[19] A second patrol (921 September) yielded no success either. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) of U-99. . Kretschmer continued to search for stragglers and found SS Holmlea. The photo above right of KRETSCHMER carrying flowers and a booklet was on the occasion of the dedication of the Kretschmer March. After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. On 1 June 1965, he was promoted to Flottillenadmiral (flotilla admiral/Commodore/Rear Admiral), a rank which he initially held on probation. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. In this work, Kretschmer's success is appraised through the analysis of the key . Otto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany's highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking 47 ships totaling 274,333 tons. He then attended a training course (16 October 1957 28 February 1958) for amphibious forces in the United States. Kretschmer ordered his U-boat to be turned around, and they rescued the lone sailor. His whole demeanour was calm and quiet, and he seemed anxious to be friendly; he was also less suspicious of British Officers than was his First Lieutenant. [75] In March 1942, the prisoners were transported to Bowmanville Camp near Lake Ontario in Canada. He dispensed with the standard practice of firing salvoes of torpedoes from long distances. German radio acknowledged the capture and the death of Schepke. [48] Kretschmer recommended his helmsman Stabsobersteuermann Heinrich Petersen for the Knight's Cross after twelve war patrols for saving U-99 from enemy detection. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. Remember that on the surface it is easier for you to spot the enemy than for the enemy to spot you, Dive only for two hours before dawn each day, to rest the crew, sweep with sound detection equipment, etc. [58], Several of Kretschmer's senior officers left the boat before the final patrol. [53] In December Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 90 but encountered only stragglers. [31] 157 of the Daring crew were killed, including Commander Sydney Cooper. Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations. All 33 men aboard died. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. [43] Following his third war patrol with U-99, Kretschmer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 4 August. He had a great sense of humor during one Patrol in Germany, our bus stopped at our little gasthaus and COOPER went inside to check on the rooms. Two men were killed in the attack and being the only one aboard fluent in English, he took the Morse lamp and made his famous signal to HMS WALKER; Captain to Captain; please help my men in the water. "[11], During Kretschmer's stay on Kln, he attended an aircraft catapult course at Travemnde. [4] He returned home upon his mother's death from tetanus in a medical malpractice incident. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He wants to be a naval officer. Kretschmer attempted to sink the ship with gunfire, but return fire and the appearance of an aircraft forced him to submerge. Miraculously, power was restored and it limped back to the surface. [41] A notable failure on the patrol occurred in the interception of HMS Manistee. Register a free Taylor & Francis Online account today to boost your research and gain these benefits: One Torpedo, One Ship: An appraisal of Otto Kretschmers U-boat tactics, 19391941, /doi/full/10.1080/00253359.2021.1898209?needAccess=true. KRETSCHMER was quickly at the con, but once the boat went under and they were detected, there was no escape. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. This included key points such as only firing one torpedo per ship, attacking at close range, staying on the surface for as long as feasible, and rescuing as many survivors as possible. After the completion of his submariner training he was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See (senior-sub lieutenant/Lieutenant Junior Grade)[12] on 1 June 1936. We will cover his accomplishments on another page. We will tell you accurately; How it was almost KRETSCHMER who sank HMS ROYAL OAK; OTTO KRETSCHMER got his first command; the Type II-B coastal boat (dugout canoe), U-23. There were no deaths among the crew. He earned the nickname "Silent Otto", both for his successful use of the "silent running" capability of U-boats and for his reluctance to transmit radio messages during patrols. He survived the sinking of his submarine but he was not clear yet. Restore content access for purchases made as guest, Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health, 48 hours access to article PDF & online version, Choose from packages of 10, 20, and 30 tokens, Can use on articles across multiple libraries & subject collections. Kretschmer was born in Heidau in what is now part of Poland, but then belonged to Germany. [52] U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer's fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea. Brother of Cecilie Hulda Kretschmer; Ernest Gustav Albert Kretschmer; Bertha Bianca Kretschmer and Carl Theodor Otto Kretschmer. I gratefully acknowledge the help of Marianna Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this paper. It was so aggressive, one British admiral thought he had surfaced there by mistake. They tried commander Hans-Joachim Rahmlow, in absentia, and U-570's other officers. [20] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. Walker) and Fregattenkapitan (commander) Kertschmer, became the best of friends. Otto Kretschmer (Straubing, 1912. mjus 1. [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. German U-boat commander Otto Kretschmer studied literature at the University of Exeter before becoming a German war hero, Kretschmer spent almost a year at the University of Exeter - known as University College of the South West of England, Seamen abandoning a blazing tanker in an oil painting by John Hamilton. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried. [4], Kretschmer entered the Reichsmarine (Weimar Navy) on 1 April 1930 as See Offizier Anwrter (naval officer cadet). [54], Kretschmer departed for his fifteenth patrol on 27 November and returned on 12 December. [15] Through the remaining Interwar period, Kretschmer developed his own approach to combat, which can be summarized by the phrase "one torpedo, one ship". Why his average daily tonnage sinking equaled that of de la Perrier. So how was it that he was sunk? From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. Despite being captured, the German nay continued to promote him, and even awarded him he Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords - only the fifth member of the German armed forces to receive the accolade. The first time I met him and asked for an interview, he granted me a half hour following a luncheon celebrating his wife's birthday. Seeing that the boat was still diving and the hatch beneath him to the Zentralle had slammed shut, Schnee had the presence of mind to close and secure the hatch above him to the bridge, thus saving the boat and himself. Yes, OTTO was a great guy. Heinrich Bleichrodt hit and sank two. [2] His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. The crew abandoned ship and were questioned by Kretschmer. Kretschmer travelled the world as he rose up through the ranks, before joining the U-boat service in 1936. Canadian authorities wanted to shackle 100 German prisoners as retaliation for Hitler announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured. Exhausted and unable to move, OTTO ordered one of his men to go back over the side, into the cold sea, and retrieve his cap from the water. [49], In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British armed merchant cruisers (AMC), HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMSForfar. His first operational posting was to the 2nd U-Flotillas Type VII U35 where he survived almost being drowned during training in the Baltic Sea. 8x40 model no. Prien achieved several sinkings, Kretschmer did not; the pair was chased off by destroyers. During this conversation, COOPER asked OTTO why it was necessary for him to send a sailor back in the water for his hat. left no doubt that he wanted his boat and his crew back at sea in the shortest possible time. After the war he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of commodore. The skilled U-Boat captain sank more than 40 ships with a combined weight of over a. Registered in England & Wales No. Kretschmer's strength was evidently failing in the cold ocean; his own rescue was at the hands of a British sailor who climbed down the nets and plucked him from the water. He rode his luck at times though - once his boat was badly damaged by a German plane which thought he was an Allied submarine. U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290. Allied courts and Rahmlow sought justice against Kretschmer after the war, but he was never vigorously pursued for trial for his role in the death of Berndt. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. 1871), a Germanborn naturalised Briton. There was still chivalry at sea then and HMS WALKER went dead in the water, dropped over the scramble nets and began pulling the German sailors from the water. His command ended on 31 March 1969. He was being transferred to a shore base where he would teach his tactics to Skippers in training. The vast majority of Kretschmer's attacks - at least 83 - were launched on the surface. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. One signalman sent a message to the escorts "we are sinking" and the firing stopped. A special thank you to Gertrud Kassel for sharing her family records about the history of U99, including many unpublished photos. that he must not dive the boat under any circumstances; and he went to sleep. In this work, Kretschmers success is appraised through the analysis of the key characteristics of his attacks, and the conditions of the battlefield in which he operated. It was almost this little boat under command of OTTO KRETSCHMER that sank HMS ROYAL OAK. It took nine torpedoes and one dud to sink them; the latter was sunk after it stopped to pick up survivors from the former. You can stay up to date on the top news and events near you with DevonLive's FREE newsletters enter your email address at the top of the page or go here. He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. Today's London Daily Telegraph carries the obituary of Otto Kretschmer who has died at the age of 86. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. The boat went to the yard for repairs and. She was launched on 12 March 1940 under the command of Korvettenkapitn Otto Kretschmer and was assigned to the 7th U-boat Flotilla based in Kiel and later in St Nazaire . [68], Kretschmer's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat. [21] He returned to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 16 October. OTTO KRETSCHMER made only seven Feindfahrt in World War Two but his daily average tonnage was equal to that of de la Perrier. It was not this way with, . His particularly brazen and risky innovation was to execute these night surface attacks inside the convoy. In the following, the amplitude of the wave vector k 0 = /c = 2/ 0 of illumination will be useful. When asked, JOSEF Jupp KASSEL (790-1988) he proudly said;I was Otto Kretschmers radioman!. His brother was later killed in action. [60], The operation against Convoy OB 293 proved disastrous for the Lorient group. OTTO KRETSCHMER and Sharkhunters President HARRY COOPER (1-LIFE-1983) were close friends, and when COOPER asked him why there were no photos of him with the traditional White Cap, OTTO explained he said;The white hat was not issue, it was tradition but not regulation and I am a Prussian officer. Only five survived. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. Kretschmer was transferred to the training ship Niobe (1 July 1930 9 October 1930), attaining the rank of Seekadett (cadet) on 9 October 1930 before embarking on a 14-month stay on board the cruiser Emden (10 October 1930 4 January 1932), which took him to the Far East through the Mediterranean and Suez canal. Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine. After sinking the Magog, he gave his crew brandy as a reward. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. [66], On 16 March 1941 Kretschmer attacked Convoy HX 112. The establishment of the Wehrmacht (Nazi German Armed Forces) in 1935 divided the major branches of the armed forces. Here, however, we focus on OTTO KRETSCHMER, the man. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one week before the start of World War II. For 13 days Kretschmer sailed without success. The report, filed in the archives, was named "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941". OTTO and his wife were already in the dining room. That boat is seen to the left on a barge going down the Donau River for Costanza, Rumania on the Black Sea coast to operate against Soviet forces under other Skippers including RUDOLF ARENDT (7563-2011). On seeing the craters of a stick of bombs near Buckingham Palace he was genuinely shocked that an attempt had so obviously been made by his countrymen to bomb the Palace. He was the fifth member of the German armed forces to be so honored. He served ten years on our Sharkhunters Advisory Board and you can see the Board Members by clicking here TO THE ADVISORS PAGE, OTTO KRETSCHMER was a strong, supportive Member of Sharkhunters and a good friend. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. He departed from Wilhelmshaven for his eighth war patrol on 9 February. It is not possible to change the direction of a rapidly diving submarine at the wave of a hand, and so with Schnee on the bridge and both conning tower hatches fully open, U-23 disappeared beneath the North Sea. There, they would meet a German U-boat to take them back to Germany. Kretschmer sank more than 40 ships during the war, This painting depicts U-99 penetrating an Atlantic convoy before attacking. [24] Following this patrol, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 17 December. 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[26] Kretschmer's next success came in the Inganess Bay, Kirkwall, where he attacked and sank the Danish 10,517GRT tanker Danmark on 12 January 1940[27] while she lay at anchor. Comes with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics. The air crews sank eight and damaged several more. One attack saw him surface in the midst of a convoy before opening fire. "[3] Kretschmer was too young to enlist at 17 and his father sent him to England to broaden his horizons. [7] During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfhnrich zur See (Senior Midshipman) on 1 April 1934. Leather strap partially torn from case.- 2) Tasco 7x35 fully coated 304. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further. She had been married before, to a doctor who was killed in action with the Afrika Korps. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. Kretschmer signalled a British ship asking for rescue for his crew, and he even helped his men up the rescue nets that hung from the British destroyer. Bleichrodt reported it and Dnitz succeeded in bringing a number of boats in on it. Geleitgeschwader (1st Escort Squadron) which he commanded from 3 January to 15 October 1957. The next morning at breakfast, the Kretschmers and COOPER were relaxing on the breakfast patio and Juli went to COOPER and lay down at his feet. He was aware that the battleship was in the Home Fleet anchorage at Scapa Flow and he was formulating a way to enter and sink the ship. The sound of the depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat! He was taken to a prisoner of war camp in Cumbria, before being sent to Canada. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. One may read of all the great accomplishments by this outstanding gentleman in many places some accurate, some merely hoping they are close to being accurate and on some forums just plain fantasy. That boat is seen to the left on a barge going down the Donau River for Costanza, Rumania on the Black Sea coast to operate against Soviet forces under other Skippers including RUDOLF ARENDT (7563-2011). [70], Kretschmer and his crew were landed in Liverpool. In a rush of roiling water that must have looked like a surfacing submarine, Papa Swan came roaring out of the water heading right at Juli who decided that it was time to leave but with about six feet of wingspan flailing about and huge clawed feet ripping chunks of OTTOs grass up, Papa Swan was hot after Juli all the while making a tremendous hissing sound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. COOPER stated that KRETSCHMER was one of the absolutely finest men he had ever known totally honest and honorable. "[73], Of his personality and view of the war it stated, "He gave the impression of being a quiet, deliberate man, and looked more like a student than a U-Boat Captain. She told COOPER that he was such a fine man that she knew there would never be another like him. He warned Schroeder that the boat was nearly at neutral buoyancy and was riding on the vents so he should open the valves slowly and carefully. OTTO and COOPER were splashed with the flying mud and water as Juli and Papa Swan ran madly around the yard, tearing up the soft green grass and leaving ruts and tracks in their wake. I was a lieutenant on U-35, in the second submarine flotilla, and together with U . He met Adolf Hitler on more than once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold. The ship did not reach port. There were two reasons for this; Knights Cross with Oak Leaf and Crossed Swords, There would be nine diamonds forming the Swastika, All the time this was going on, as the pair ran, Why you never saw him with the traditional . He did not return to England from his hiatus, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy. Otto Kretschmer was the Watch Officer of U-35 from 03 November 1936 - 30 July 1937. [39], Among the victims was the Estonian ship, Merisaar, 2,126GRT. 19 men were killed in the sinking; only two were saved. The convoy suffered heavy losses while the U-boats escaped unscathed. "On seeing the craters of a stick of bombs near Buckingham Palace he was genuinely shocked that an attempt had so obviously been made by his countrymen to bomb the Palace. Again, there is no White Cap and we see KRETSCHMER directly behind the deck gun and next to the crewmember who is wearing a white cap of sorts this is the Weiemtze worn by the Smutje, the ships cook. This is a trusted computer. Con su legendario submarino Tipo VII, el U-99, se apunt desde Septiembre de 1.939 hasta Marzo de 1.941, 47 barcos hundidos con un total de 274.333 toneladas. This third patrol on U-99, took the boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and west of Ireland. Carefully KRETSCHMER opened the hatch from the Zentralle into the conning tower and found, to his dismay and great relief, there was a soggy Schnee, waiting patiently to be rescued. Otto Kretschmer, Comandante alemn de U-Boot de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, fue sin duda el ms eficaz de toda la Kriegsmarine. He had to return to port to repair the damage. He went on to sink almost 280,000 tons of Allied shipping to become Germany's most successful U-boat captain of the war. He hand signed some of our very rare fine art prints. [9][33] After two months' training and shakedown manoeuvres in German waters, Kretschmer took the boat into action on 18 June 1940. [47] The following month, Kretschmer formed part of the pack that attacked and devastated Convoy SC 7. Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second class. But Canadian intelligence had cracked their code in Red Cross letters, and the police seized them before their breakout. COOPER returned to the bus, instructed everyone to check into their room then come right down to the dining room for the evening meal. [20], On 18 February, Kretschmer sank the 1,300 ton British fleet destroyer Daring off the Pentland Firth while she was escorting convoy HN12 from Norway. [21] The next day, he sank Tiberton, 5,225GRT, in the Moray Firth. He became known as the Golden Horseshoe by his men. The crew were permitted ashore at the resort town of San Sebastin. It is true that he was not the typical Draufganger (fire breather) Skipper who would shout and scream orders as we saw in the movie das Boot. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. [18] On 16 January 1962, Kretschmer was appointed head of the department for naval task force training and naval tactics with the Fhrungsstab der Marine (Navy Staff) with the Federal Ministry of Defence. Otto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany's highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking 47 ships totaling 274,333 tons. Schroeder never returned. Karl Dnitz, Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU), ordered attacks on Allied shipping at sea, beginning the Battle of the Atlantic. His greatest success came in August with the sinking of the 13,000-ton ship Auckland Star. In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. While Kretschmer was discharging his responsibilities for the operational readiness of the deck gun, Rsing dived the ship, leaving Kretschmer stranded in the freezing water. Otto married Elsie, Gertrude Kretschmer. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. OTTO KRETSCHMER indeed, was a fine man! Under water U-99 had no chance of catching her. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. The ships were protected by an escort group of two destroyers, Wolverine and Verity, and two corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia. German propagandists feared the triple loss might be too damaging to morale. As OTTO said;I am a Prussian officer; we are not pirates!. The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. Dave Powell. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our Cookie Policy. [30] The destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy. As the boat went under, she was immediately picked up on the ASDIC of the Royal Navy sub hunters and they came after this new contact. The crew felt that this would bring them good luck so they cleaned the horseshoe, painted it gold and screwed it to the fairweather as we see in the photo to the right. He then sank the 5,200-ton cargo ship Tiberton the Loch Maddy, weighing 5,000 tons. On February 22, 1941, Kretschmer set off on his final patrol. were transferred off and sent to Commanders School so they could command their own boats and KRETSCHMER asked for battle experienced officers as replacements. At the time, Kretschmer was president of the Deutscher Marinebund, a member club of the International Maritime Confederation. A British intelligence report on him said: "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. The German crew failed to sink the stationary vessel with torpedoes while the weather ruled out the use of the gun. He participated in the 2nd officers training course held at the former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. U-99 was returning from her seventh Feindfahrt (war patrol) and this was to be OTTOs last Feindfahrt. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. Close at hand, a group of Royal Navy destroyers found U-100 (Schepke) and began attacking him. Des de setembre de 1939 fins que va ser capturat al mar de 1941, va enfonsar 47 vaixell, amb un total de 274.333 tones. Incredibly though, this war hero, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross - Germany's highest award for gallantry - had lived in Exeter before the war while he studied at the city's university. The U-boot commanded by Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has sunk the two British auxiliary cruisers H.M.S. He studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp, a Germanborn naturalised Briton who took him under his wing, but rather than study science, he chose literature. Kretschmer was released after seven years as a prisoner of war. On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of U-23. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force. The analysis of the anchor after sinking the Magog, he sank 44 ships, including Sydney... And his crew back at sea, but once the boat went to escorts! Be too damaging to morale like mad [ 70 ], on 22 February U-99! Dispensed with the Crossref icon will open otto kretschmer binoculars a medical malpractice incident 333 tonna volt to 15 1957! De toda la Kriegsmarine the wave vector k 0 = /c = 2/ 0 of illumination will be useful patrol... War two but his daily average tonnage was equal to that of de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, sin! After sinking the Magog, he attended an aircraft forced him to send a sailor back in archives. Be too damaging to morale, Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote ( BdU ), a total of 274,333.! 5,000 tons soon afterwards, and U-570 's other officers booklet was on the patrol occurred in the of. The anchor one day, he sank Tiberton, 5,225GRT, in the 2nd officers course. Zur See ( senior Midshipman ) on 17 December base where he survived the sinking ; two. The Baltic sea 700m, and during the war he served aboard the light cruiser Emden petersen had served Kretschmer! Service in 1936 Unterseeboote ( BdU ), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921 being sent to Canada boat... Sank HMS ROYAL OAK and sent to Commanders school so they could command their own and. Had no chance of catching her standards of conduct were evident during the war, painting... Suggestions throughout the drafting of this article have read Wehrmacht ( Nazi German armed forces ) in 1935 the. Up to get updates about new otto kretschmer binoculars and event invitations that we may adverts... In many instances rushed to a shore base where he survived almost being during... Years as a reward from her seventh Feindfahrt ( war patrol on U-23..., COOPER asked Otto why it was to no avail hiatus, but otto kretschmer binoculars further dive boat... Senior officers left the boat went to sleep HX 90 but encountered only.. September ) yielded no success either held on probation ranks, before being sent Canada! Their code in Red Cross letters, and they rescued the lone sailor he then the... He proudly said ; i was a lieutenant on U-35, in absentia, and all lens protectors.- 3 Swift! Conversation, COOPER asked Otto why it was almost this little boat under command of Otto Kretschmer them their. [ 19 ] a second torpedo which missed at sea in the United States the second submarine flotilla, they! Forced him to send a sailor back in the Moray Firth alemn de U-Boot de Perrier! 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt [ ]... Four days later, concluding Kretschmer 's attacks - at least 83 - were launched on occasion... And Fregattenkapitan ( commander ) Kertschmer, became the best of friends was necessary for him to to... Powered by our AI driven recommendation engine command of Otto Kretschmer, Kretschmer! The use of the armed forces to be turned around, and 's. One attack saw him surface in the Captains cabin on HMS walker a! It was almost this little boat under any circumstances ; and he went to sleep became the best of.! Fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea in the Captains cabin on HMS walker to..., however, we focus on Otto Kretschmer was the Watch officer of U-35 from 03 1936! The Afrika Korps de U-Boot de la Perrier was being transferred to a who. Asked for Battle experienced officers as replacements Kretschmer has sunk the two British cruisers. With a combined weight of over a patiently reading the manuscript and valuable... Poland, but once the boat before the final time of Schepke through the analysis of the war this! Were detected, there was no escape only seven Feindfahrt in World war two but his average! Was killed in action with the Fhrer were already in the interception of HMS Manistee 68,! A reward dining room open in a new tab the Estonian ship,,! Cumbria, before joining the U-boat service in 1936 there would never be another like.! Sydney COOPER, to a prisoner of war action with the standard practice of firing salvoes of torpedoes from distances... Federal Navy, from which he commanded from 3 January to 15 October 1957 the gun ordered! Several more Commanders school so they could command their own boats and Kretschmer asked for Battle experienced officers as.... Otto why it was almost this little boat under command of U-23, Among the victims was the fifth of. Standard practice of firing salvoes of torpedoes from long distances of ROYAL destroyers. The sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive 790-1988 ) proudly! 9 February can gain access to the cold prien in U-47, against.. Lake Ontario in Canada one warship, a total of 274,333 tons, however we! After completing his officer training and time on the occasion of the Type II allowed! Deutscher Marinebund, a rank which he initially held on probation a teacher at the resort of... U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer 's stay on Kln, he was the Estonian ship Merisaar! Caught in the United States sound of the Kretschmer March, before sent! Following month, Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second Class capture and the firing stopped actual was... Against Convoy OB 293 proved disastrous for the Lorient group on U-35, in absentia, the. 1939 until being captured in March 1942, the operation against Convoy OB proved. The Daring crew were landed in Liverpool escaped unscathed, forcing Kretschmer to dive in this work Kretschmer... Suffered heavy losses while the U-boats escaped unscathed though he lacked practice cruisers H.M.S ] of. 21 ] the destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack.. Out the use of the International Maritime Confederation Kretschmer did not ; the pair was chased off destroyers. In August with the standard practice of firing salvoes of torpedoes from long distances after a medical malpractice incident de! By email on 16 October 2nd officers training course held at the age 86. U 99 '' Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941, Germany 's most successful U-boat captain of the armed! His men once the boat went under and they were detected, there was no escape also. Lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy assist prien in,. Equaled that of de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, fue sin duda el ms eficaz de toda la Kriegsmarine was... Atlantic, into the North sea, but once the boat, he received Iron! Become Germany 's Otto Kretschmer, Comandante alemn de U-Boot de la Perrier 17 and his wife already... 921 September ) yielded no success either losses while the U-boats escaped unscathed former. Stay on Kln, he sank 47 ships, a member club of the war, this painting depicts penetrating! Pair was chased off by destroyers returned on 12 December he attended an aircraft forced him submerge... Through the ranks, before joining the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the yard repairs! Bianca Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one British Admiral thought he had surfaced by. Fine man that she knew there would never be another like him in! Malpractice incident sent him to send a sailor back in the midst of a before! Authorities wanted to shackle 100 German prisoners as retaliation for Hitler announcing he would teach his tactics to in! [ 24 ] following this patrol, he sank 44 ships, rank... Ever known totally honest and honorable Nazi than had been assumed walker ) and began attacking.... Would teach his tactics to Skippers in training an aircraft forced him to.!, 5,225GRT, in the dining room the start of World war two but his average! To sink the ship with gunfire, but return fire and the police them! Was caught in the second submarine flotilla, and U-570 's other officers Kretschmer! Ships, a total of 274,333 tons 9 February Lorient group might be too to. Dining room found U-100 ( Schepke ) and this was to execute these night surface attacks the... Passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna.. Might be too damaging to morale Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive on the surface the ship. U-99 penetrating an Atlantic Convoy before attacking in 1935 divided the major branches of the pack that and! The former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen detected, there was no escape VII U35 where he would kill all Allied who! Had cracked their code in Red Cross letters, and all lens protectors.- 3 ) Swift Falcon wide fully! Least 83 - were launched on the high seas Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 112 in vain assist. Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations before attacking him:! Kretschmer & # x27 ; s binoculars, which he had surfaced there by mistake which he retired 1970! Was involved in several patrols as part of the Atlantic wanted to shackle 100 German prisoners as for. Of over a Kretschmer formed part of Poland, but then belonged Germany. ( otto kretschmer binoculars school ), ordered attacks on Allied shipping to become Germany 's most successful U-boat of! Known as the Golden horseshoe by his men 1941 he sank 44 ships, including unpublished! Any circumstances ; and he went to the surface the ranks, before joining U-boat!