Reinhart Reche

Reinhart Reche
File:Reinhart Reche.jpg
Born	13 December 1915 Kreuzburg
Died	3 March 1993 (1993-03-04) (aged 77) Bad Godesberg
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany
Service / branch	Kriegsmarine German Navy
Years of service	1934–45 1956–74
Rank	Kapitänleutnant (Kriegsmarine) Kapitän zur See (Bundesmarine)
Unit	SSS Gorch Fock cruiser Emden Schlesien SSS Horst Wessel U-751
Commands	U-255
Battles / wars	World War II Operation Wunderland
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Reinhart Reche (13 December 1915 in Kreuzburg – 3 March 1993 in Bad Godesberg) 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-255, Reche served as first watch officer on U-751 (31 January 1941 – 30 September 1941), at the time under the command of Gerhard Bigalk. He was credited with sinking four ships from convoy PQ 17.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of U-255 Reche sank nine commercial ships for 47,229 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged another commercial ship for a total loss of 7,191 GRT.

Date	Ship	Nationality	Tonnage GRT	Fate and location
6 July 1942	John Witherspoon	United States	7,191	Sunk at 72°05′N 40°30′E
7 July 1942	Alcoa Ranger	United States	5,116	Sunk at 71°38′N 49°35′E
8 July 1942	Olopana	United States	6,069	Sunk at 72°10′N 51°00′E
13 July 1942	Paulus Potter	Netherlands	7,168	Sunk at 70°00′N 52°00′E
20 September 1942	Silver Sword	United States	4,937	Sunk at 75°52′N 00°20′W
26 January 1943	Krasnyj Partizan	Soviet Union	2,418	Sunk at 73°45′N 17°30′E
29 January 1943	Ufa	Soviet Union	1,892	Sunk at 73°40′N 24°30′E
3 February 1943	Greylock	United States	7,460	Sunk at 70°52′N 00°21′W
5 March 1943	Executive	United States	4,978	Sunk at 72°44′N 11°27′E
10 March 1943	Richard Bland	United States	7,191	Total loss at 66°53′N 14°10′W

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (7 July 1941)
  • 1st Class (23 July 1942)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (9 September 1941)
• U-boat Front Clasp (2 November 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 17 March 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-255
• Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (27 August 1973)

References

Bibliography

• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Reinhart Reche". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 May 2014.