Heinrich Bleichrodt


Heinrich Bleichrodt was one of the most successful German U-boat commanders of the Second World War. From October 1939 until retiring from front line service in December 1943, he was credited with sinking 25 ships for a total of. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, among other commendations. He earned the nickname "Ajax" during his time with the U-boats.

Career

Bleichrodt was born in Berga, Kyffhäuser on 21 October 1909. He entered the navy in 1933 and spent his initial training on the cadet ship Gorch Fock, followed by a period on the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. He was commissioned an ensign on 1 April 1935, promoted to sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1937 and to Lieutenant on 1 October 1939.

Submarine service

After training, Bleichrodt spent a period aboard the small training boat followed by a single patrol with later Knight's Cross winner Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Rollmann aboard during June and July 1940. This was a highly successful cruise, sinking eight ships for a total of, with Bleichrodt receiving the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 25 July. He was then given command of his own U-boat, on 4 September 1940. He began his first war patrol aboard her on 8 September, going on to sink eight ships for a total of 36,189 tons.
On 15 September he sank. He went on to torpedo and sink on 18 September before returning to port on 25 September. Unknown to Bleichrodt, there were 90 children on board the liner being evacuated to Canada under the Children's Overseas Reception Board's initiative in order to escape the effects of the Blitz. 258 people, including 77 of the evacuees, died in the disaster. The sinking was controversial, but the ship was not marked as being an evacuation transport, and it is unlikely that Bleichrodt would have been aware that children were amongst the passengers. He was also limited in what aid he could have provided even if he had been aware. He had been awarded the U-boat War Badge 1939 on 24 September, and on his arrival in port on 25 September he received the Iron Cross 1st Class.
He put to sea again on 5 October and undertook another highly successful patrol, sinking eight ships, including three merchantmen from the ill-fated convoys SC 7 and HX 79. He returned to Kiel on 27 October having sunk 43,106 tons of shipping. Three days before returning, U-48 was radioed and Bleichrodt was informed that he was to be awarded the Knight's Cross. Bleichrodt refused to wear it until his IWO Oberleutnant zur See Reinhard 'Teddy' Suhren was also awarded one. Bleichrodt pointed out that Suhren had overseen all surface shooting on previous missions and was also entitled. Suhren duly received the Knight's Cross in November that year.
Bleichrodt left U-48 on 16 December 1940 and briefly took command of on 22 January 1941 until 4 June 1941. He did not carry out any war cruises before being moved to take command of on 5 June 1941. He carried out six patrols with her, not achieving the same degree of success he had had with U-48, but still sinking 13 ships for a total of some 80,000 tons. He received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 23 September 1942, followed by the U-boat War Badge with Diamonds in October. He was promoted to Korvettenkapitän on 1 November 1943.

Retirement

Bleichrodt appears to have suffered a breakdown whilst at sea on 26 December 1943. He radioed U-boat headquarters to request an immediate return to port, but this was initially denied. On 31 December Bleichrodt insisted that he return, and handed command to his 1WO, who brought U-109 back to Saint Nazaire. He was transferred to a training job with the 27th U-boat Flotilla, spending five months there followed by a year in the 2nd ULD as tactical instructor for the officers. He received a final promotion to Korvettenkapitän on 1 November 1943, and in July 1944 he was appointed as Chief of the 22nd U-boat Flotilla, a post he held until the end of the war.

Later life

After the war, Bleichrodt was held by the Allies on war crimes charges pertaining to the sinking of the City of Benares. Bleichrodt was accused of sinking the ship with the full knowledge that it had been transporting evacuees. He reaffirmed the German position that there was no way that he or the crew of the submarine could have known who was on board. It was upheld and he was acquitted. Bleichrodt refused to apologise to the survivors, despite several crew members of U-48, including the radio operator, expressing their shock and regret once the facts became known.
Bleichrodt died in 1977.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of and, Bleichrodt is credited with the sinking of 24 ships for a total of, further damaging two ships of and sinking one warship,, of.
DateU-boatShipNationalityTonnage
GRT		Fate
15 September 1940U-48Alexandros4,343Sunk at
15 September 1940U-481,060Sunk at
15 September 1940U-48Empire Volunteer5,319Sunk at
18 September 1940U-4811,081Sunk at
18 September 1940U-48Marina5,088Sunk at
18 September 1940U-48Magdalena3,118Sunk at
21 September 1940U-48Blairangus4,409Sunk at
21 September 1940U-48Broompark5,136Damaged at
11 October 1940U-48Brandanger4,624Sunk at
11 October 1940U-48Port Gisborne8,390Sunk at
12 October 1940U-48Davanger7,102Sunk at
17 October 1940U-489,512Sunk at
17 October 1940U-483,843Sunk at
18 October 1940U-48Sandend3,612Sunk at
20 October 1940U-48Shirak6,023Damaged by, sunk by U-48 at
23 January 1941U-109Thirlby4,877Sunk at
1 February 1941U-109Tacoma Star7,924Sunk at
5 February 1941U-109Montrolite11,309Sunk at
6 February 1941U-109Halcyon3,531Sunk at
20 April 1941U-109La Paz6,548Damaged at
3 May 1941U-109Laertes5,825Sunk at
7 August 1941U-109Arthur W. Sewall6,030Sunk at
11 August 1941U-109Vimeira5,728Sunk at
3 September 1941U-109Ocean Might7,173Sunk at
6 September 1941U-109Tuscan Star11,449Sunk at
17 September 1941U-109Peterton5,221Sunk at

Awards

Citations