H.d.F. von TIESENHAUSEN (268-1987)

Kriegsmarine, U-Bootwaffe


Upon decoration with the Knights Cross		Departing for war patrol with U-331

von TIESENHAUSEN was decorated with the Knights Cross even though he sank only two ships – but one of these ships was the Royal Navy battleship HMS BARHAM. As we know, this ship was holed so badly that she immediately turned turtle and within seconds, fire reached the magazines and the ship was literally blasted to pieces, taking down almost the entire crew. This was the only Allied battleship sunk by U-Boat while on the high seas.

While this success was met with great pleasure and joy, but soon after the end of the war von TIESENHAUSEN emigrated to Canada and it seemed that the enormity of this action weighed heavily on him and he was extremely reluctant to talk about this action or the war at all.