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... 1936 - 1939 ...

U-35 crew member Willi Dietrich

Willi Dietrich was born on 20 December 1909 in Marburg/Lahn. He joined the Reichsmarine in 1928 (crew 28). He was Obersteuermann for U-35 from August 1939 to October 1939.

On the conning tower of U-35 in August 1939: unknown, unknown, Willi Dietrich, unknown, Gerhard Stamer. [56]

 

Willi Dietrich in front of the homeland pennant. [32,33]

 

The crew of U-35, including Willi Dietrich, upon return from the first war patrol. [33,cover photo of 32]

Willi Dietrich was not a member of the crew of U-35 on the second (final) war cruise, so he did not become a Prisoner of War on 29 November 1939.
Instead, he became Obersteuermann for U-28 from January 1940 to January 1941. Then, after construction training from January 1941 until March 1941, he became Obersteuermann for U-125 from March 1941 to October 1942. His training continued from October 1942 to June 1943.
He continued to be promoted, attaining the rank of Oberleutnant on 01 April 1943. He was given command of U-286 on 05 June 1943, initially as a training boat but then as a combat boat.

Willi Dietrich (center) as commander of U-286.

U-286 was sunk on 29 April 1945 in the Barents Sea north of Murmansk, Russia, in position 69.29N, 33.37E, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS LOCH INSH, HMS ANGUILLA and HMS COTTON; the entire crew, including Willi Dietrich, was lost.
His name is included on the U-Boat Memorial in Kiel-Möltenort.

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2018-10-18
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