Reinhard Suhren | |
|---|---|
 Reinhard Suhren | |
| Nickname(s) | Teddy |
| Born | 16 April 1916 Langenschwalbach, Taunus, German Empire |
| Died | 25 August 1984 (aged 68) Halstenbek, Hamburg, West Germany |
| Buried | Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service |  Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1935–1945 |
| Rank | Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) |
| Unit | SSS Gorch Fock Emden destroyer Z3 Max Schultz 1st U-boat Flotilla 27th U-boat Flotilla |
| Commands | U-564, 3 April 1941 – 1 October 1942 F.d.U. Nordmeer |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
| Relations | Gerd Suhren |
| Other work | Petroleum industry |
Reinhard Johann Heinz Paul Anton Suhren (16 April 1916 – 25 August 1984) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and younger brother of Korvettenkapitän (Ing.) and Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient Gerd Suhren.
Suhren was born in Langenschwalbach, the second of four children, and grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. He joined the navy in 1935 and began his U-boat career in March 1938. He spent a year as 1st watch officer on U-48 where he received the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross for his contribution in the sinking of 200,000 gross register tons (GRT) of merchant shipping. In April 1941 he took command of U-564. As a commander, he is credited with the sinking of 18 merchant vessels of 95,544 GRT, 1 warship of 900 long tons (910 tonnes) and damaged four merchant vessels of 28,907 GRT for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
Suhren left the boat and became an instructor in October 1942. He then served in the 27th U-boat Flotilla along with Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp. During the last year of the war Fregattenkapitän Suhren was the Führer der Unterseeboote Norwegen (Leader of U-boats in Norwegian waters) and from September 1944 the Commander-in-Chief of U-boats of the North Sea. After the war he worked in the petroleum industry and died of stomach cancer on 25 August 1984.