Ernst Hechler

Who was Ernst Hechler?

Ernst Hechler was a German bomber pilot and U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Corvette captain Hechler is credited with the sinking of four ships for a total of 13,804 gross register tons, and with damaging one destroyer escort.

Born in Lauterbach, Hechler joined the Reichsmarine in 1928. After a period of training on surface vessels he transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935. During World War II he flew 65 combat missions as a bomber pilot, the majority of which were in mine-laying operations. Following his voluntary transfer back to the Kriegsmarine in 1943 he took command of German submarine U-870 in 1944 which he took on one war patrol. He claimed to have sunk five ships for a total of 15,069 GRT. These claims were acknowledged by the presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.