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Bielig, Gerhard (U 177)

Date of birth:
April 28th, 1916 (Berlin, Germany)
Date of death:
October 29th, 2004 (Neuss, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Crew of 1934

26.09.1934: promoted to Seekadett
01.07.1935: promoted to Fähnrich (Ing.)
01.01.1937: promoted to Oberfähnrich (Ing.)
01.04.1937: promoted to Leutnant (Ing.) (8.)
00.10.1937: transferred to the U-Boot Waffe
01.04.1939: promoted to Oberleutnant (Ing.) (8.)
00.01.1938-38.03.1940: Leitender Ingenieur, L.I., U 20 : 8 patrols, 101 days
00.07.1940-00.12.1941: Leitender Ingenieur, L.I., U 103 : 5 patrols, 253 days
01.10.1941: promoted to Kapitänleutnant (Ing.)
00.03.1942-01.10.1943: Leitender Ingenieur, L.I., U 177 : 2 patrols, 310 days
02.10.1943-14.12.1943: 12. U-Flottille, Bordeaux
00.10.1943-27.12.1944: Chef, 2. Kompanie, I. Abteilung, 2. Unterseeboots-Lehr-Division, Gotenhafen
28.12.1944-08.05.1945: Gefechtsausbildungsoffizier, Agru-Front, technical training group for front U-boats, Hela
15.05.1945-15.02.1947: POW then Chef, 5./ Marinekraftfahrabteilung, Eckernförde
credited with 650 days at sea

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Rank:
Leutnant (Ing.) (2nd Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
April 8th, 1938
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Ing.)
Unit:
U-20
Awarded on:
November 23rd, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Ing.)
Unit:
U-20
Awarded on:
October 17th, 1939
U-boot Kriegsabzeichen (ohne Brillianten)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Ing.)
Unit:
U-103
Awarded on:
October 21st, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant (Ing.)
Unit:
Leitender Ingenieur, U-Boot, "U 103", 29. Unterseebootsflottille
Awarded on:
December 9th, 1941
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) (Lieutenant)
Unit:
Leitender Ingenieur, U 177, 12. Unterseebootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
February 10th, 1943
The following newspaper excerpt (dated 13./14.02.1943) describes why Bielig received the Knight’s Cross…

“Kapitänleutnant Bielig has served as the chief engineer aboard U-Boats since the beginning of the war, and has been involved in the sinking of 51 ships (with 280000 GRT). He has succeeded in saving his U-Boat from destruction on three separate occasions. In total he has spent 454 days at sea.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
October 10th, 1944
U-Boots-Frontspange in Bronze

Sources

Photo