Cite news|journal=Der Spiegel |issue=42|year=1966 |title=Reinhard Suhren |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-46414511.html |language=de |access-date=17 March 2014}}</ref>
|source=Reinhard Suhren
|width=30%
|align=left
}}

Suhren's sixth, last and longest patrol (9 July 1942 – 18 September 1942) as a U-boat commander left Brest on 9 July 1942 and took ''U-564'' to Lorient on 10 July. One day later, on 11 July, they left port again, heading for the Mid-Atlantic, West-Atlantic, [[Caribbean Sea]] near [[Trinidad]]. On this patrol he sank five ships of {{GRT|32181|link=off}} for which he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]] ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern}}) on 1 September 1942. ''U-564'' returned to Brest on 18 September 1942.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=95}} Among the ships he attacked were from the 14-ship "TAW" convoy, which left port at Trinidad.{{sfn|Bercuson|Herwig|2014|p=218}} While on patrol Suhren was attacked by an Allied aircraft and was forced to dive to {{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}—perilously close to crushing depth.{{sfn|Bercuson|Herwig|2014|pp=228–229}}

On 23 July 1942 ''U-564'' and {{GS|U-203||2}}, under the command of [[Rolf Mützelburg]], met at sea in the relative safety of the [[Mid-Atlantic gap]]. The reason for this meeting was that ''U-564''{{'}}s ''Matrosen-Gefreiter'' Ernst Schlittenhard had fallen ill, requiring hospitalization. Suhren had requested Schlittenhard to be transferred to ''U-203'', which was heading back to port. During this meeting Suhren witnessed Mützelburg's daring diving stunts from the [[conning tower]] into the sea. In a one-to-one conversation with Mützelburg, Suhren criticized this behavior, pointing out the risks. Less than two months later, on 11 September 1942, Mützelburg would succumb to injuries sustained when he struck the deck head-first.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|pp=92–97}}

===Ashore===
By his own account, Suhren managed to get himself invited to the [[Berghof (residence)|Berghof]], Hitler's home in the [[Obersalzberg]], following the presentation of the Swords to his Knight's Cross. In his account, he received a call from [[Erich Topp]] who was already at the Berghof, to come and join him. Suhren bluntly approached [[Martin Bormann]], Hitler's private secretary, and thanked him for the invitation to the Berghof, an invitation which had not been expressed until then. Bormann acknowledged, thus confirming the invitation.{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|pp=129–133}}

In October 1942 he left the boat and became an instructor. Later he served in the [[27th U-boat Flotilla]] along with ''Korvettenkapitän'' Topp. On 27 May 1944, Dönitz appointed Suhren was ''[[Führer der Unterseeboote]]'' in Norwegian waters and from September 1944 for the [[North Sea]].{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=195}} On 1 June, he was promoted to ''Fregattenkapitän''.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=193}}

==Later life==
Suhren was taken [[prisoner of war]] by British forces in Oslo, Norway, where he and Rösing were imprisoned in the [[Akershus Fortress]] for a year. Here he received news that his parents and sister committed suicide in 1945, after failing to escape from the [[Sudetenland]].{{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|pp=15–16}} He was released from captivity on 12 April 1946 and traveled to Germany where he first stayed with friends in [[Bad Schwartau]].{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=196}}

Suhren had married Jutta-Beatrix and had a daughter called Beatrix, the daughter of a Luftwaffe staff officer, in 1943. Suhren had managed to evacuate both his wife and his [[mother-in-law]] from Danzig to [[Oberstdorf]] in the [[Allgäu]] region of the [[Bavarian Alps]] in early 1945. Here his wife worked at an American [[Mess|officer's casino]] where she befriended an American soldier. Consequently, the marriage ended in divorce. Suhren married his second wife Hannelore. The marriage produced three daughters named Katrin, Gesa and Mara.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|pp=196–197}}

Suhren was asked multiple times to join the military service in the [[Bundeswehr]], the post World War II [[armed forces]] of the [[Federal Republic of Germany]]. He refused, declaring that he could not serve in a navy which looked down upon all former soldiers of Wehrmacht as criminals.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|p=197}}

The [[Bundesmarine]] lost ''U-Hai'', a modernized [[type XXIII submarine]] formerly {{GS|U-2365||2}}, in a storm on 14 September 1966 roughly {{convert|138|nmi}} northwest of [[Helgoland]] in the [[Dogger Bank]]. Only the cook, ''Obermaat'' Peter Silbernagel, survived the sinking, 19 members of the crew including the commander, ''Oberleutnant zur See'' Joachim-Peter Wiedersheim, lost their lives. The German news magazine ''[[Der Spiegel]]'' interviewed Suhren on the possible causes of the sinking. The article was published on 10 October 1966. In this interview Suhren carefully alluded to a possible cause. He suggested that lack of proper training could have been a factor.<ref>{{Cite news|journal=Der Spiegel |issue=42|year=1966 |title=Wo fängt menschliches Versagen an? |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-46414510.html |language=de |access-date=17 March 2014}}</ref>

Suhren died of [[stomach cancer]] on 25 August 1984. The funeral ceremony was held on 5 September 1984 at the [[Ohlsdorf Cemetery]], near Hamburg. Among those attending were Herbert Schultze, [[Erich Topp]], [[Eberhard Godt]], [[Otto Kretschmer]], [[Klaus Bargsten]], Hans Meckel and [[Peter-Erich Cremer]]. The Bundeswehr provided an honour guard as a mark of respect.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|pp=197–198}} According to his last will, his cremated remains were [[Burial at sea|buried at sea]] where ''U-564'' was lost. ''U-564'' had been sunk on 14 June 1943, north-west of [[Cape Ortegal]], in position {{Coord|46|30|N|07|18|W}} by an [[Armstrong Whitworth Whitley]] aircraft. There were 18 survivors from ''U-564'' including the commander, 28 of her crew perished.{{sfn|Paterson|2005|pp=194–195, 198}}

==Summary of career==
{{GeoGroupTemplate}}
Suhren, as 1st Watch Officer on ''U-48'', was credited with the destruction {{GRT|200000|link=off}} of merchant shipping. He further sank 18 merchant ships for a total of {{GRT|95544|link=off}}, 1 warship sunk for a total of {{convert|900|LT|abbr=off}} and damaged 4 ships for a total of {{GRT|28907|link=off}} as commander of ''U-564''.
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|-
! scope="col" width="120px"|Date
! scope="col" width="50px" |U-boat
! scope="col" width="180px"|Name of Ship
! scope="col" width="150px"|Nationality
! scope="col" width="25px" |Tonnage
! scope="col" width="220px"|Fate
|-
|align="right" |27 June 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in June 1941#27 June|Kongsgaard]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=35}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right" |9,467
|align="left"  |Damaged at {{coord|60|00|N|30|42|W|type:event|name=Kongsgaard (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |27 June 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in June 1941#27 June|Maasdam]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=35}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right" |8,812
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|60|00|N|30|35|W|type:event|name=Maasdam (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |27 June 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in June 1941#27 June|Malaya II]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=35}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=58}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |8,651
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|59|56|N|30|35|W|type:event|name=Malaya II (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |29 June 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in June 1941#29 June|Hekla]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=35}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=58}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Iceland}}
|align="right" |1,215
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|58|20|N|43|00|W|type:event|name=Hekla (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |22 August 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in August 1941#22 August|Clonlara]]''{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=62}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Ireland}}
|align="right" |1,203
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|40|43|N|11|39|W|type:event|name=Clonlara (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |22 August 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[Empire Oak]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=174}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |484
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|40|43|N|11|39|W|type:event|name=Empire Oak (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |23 August 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |[[HMS Zinnia (K98)|HMS ''Zinnia'' (K98)]]{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=174}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}
|align="left"  |{{navy|UKGBI}}
|align="right" |900
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|40|25|N|10|40|W|type:event|name=HMS Zinnia (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |24 October 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in October 1941#24 October|Alhama]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=308}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=70}}<br/>Possibly also fired at by {{GS|U-563||2}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |1,352
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|35|42|N|10|58|W|type:event|name=Alhama (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |24 October 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in October 1941#24 October|Ariosto]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=308}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=70}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |2,176
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|36|20|N|10|50|W|type:event|name=Ariosto (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |24 October 1941
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[SS Carsbreck|Carsbreck]]''{{sfn|Bertke|2012|p=174}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=70}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |3,670
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|36|20|N|10|50|W|type:event|name=Carsbreck (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |11 February 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in February 1942#11 February|Victolite]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2013|p=279}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=78}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Canada|1921}}
|align="right" |11,410
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|36|12|N|67|14|W|type:event|name=Carsbreck (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |16 February 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in February 1942#16 February|Opalia]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2013|p=279}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=179}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |6,195
|align="left"  |Damaged at {{coord|37|38|N|66|07|W|type:event|name=Opalia (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |3 May 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1942#3 May|Ocean Venus]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=130}}{{sfn|Tennent|2001|p=217}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=92}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |7,174
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|28|21|N|80|23|W|type:event|name=Ocean Venus (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |4 May 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1942#4 May|Eclipse]]''{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=93}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |9,767
|align="left"  |Damaged at {{coord|26|30|N|80|00|W|type:event|name=Eclipse (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |5 May 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1942#5 May|Delisle]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=133}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=93}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right" |3,478
|align="left"  |Damaged at {{coord|27|06|N|80|03|W|type:event|name=Delisle (ship)}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=93}}
|-
|align="right" |8 May 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1942#8 May|Ohioan]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=134}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=94}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|United States|1912}}
|align="right" |6,078
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|26|31|N|79|59|W|type:event|name=Ohioan (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |9 May 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in May 1942#9 May|Lubrafol]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=134}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=94}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Panama}}
|align="right" |7,138
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|26|26|N|80|00|W|type:event|name=Lubrafol (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |14 May 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[SS Potrero del Llano|Potrero del Llano]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=136}}{{sfn|Bercuson|Herwig|2014|p=182}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=95}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Mexico|1934}}
|align="right" |4,000
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|25|35|N|80|06|W|type:event|name=Potrero del Llano (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |19 July 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in July 1942#19 July|Empire Hawksbill]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=366}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |5,724
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|42|29|N|25|56|W|type:event|name=Empire Hawksbill (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |19 July 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[List of shipwrecks in July 1942#19 July|Lavington Court]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=366}}{{sfn|Woodman|2011|p= (kindle no page number)}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |5,372
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|42|38|N|25|28|W|type:event|name=Lavington Court (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |19 August 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[SS British Consul]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=458}}{{sfn|Bercuson|Herwig|2014|p=218}}{{sfn|Tennent|2001|p=45}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |6,940
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|11|58|N|62|38|W|type:event|name=British Consul (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |19 August 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[SS Empire Cloud]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=458}}{{sfn|Bercuson|Herwig|2014|p=218}}{{sfn|Tennent|2001|p=5}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|UKGBI|civil}}
|align="right" |5,969
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|11|58|N|62|38|W|type:event|name=Empire Cloud (ship)}}
|-
|align="right" |30 August 1942
|align="center"|{{GS|U-564||2}}
|align="left"  |''[[MT Vardaas (1931)|Vardaas]]''{{sfn|Bertke|Smith|Kindell|2014|p=459}}
|align="left"  |{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right" |8,176
|align="left"  |Sunk at {{coord|11|35|N|60|40|W|type:event|name=Vardaas (ship)}}{{sfn|Rohwer|1999|p=119}}
|-
|}

===Awards===
* [[Sudetenland Medal|The Return of Sudetenland Commemorative Medal of 1 October 1938]] (20 December 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939)
** 2nd Class (25 September 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}{{sfn|Thomas|1998|p=370}}
** 1st Class (25 February 1940){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}{{sfn|Thomas|1998|p=370}}
* [[U-boat War Badge]] (1939) (21 December 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}
** with Diamonds (1 January 1942){{sfn|Brustal-Naval|Suhren|1999|p=97}}
* [[War Merit Cross]] 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]]
** Knight's Cross on 3 November 1940 as ''[[Oberleutnant zur See]]'' and 1st watch officer on ''U-48''{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=735}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=417}}
** 56th Oak Leaves on 31 December 1941 as ''Oberleutnant zur See'' and commander of ''U-564''{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=735}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=57}}
** 18th Swords on 1 September 1942 as ''[[Kapitänleutnant]]'' and commander of ''U-564''{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=735}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=40}}

===Promotions===
{| style="background: transparent;"
| 25 September 1935: || ''Seekadett'' (Midshipman){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=92}}
|-
| 1 July 1936: || ''Fähnrich zur See'' (Officer Cadet){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=92}}
|-
| 1 January 1938: || ''Oberfähnrich zur See'' (Senior Ensign){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}
|-
| 1 April 1938: || ''Leutnant zur See'' (Second Lieutenant){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}
|-
| 1 October 1938: || ''Oberleutnant zur See'' (First Lieutenant){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=93}}
|-
| 1 January 1942: || ''Kapitänleutnant'' (Captain Lieutenant){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}
|-
| 1 September 1942: || ''Korvettenkapitän'' (Corvette Captain){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}
|-
| 1 June 1944: || ''Fregattenkapitän'' (Frigate Captain){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=94}}
|}

==Translation notes==
{{Reflist|group="Tr"|30em}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

==References==

===Citations===
{{reflist|25em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Bertke
  |first=Donald A.
  |year=2012
  |title=World War II Sea War, Vol 4: Germany Sends Russia to the Allies: Day-to-Day Naval Actions June 1941 through December 1941
  |publisher=Bertke Publications
  |location=Dayton Ohio
  |isbn=978-1-937470-03-6
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last1=Bertke
  |first1=Donald A.
  |last2=Smith
  |first2=Gordon
  |last3=Kindell
  |first3=Don
  |year=2013
  |title=World War II Sea War, Vol 5: Air Raid Pearl Harbor. This Is Not a Drill: Day-to-Day Naval Actions December 1941 through March 1942
  |publisher=Bertke Publications
  |location=Dayton Ohio
  |isbn=978-0-578-02941-2
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last1=Bercuson 
  |first1=David J.
  |last2=Herwig
  |first2=Holger H. 
  |year=2014
  |title=Long Night of the Tankers: Hitler's War Against Caribbean Oil 1942-1944
  |publisher=University of Calgary Press
  |location=Calgary
  |isbn=978-1-55238-759-7
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last1=Bertke
  |first1=Donald A.
  |last2=Smith
  |first2=Gordon
  |last3=Kindell
  |first3=Don
  |year=2014
  |title=World War II Sea War, Vol 6: The Allies Halt the Axis Advance: Day-to-Day Naval Actions April 1942 through August 1942
  |publisher=Bertke Publications
  |location=Dayton Ohio
  |isbn=978-1-937470-09-8
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last1=Brustal-Naval
  |first1=Fritz
  |author-link1=:de:Fritz Brustat-Naval
  |last2=Suhren
  |first2=Teddy
  |year=1999
  |title=Nasses Eichenlaub: als Kommandant und F.d.U. im U-Boot-Krieg
  |trans-title=Wet Oak Leaves: as Commander and F.d.U. in the U-boat War
  |language=de
  |location=Frankfurt/Main, Berlin Germany
  |publisher=Ullstein
  |isbn=978-3-548-23537-0
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last1=Busch
  |first1=Rainer
  |last2=Röll
  |first2=Hans-Joachim
  |year=2003
  |title=Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
  |trans-title=The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945
  |language=de
  |location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany
  |publisher=Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn
  |isbn=978-3-8132-0515-2
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Fellgiebel
  |first=Walther-Peer
  |author-link=:de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel
  |year=2000
  |orig-year=1986
  |title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile
  |trans-title=The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches
  |language=de
  |location=Friedberg, Germany
  |publisher=Podzun-Pallas
  |isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Hickam
  |first=Homer H.
  |author-link=Homer Hickam
  |year=1996
  |title=Torpedo Junction: U-Boat War Off America's East Coast, 1942
  |location=Annapolis, MD
  |publisher=Naval Institute Press
  |isbn=978-1-55750-362-6
}}
* {{cite book
  |last1=Hildebrand
  |first1=Hans H.
  |last2=Röhr
  |first2=Albert
  |last3=Steinmetz
  |first3=Hans-Otto
  |year=1993
  |title=Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe. Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart. (10 Bände)
  |trans-title=The German Warships. Biographies - a Mirror of Naval History from 1815 to the Present. (10 Volumes)
  |volume=3, 6
  |language=de
  |location=[[Ratingen]], DE
  |publisher=Mundus Verlag
  |isbn=3-7822-0211-2
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Paterson
  |first=Lawrence
  |year=2005
  |title=U 564 auf Feindfahrt—70 Tage an Bord
  |trans-title=U 564 on War Patrol—70 Days on Bord
  |language=de
  |location=Stuttgart, Germany
  |publisher=Motorbuch-Verlag
  |isbn=978-3-613-02528-8
}}
* {{Cite book
  |first=Jürgen 
  |last=Rohwer
  |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer
  |year=1999
  |title=Axis submarine successes of World War Two: German, Italian, and Japanese submarine successes, 1939-1945
  |publisher=Greenhill Books
  |isbn=978-1557500298
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Salinas
  |first=María Emilia Paz
  |year=1997
  |title=Strategy, Security, and Spies: Mexico and the U.S. as Allies in World War II
  |location=University Park, PA
  |publisher=Penn State Press
  |isbn=978-0-271-01666-5
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Scherzer
  |first=Veit
  |year=2007
  |title=Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives
  |trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives
  |language=de
  |location=Jena, Germany
  |publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag
  |isbn=978-3-938845-17-2
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Thomas
  |first=Franz
  |year=1998
  |title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z
  |trans-title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z
  |language=de
  |location=Osnabrück, Germany
  |publisher=Biblio-Verlag
  |isbn=978-3-7648-2300-9
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last=Woodman
  |first=Richard
  |author-link=Richard Woodman
  |year=2011
  |title=The Real Cruel Sea: The Merchant Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939–1943
  |location=Barnsley
  |publisher=John Murray & Pen and Sword
  |isbn=978-0-7195-6599-1
}}
* {{Cite book
  |last1=Tennent 
  |first1=Alan J.
  |year=2001
  |title=British and Commonwealth Merchant Ship Losses to Axis Submarines, 1939-1945
  |publisher=Sutton
  |location=The History Press
  |isbn=978-0750927604
}}
{{Refend}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Subject bar
| portal1=Biography
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suhren, Reinhard}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Bad Schwalbach]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Hesse-Nassau]]
[[Category:U-boat commanders (Kriegsmarine)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords]]
[[Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in Germany]]
[[Category:Burials at sea]]
[[Category:Burials at the Ohlsdorf Cemetery]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Hesse]]