Hans-George Reber was from Oschersleben in Thueringen. He was engaged to be married to Hannelore Dellenbusch from Wuppertal-Barmen. After the war and the loss of U-869, Hannelore joined a circus and immigrated to the United States. His fiancé's name "Hannelore" was written on one of the torpedo tube doors in the bow compartment.

Gisela Engelmann, 2004