SMGN-1389 Siegfried Koitscha knights cross signature U boat commander

About 3.5×5″  Post war signature in blue ball point.

Dr. med. vet. Siegfried Koitschka^{[Note 1]} (6 August 1917 – 17 May 2002) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He is credited with the sinking of the USS Buck (DD-420).

Before taking command of his first U-boat, Koitschka served as watch officer on U-552 under the command of Erich Topp. Koitschka and his entire crew were taken prisoner of war following the scuttling of U-616 on 17 May 1944. U-616 sank in position 36°46′N 00°52′E after three days of sustained depth charging from the US destroyers USS Nields, USS Gleaves, USS Ellyson, USS Macomb, USS Hambleton, USS Rodman and USS Emmons, and by depth charges from a British Vickers Wellington aircraft from No. 36 Squadron.