Johann-Friedrich Wessels

Johann-Friedrich Wessels
File:Johann-Friedrich Wessels.jpg Johann-Friedrich Wessels
Born	(1904-05-28)28 May 1904 Wilhelmshaven-Rüstringen
Died	Oldenburg
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1923–45
Rank	Korvettenkapitän (Ing.)
Unit	Schlesien Cruiser Leipzig U-23 U-47 U-198 U-870
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Johann-Friedrich Wessels (28 May 1904 in Wilhelmshaven-Rüstringen – 9 February 1988 in Oldenburg) was a German chief engineer on a U-boat in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Wessels was chief engineer on board of U-47 for four war patrols, including Günther Priens' infiltration of Scapa Flow and sinking of HMS Royal Oak. He then transferred to U-198 under the command of Werner Hartmann with whom he went on one patrol lasting 199 days. His final posting was on U-870 under Ernst Hechler.

Awards

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 September 1939)
  • 1st Class (17 October 1939)
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (19 December 1939)
• U-boat Front Clasp in Bronze (4 October 1944)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 March 1944 as Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) and chief engineer on U-198