Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Suhren Brothers: Gerd and Reinhard Suhren

The Suhren Brothers are both Ritterkreuzträger (recipients of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) from U-bootwaffe, and they were pictured together in a photo that was taken in 1940-1941. From left to right: Oberleutnant (Ing.) Gerd Suhren (May 16, 1914 - May 6, 1991) and Oberleutnant zur See Reinhard "Teddy" Suhren (April 16, 1916 - August 25, 1984). The older brother Gerd was the first to get Ritterkreuz on October 21, 1940 as a LI (Leiter-Ingenieur aka Chief of Engineer) at U-37 (he was listed as the first engine officer in the entire Kriegsmarine to get the prestigious medal!). His brother Reinhard followed shortly afterwards, on November 3, 1940, as a 1. Wachoffizier (First Watch Officer) at U-48, the most successful German submarine in World War II. Reinhard's achievements did not stop there, because when he took command of his own ship, U-564, he "went berserk" by sinking 19 ships (with one of them is warship) which he achieved only in a period of approximately one year only! For his amazing feat, Reinhard was rewarded with two additional medals for his Ritterkreuz: Eichenlaub (31 December 1941) and Schwerter (1 September 1942). The two brothers survived until the end of the World War II. As his brother Gerd continued his military career in the Bundesmarine (West German Navy), Reinhard chose to reject the repeated calls to join the same unit, stating explicitly that he was not willing to serve in a military institution that looked at all former Wehrmacht soldiers only as a bunch of criminals!


Source :
https://wehrmachtss.blogspot.com/2020/03/gerd-dan-reinhard-suhren.html

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