Eberhard Godt
Eberhard Godt | |
|---|---|
 Godt in 1944 | |
| Birth name | Eberhard Friedrich Clemens Godt |
| Born | 15 August 1900 Lübeck |
| Died | 13 September 1995 (aged 95) |
| Allegiance |  German Empire Weimar Republic Nazi Germany |
| Service/ |  Imperial German Navy (1918) Reichsmarine (1920–1935) Kriegsmarine (1935–1945) |
| Years of service | 1918, 1920–1945 |
| Rank |  Konteradmiral |
| Unit | SMS Schlesien Marinebrigade Ehrhardt Cruiser Emden |
| Commands held | U-25 Chief of U-boat operations |
| Battles/wars | World War I Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | German Cross in Gold (1942) |
Eberhard Godt (15 August 1900 – 13 September 1995) was a German naval officer who served in both World War I and World War II, eventually rising to command the Kriegsmarine's U-boat operations.
Biography
- This article incorporates information from the equivalent articles on the German Wikipedia
Godt joined the
In January 1938 he was appointed to the staff of the commander of the U-boat force, Admiral Dönitz. In October he became the force's chief of operations. He continued in this role until January 1943 when he assumed full tactical command of U-Boat operations after Dönitz was promoted to command the Kriegsmarine. In March Godt was promoted to Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) and assigned, additionally to his U-boat duties, to a department command at the Naval High Command. In 1945 he became a POW and remained in British custody until 1947. During this time he also testified as a witness in the Nuremberg trials.
Following the war he wrote a history of Kriegsmarine operations in World War II as member of the Naval Historical Team.[1]
Godt died at the age of 95 on 13 September 1995.
Dates of rank
- Seekadett (Junior Cadet): 1 July 1918
- Fähnrich zur See (Senior Cadet): 1 April 1922
- Oberfähnrich zur See (Midshipman): 1 October 1923
- Leutnant zur See (Acting Sub-Lieutenant): 1 April 1924
- Oberleutnant zur See (Sub-Lieutenant): 1 January 1926
- Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant): 1 July 1933
- Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain / Lieutenant Commander): 1 April 1937
- Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain / Commander): 1 July 1940
- Kapitän zur See(Line Captain): 1 September 1942
- Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral, Lower Half): 1 March 1943
Decorations and awards
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd class (1918)
- Hanseatic Cross of Lübeck (1918)
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd class
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 1st class
- German Cross in Gold (10 February 1942)
References
- ^ "Eberhard Godt". uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.