The story of Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Heyda’s life was sometimes stranger than fiction. His naval career was tied to one of the greatest peacetime naval tragedies, the sinking of the Reichsmarine Marineschule sailing ship Niobe, where over half the cadet class of 1932 was killed. The story of this great tragedy is virtually unknown outside of Western Europe.Forces beyond Heyda's control would shape his destiny. Enigma communications deciphered by the British would hinder his military success and later be instrumental in the sinking of his U-boat, U-434, on 18 December 1941 by forces under the command of Commander Fredric John Walker, during the HG-76 Convoy battle.

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The Niobe, the sailing school ship of the Reichsmarine, sank 26 July 1932 killing sixty nine. Thirty-six young men from Crew 32 were killed. Twenty-seven sea cadets, two NCO officer candidates and seven medical officer candidates drowned. The story of the sinking of the Niobe is virtually unknown outside of Western Europe. A substantial account of the sinking of the Niobe is given. The chapter includes the personal stories of several cadets never printed in English before.

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Because twenty-seven of the forty-nine sea cadets were lost, the naval academy accepted additional men into Crew 32. Wolfgang Heyda, who had been on the replacement waiting list, was one of the cadets that arrived at Danholm on 15 August 1932. From November 1932 to February 1934 Crew 32 engaged in a training cruise aboard the Kreuzer Köln. After the completion of studies at the Marineschule at Mürwik, Heyda returned to the Köln, then served aboard the Panzerschiff Admiral Scheer at the start of the war and commanded U-120 in 1940.

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Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Heyda was assigned to U-434 20 January 1941 when U-434 was laid down and took command on 21 June 1941. U-434 began its first war patrol 11 November 1941 assigned to Group Steuben patrolling off the coast of Newfoundland. Encountering no convoy traffic after several weeks of patrol U-434 was ordered to make its way to Spain. U-434 then encountered a convoy near the Azores but would have to break off contact because it was low on fuel and food. After replenishing stocks and refueling at Vigo, Spain U-434 was then assigned to Group Seeräuber patrolling near Gibraltar. There Heyda would become involved in a great convoy battle.

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Kapitänleutnant Bruno Hansmann's U-127 was sunk with all hands lost by the Australian destroyer HMAS Nestor on 15 December, 1941. The Nestor had been part of a task force sent out from Gibraltar to clear the way for convoy HG-76.

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HG-76 Convoy Battle: After departing from Gibraltar Commander Frederic John Walker's escort group would encounter a German wolf pack two days later. On 17 December Korvettenkapitän Arend Bauman's U-131 surfaced after being damaged by depth charges from the HMS Penstemon. U-131 then came under fire from the HMS Blankney, HMS Exmoor II, HMS Penstemon, HMS Stanley and HMS Stork. After abandoning their U-boat all of the crew were rescued. On 18 December the Blankney, Exmoor II and Stanley after several rounds of depth charges forced Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Heyda's U-434 to the surface. U-434 was abandoned and scuttled by its crew. All of the crew except two were taken prisoners aboard the Blankney. One officer and one enlisted man were reported missing. The Blankney and Exmoor II low on fuel returned to Gibraltar with their prisoners from U-131 and U-434. The next day the Stanley was sunk by Oberleutnant z.S. Dietrich Gegelbach's U-574 with almost all hands lost. Stork commanded by Commander Frederic Walker in a merry-go-round chase finally rammed U-574, flipping the U-boat over. Twenty-five survivors from the Stanley and sixteen from U-574 were rescued. Twenty eight of the crew including the commander of U-574 were killed. Kapitänleutnant Gehard Bigalk's U-751 sank the aircraft carrier HMS Empire Audacity the next day. On 21 December the HMS Deptford sank Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endraß's U-567 with all hands lost.

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Commander Frederic John (Johnny) Walker, c.b. D.S.O., the commander of the 36th Escort Group

protecting convoy HG-76, received the D.S.O. for sinking U-131, U-434, U-574, and U-567. Walker became the most successful U-boat hunter of WWII, receiving the D.S.O. three more times. Escort groups under his command would sink a total of twenty-one U-boats, the most for any escort commander of WWII.

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Battle of Bowmanville

Heyda was eventually sent to a POW camp at Bowmanville, Ontario near Toronto. At Bowmanville in October, 1942 for three days an insurrection of the prisoners protesting their being shackled took place. The insurrection became known as the Battle of Bowmanville. Korvettenkapitän Otto Kretschmer.