Career
The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Gerhard Bielig joined the Reichsmarine as a Seekadett on 26 September 1934. He was promoted to Fähnrich (Ing) on 1 July 1935 and to Oberfähnrich (Ing) on 1 January 1937.
Bielig was transferred to the U-boat service in October 1937.
Now a Leutnant (Ing), he was posted to U-20 as chief engineer (German language: Leitender Ingenieur - LI). Bielig participated on eight patrols onboard of U-20.
Oberleutnant (Ing) Bielig left U-20 in March 1940 and was assigned to U-103 as chief engineer in July 1940. He went on five patrols with this U-boat.
He left the boat as Kapitänleutnant (Ing) in December 1941 only to be transferred to U-177 in March 1942.
U-177 at the time was under command of Robert Gysae. After two combat patrols he left U-177 in October 1943 again and became an instructor at the 2. Unterseeboots-Lehr-Division.
The marriage produced two sons, Detlef born 1948 and Frank born 1949.
Promotions Bibliography.
