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Erich WurdemannGerman submarine officer, captain-lieutenant
Date of Birth: 15.01.1914
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Heinz-Wilhelm Eck
- Transition to Submarine Warfare:
- Atlantic and Arctic Campaigns:
- Awards and Decorations:
- Death and Legacy:
Heinz-Wilhelm Eck
Early Life and Naval Career:Heinz-Wilhelm Eck was born in Hamburg, Germany, on November 1, 1940. He joined the German Navy as a cadet on September 23, 1933, and was commissioned as a lieutenant on October 1, 1936. He served on the destroyer "Paul Jacobi," participating in 11 combat missions from 1939 to 1940.
Transition to Submarine Warfare:
In November 1940, Eck transferred to the submarine service. He served as a watch officer on the U-43, commanded by Wolfgang Lüth. On September 15, 1941, he became the commander of the Type IXC submarine U-506.
Atlantic and Arctic Campaigns:
Eck led U-506 on five naval patrols during the Battle of the Atlantic and the Arctic campaign. In his second patrol, he sank nine merchant vessels. In his third patrol, he was involved in the Laconia incident. Later, his submarine was transferred to the Indian Ocean.
Awards and Decorations:
On March 14, 1943, Eck was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for sinking nine enemy vessels. He also received the U-Boat War Badge with Diamonds and the Italian Silver Medal for Military Valor.
Death and Legacy:
Eck's fifth patrol with U-506 proved to be his last. On July 12, 1943, his submarine was attacked and sunk by American aircraft. Only six crew members survived out of a total of 54. Eck, along with 48 others, perished.
Over the course of his naval career, Eck sank 15 allied vessels totaling 76,714 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged two more ships with a combined tonnage of 23,354 GRT. He is remembered as a skilled and courageous submarine commander during World War II.
