Career
Doctor medical. 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 United States Ship Buck (Doctor of Divinity-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′North 00°52′East after three days of sustained depth charging from the United States destroyers Nields, Gleaves, Ellyson, Macomb, Hambleton, Rodman and Emmons, and by depth charges from a British Vickers Wellington aircraft from Number. 36 Squadron. Ships attacked Bibliography.