Günter Dietrich
Member #339-1987
GÜNTER DIETRICH was not a Skipper of a
U-Boat, didn't win the Knights Cross
but in the closing hours of World War II, Fate thrust him into an
historic situation.
GÜNTER was a sailor aboard a minesweeper and like just about every ship,
submarine or boat in the closing days of the war, they were headed for Norway as
the Red Army closed in behind them. On 5 May 1945, all units were ordered
to remain in whatever port they happened to be and to surrender to whatever army
overran their position. The minesweeper on which he was posted was one of
many units in the Copenhagen Harbor, so about midday, they tied to the wharf and
settled down to await their fate.
In the afternoon, an officer wearing a pullover sweater and no badges of rank or
of any kind, came up to the boat in great haste. GÜNTER immediately saw
the Knights Cross
around his neck. The officer spoke to him with a French accent, and asked
to speak with the Skipper of the boat. GÜNTER called his Skipper
topsides.
The Skipper and this officer spoke quietly for a moment, then they went below to
the Skipper's small cabin where the guest remained, unseen by anyone else.
At midnight, the Skipper quietly gave orders to get underway, and the boat
slipped out of Copenhagen Harbor and made for Norway.
They arrived without incident and in the morning light, the officer emerged from
the cabin, said his goodbyes to the Skipper and entered a waiting car which took
him to the airfield and a waiting FW 200 CONDOR that roared off into the
morning sky.
GÜNTER DIETRICH had taken a small part in assisting in the escape and thereby
saving the life of SS LEON deGRELLE (1835-1991).