The Men - U-boat Commanders

Wolfgang von Eickstedt

Kapitänleutnant (Crew 35)



No ships sunk or damaged.


Born  1 Dec 1915 Stettin
Died  5 Apr 1988(72)

Ranks

5 Apr 1935 Offiziersanwärter
25 Sep 1935 Seekadett
1 Jul 1936 Fähnrich zur See
1 Jan 1938 Oberfähnrich zur See
1 Jul 1938 Leutnant zur See
1 Oct 1939 Oberleutnant zur See
1 Jan 1943 Kapitänleutnant

Decorations

5 Feb 1942 Iron Cross 2nd Class
5 Mar 1942 U-boat War Badge 1939
17 Nov 1944 U-boat Front Clasp
20 Dec 1944 Iron Cross 1st Class
20 Apr 1945 U-boat Front Clasp in Silver
27 Aug 1945 Lappland Shield

U-boat Commands

U-boatFromTo
U-668 16 Nov 1942 Apr, 1945   6 patrols (199 days) 

p>Wolfgang von Eickstedt was born on 1 Dec 1915 in Stettin. He joined the Kriegsmarine as part of Class 1935. Wolfgang von Eickstedt served as Platoon Officer, Battery and Company Commander with Naval Artillery Detachment 122 from Sep 1938 to Jul 1940. He served on the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen from Aug 1940 to Mar 1941.

He underwent U-boat training from Mar to Sep 1941. Wolfgang von Eickstedt served as First Watch Officer (IWO) on the successful type VIIC boat U-553 (Kptlt. Karl Thurmann) from Sep 1941 to Feb 1942.

He then attended U-boat commander's course with the 24th Flotilla from Mar to May 1942. He underwent further courses and training from May to Nov 1942.

Wolfgang von Eickstedt commissioned the new type VIIC boat U-668 on 16 Nov 1942. He was promoted to Kapitänleutnant on 1 Apr 1943. After 6 war patrols and almost 200 days at sea he handed over the boat in April 1945 and was hospitalized until the end of the war when he was detained by the Allies until 1 Oct 1945.

Sources

Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II.

Patrol info for Wolfgang von Eickstedt

 U-boat Departure Arrival  
1. U-668 1 Apr 1944  Kiel  2 Apr 1944  Kristiansand-Marviken   2 days
2. U-668 13 May 1944  Kristiansand-Marviken  14 May 1944  Bergen   2 days
3. U-668 14 May 1944  Bergen  18 May 1944  Skjomenfjord   5 days
4. U-668 22 May 1944  Skjomenfjord  25 Jun 1944  Hammerfest  Patrol 1,35 days
5. U-668 6 Jul 1944  Hammerfest  7 Jul 1944  Narvik   2 days
6. U-668 19 Jul 1944  Narvik  27 Aug 1944  Hammerfest  Patrol 2,40 days
7. U-668 14 Sep 1944  Hammerfest  3 Oct 1944  Bogenbucht  Patrol 3,20 days
8. U-668 14 Oct 1944  Bogenbucht  14 Oct 1944  Narvik   1 days
9. U-668 15 Oct 1944  Narvik  11 Nov 1944  Harstad  Patrol 4,28 days
10. U-668 22 Nov 1944  Harstad  19 Dec 1944  Bogenbucht  Patrol 5,28 days
11. U-668 1 Mar 1945  Narvik  17 Apr 1945  Narvik  Patrol 6,48 days
6 patrols, 199 days at sea


About ranks and decorations
Special thanks to Fernando Almeida for data on ranks and decorations.

Media links


German U-boat Commanders of World War II
Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans-Joachim

Listing of all U-boat commanders


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