The main area of operations were the seas and estuaries off East of England and Scotland, with mine-laying operations in the Baltic, to counter the Royal Navy Submarine Service at the end of 1939. [36] Kretschmer's tenth patrol (27 June21 July) yielded over 20,000GRT. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold. Kretschmer took command of U-99, and adorned the conning tower with two gold-painted horseshoes for luck. Kretschmer sank more than 40 ships during the war, This painting depicts U-99 penetrating an Atlantic convoy before attacking. German radio acknowledged the capture and the death of Schepke. [80], On 1 December 1955, Kretschmer joined West Germany's navy, at the time named the Bundesmarine (Federal Navy), holding the rank of Fregattenkapitn (Commander). For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes . During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force. Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. Only five survived. He was called Silent Otto because he refused to make the fiery, bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes did. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. All 33 men aboard died. That same day the British escorts scored another success against the Kriegsmarine when the noted U-boat skipper Joachim Schepke was killed aboard U-100, having been depth charged, rammed and sunk by Vanoc. Flotilla Admiral Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German U-boat commander in the Second World War and later an admiral in the Bundesmarine. The ships used barrels for ballast to prevent them sinking. This third patrol on U-99, took the boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and west of Ireland. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. 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. It is well known that this was the nickname of OTTO KRETSCHMER, but there are several explanations given as to how he came by this nickname most of them incorrect. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further. 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. U-99 was returning from her seventh Feindfahrt (war patrol) and this was to be OTTOs last Feindfahrt. He then ordered the merchant Skipper to put everyone back aboard then gave him a course to steer for one of the German bases on the French coast, and ordered the merchant Skipper to surrender the ship to the harbor authorities there. It was not this way with U-99. Six months later, on 15 December, he officially became Flottillenadmiral. He met Adolf Hitler on more than once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer. [52] U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer's fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea. 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. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War . Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi [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. 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. [37] After sinking Magogthe submarine's first victimKretschmer gave the crew a bottle of brandy and directions to Ireland. At 2250hrs on 3 November, 1940, one of the most dramatic battles of the U-boat war began. With this result, Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has reached . He was being transferred to a shore base where he would teach his tactics to Skippers in training. At the time, Kretschmer . [18], From 1 March to 31 October 1958, Kretschmer served as Admiralstabsoffizier (Astoofficer of the admiralty staff) with the Fleet Command. As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. Kretschmer then met Hitler at the Reich Chancellery and he repeated his opinions on the war situation. 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. When war broke out, Kretschmer was on U-23, a short-range submarine which could not operate as far as the Atlantic, so had to stay in the North Sea. Rsing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. [2] In the aftermath of World War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the Weimar era. His command ended on 31 March 1969. Kretschmer experienced Something went wrong, please try again later. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. [9], On 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured by the Royal Navy. Schroeder never returned. Kretschmer sank six and disabled a seventh. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. 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. 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In later years, Kretschmer was often interviewed for television and radio programmes - including an appearing in the landmark British 1974 documentary series The World at War. He had to return to port to repair the damage. He then moved to a Realgymnasium (secondary school). In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. [68], Kretschmer's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat. [39], Among the victims was the Estonian ship, Merisaar, 2,126GRT. [51] Kretschmer was awarded the 6th Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 4 November 1940. 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. Later that year, he had a lucky escape which almost cost him his life. Many thanks to Valeria Basso, Alessio Basso and Francesco Signorino for helping in the retrieval of a few rare archival sources, and for stimulating discussions. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. [29] U-23 returned to port on 29 January. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. [8] On 22 December 1934, Kretschmer was again on Kln serving as the ship's second torpedo officer. A fall caused fatal injuries. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. So how was it that he was sunk? The air crews sank eight and damaged several more. Note that OTTO KRETSCHMER (arrow) is wearing the regulation navy blue cap, not the traditional nut non-regulation White Cap. Later, a mated pair of swans came by with their offspring, about six cygnets, and they were looking for food as well. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. The crew remained in lifeboats nearby for reboarding once the attack was over. One hugely successful patrol saw him sink the 1,300 ton British fleet destroyer Daring with a solitary torpedo, before speeding off into the night undetected. 19 men were killed in the sinking; only two were saved. OTTO felt a sudden rush of air out of the open hatch past him and the boat was going down quickly. [61] As with the group that eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and competent. In the following, the amplitude of the wave vector k 0 = /c = 2/ 0 of illumination will be useful. 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. 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. [2] His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. His particularly brazen and risky innovation was to execute these night surface attacks inside the convoy. His crew loved and respected him, and would have got into hell if that was the order he gave. [31] 157 of the Daring crew were killed, including Commander Sydney Cooper. [9] Kretschmer joined the U-boat service in January 1936. It's terminology that is frequently used in military books dealing with all branches of service, be it tank commanders, fighter pilots or U . [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. 702. [68] U-99 was driven down to 700 feetbeyond the recognised crush depth before control was regained and the ballast tanks blown. On the night of 18/19 October, Berndt escaped from the camp. 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. [49], In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British armed merchant cruisers (AMC), HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMSForfar. Prien along with his crew disappeared, presumably in a depth charge attack. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. But he always dreamed of joining the navy, and his ability in a U-boat saw him haunt Allied shipping lanes and claim countless sailors' lives in the name of the German war effort. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. The presentation was made by Dnitz following his return to Lorient. Nazi Admiral Otto Kretschmer was responsible for the sinking of 47 vessels in the space of just 18 months His short but prolific spell on German U-boats accounted for the sinking of 273,043 tons. BACK TO ADVISORS PAGE. [Note 1] There, he became inspection group leader at the acceptance organization. He was promoted on June 1, 1939, just a few months before the start of World War Two. He enrolled at Exeter University (then University College of the South West of England) and studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp (b. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. "He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. Instead, OKM sent him an administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ (681-1988) as his new I.W.O. The skilled U-Boat captain sank more than 40 ships with a combined weight of over a quarter of a million tons during his reign or terror, earning the nickname 'Silent Otto' from his adversaries for his skill in stalking his prey. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. Otto Kretschmer was the Watch Officer of U-35 from 03 November 1936 - 30 July 1937. [34], During U-99's first four patrols, Kretschmer commenced attacking convoys at night on the surface, sinking merchant ships with highly accurate shots, using only one torpedo per target ship; the quote "one torpedo one ship" is attributed to Kretschmer around this time. 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 British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux. [53] Upon reaching port, he was summoned to Berlin to meet Erich Raeder. [78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. Heinrich Bleichrodt hit and sank two. He assumed most of the crew went down with the ship; but there were 159 survivors. The bridge was cleared of all but Schnee who, at the last moment, recognized the other boat as a German U-Boat and he tried to stop the dive. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290. Fired a second illegal court of honour hearing against the Commander of U-501 U-99 an! 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Escaped from the political turbulence of the U-boat service in January 1936 to execute these surface... U-Boat service in January 1936 Reich Chancellery and he repeated his opinions on the night of October...

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