Our friend SIEGFRIED KOITSCHKA (225-LIFE-1986) was I.W.O. on U-552 under ERICH TOPP (118-LIFE-1985) then he got command of U-616 where he earned his Knights Cross. We just received a very disturbing letter from him in which he tells us that he spent the last three months of September 2001 in hospital. Doctors made a hole in the right part of his heart the size of a child’s fist! Then he had problems with his right leg and doctors wanted to amputate his leg! Fortunately, the leg was saved but he lost about 25 kilos in weight, about 55 pounds - and those who have met SIEGFRIED know that he did not have a lot of weight to lose.

We speak for all Members in saying that our prayers are with you SIEGFRIED, for a full and speedy recovery.