German submarine U-573 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the Nazi German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
Her keel was laid down 8 June 1940 at the Blohm + Voss yard in Hamburg as 'werk' 549. She was launched on 17 April 1941 and commissioned on 5 June with Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Heinsohn (12 February 1910 – 6 May 1943) in command. Heinsohn commanded her for her entire career in the Kriegsmarine. In May 1941 he had arranged that the city of Landeck in Tyrol adopted the submarine within the then popular sponsorship programmme (Patenschaftsprogramm), organising gifts and holidays for the crew, earning her the honorary name U-573 Landeck.
The boat began her service career as part of the 3rd U-boat Flotilla when she conducted training; on 1 September 1941 she commenced operations with that flotilla. She was transferred to the 29th flotilla, also for operations, on 1 January 1942.
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