Otto Kretschmer
Otto Kretschmer | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Otto der Schweiger (Silent Otto)[1] |
Born | Heidau, Neisse, German Empire (now Hajduki Nyskie, Poland) | 1 May 1912
Died | 5 August 1998 Bavaria, Germany | (aged 86)
Allegiance | Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
Service/ | Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine German Navy |
Years of service | 1930–45, 1955–70 |
Rank | Reichsmarine (1930–35):
Kriegsmarine (1935–45):
|
Unit | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 – 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War.
From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the
Early life and career
Kretschmer was born in
Reichsmarine
Kretschmer entered the
Following his journey on Emden, Kretschmer attended a naval infantry course for cadets at Stralsund (5 January–31 March 1932), before starting with the main cadet course at the
Kriegsmarine
In 1933
During Kretschmer's stay on Köln, he attended an aircraft catapult course at Travemünde. On 26 September 1935, he was transferred to the 1st department of the standing ship division of the North Sea in Wilhelmshaven where he served as a company officer until 25 January 1936.[9] Kretschmer joined the U-boat service in January 1936. 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.[9] Kretschmer's first operational experience on a submarine was as a lieutenant on the U-35 in 1937 as first watch officer under the command of Klaus Ewerth and then Hans-Rudolf Rösing. Rösing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. While Kretschmer was discharging his responsibilities for the operational readiness of the deck gun, Rösing dived the ship, leaving Kretschmer stranded in the freezing water. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold.[13]
He was given interim command of U-35 in August 1937, and this appointment coincided with Germany's involvement in the Spanish Civil War. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. The crew were permitted ashore at the resort town of San Sebastián. Rösing's successor, Hermann Michahelles, was killed in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks.[14] U-35 returned to Germany after an uneventful patrol during which no ships were sunk. On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of U-23.[15] Through the remaining Interwar period, Kretschmer developed his own approach to combat, which can be summarized by the phrase "one torpedo, one ship". He dispensed with the standard practice of firing salvoes of torpedoes from long distances. Kretschmer also favoured surfaced attacks as opposed to the recommended submerged engagement, listing 11 Points of Submarine Warfare: [16]
- Efficient lookouts are of prime importance
- It is essential not simply to spot the target, but to spot it in good time
- Lone ships should be attacked on the surface with gunfire in order to save expensive torpedoes
- Survivors should be assisted when possible
- Convoys should be attacked in daylight only if it is not feasible to wait for nightfall
- Attack at night from the dark side of the convoy, so that the target is silhouetted and the submarine is in shadow
- When there is little or no moonlight, attack from the windward side (to avoid a visible white bow-wave when motoring into the wind)
- Fire one torpedo per target, not fanned salvoes
- Fire at close range
- Once an attack is launched, do not submerge except in circumstances of dire necessity. 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.; otherwise, remain on the surface
The 'one torpedo, one ship' tactics implemented by Kretschmer resulted in a very effective usage of torpedoes, as each attack was designed to maximize the chances of a hit. In fact, out of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer scored 74 hits (equivalent to a 69.8% success rate). The vast majority of Kretschmer's attacks - at least 83 - were launched on the surface.[17]
Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant/Lieutenant Senior Grade) on 1 June 1939.[9]
World War II
U-23: Patrols 1–8
The
Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one week before the start of World War II. His first patrol, with Oberleutnant zur See Adalbert Schnee as first watch officer, took U-23 into the North Sea and along the coast of the Netherlands. The boat returned to Wilhelmshaven on 4 September.[18] Further patrols took U-23 around the British coast. 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.[19] A second patrol (9–21 September) yielded no success either.[20] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. On 4 October 1939 he sank the coastal ship Glen Farg (876 GRT). The small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo.[21] He returned to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 16 October. The next day, Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse).[22]
The fourth patrol (1–9 November) was unsuccessful.
U-23 departed from Kiel on 8 January 1940 for its sixth war patrol and Schnee had been replaced by Oberleutnant zur See
On 18 February, Kretschmer sank the 1,300 ton British
U-99: Battle of the Atlantic
On 2 April 1940, after eight patrols on U-23, Kretschmer was ordered to the
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
Among the victims was the Estonian ship, Merisaar, 2,126 GRT. Kretschmer captured the vessel, the only such ship seized by U-99. The crew abandoned ship and were questioned by Kretschmer. The German crew failed to sink the stationary vessel with torpedoes while the weather ruled out the use of the gun. A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux. The ship did not reach port. German aircraft bombed and sank it three days later. Kretschmer docked in Lorient on 21 July.[40] The BdU acquired new bases along the French Atlantic coast after the Battle of France.[41] A notable failure on the patrol occurred in the interception of HMS Manistee. Kretschmer attempted to sink the ship with gunfire, but return fire and the appearance of an aircraft forced him to submerge. Under water U-99 had no chance of catching her.[42]
Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. This third patrol on U-99, took the boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and west of Ireland. He sank four ships and damaged three.[34] His greatest success was the sinking of Auckland Star, a 13,212 GRT ship on 28 July followed by another two totalling 12,811 GRT on 29 and 31 July. Kretschmer was guided onto convoy OB-191. The 28-ship convoy was poorly defended by a destroyer and a corvette. Kretschmer was presented with an opportunity to put his "one torpedo, one ship" mantra into practice.[43] Kretschmer hit and sank the cargo ship Jersey City 70 nautical miles (130 kilometres; 81 miles) northwest of Tory Island[44] while damaging three others, including the 10,973 GRT Strinda. The ships used barrels for ballast to prevent them sinking. The crew remained in lifeboats nearby for reboarding once the attack was over.[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. The presentation was made by Dönitz following his return to Lorient.[45][dubious ]
On U-99's fourth war patrol in September 1940,
In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British
Kretschmer departed for his fifteenth patrol on 27 November and returned on 12 December.[53] In December Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 90 but encountered only stragglers.[55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. He assumed most of the crew went down with the ship; but there were 159 survivors. 176 men died.[56] Laurentic and Patroclus had been loaded with wooden barrels to increase buoyancy. It took nine torpedoes and one dud to sink them; the latter was sunk after it stopped to pick up survivors from the former.[57] Kretschmer was forced to engage Patroclus with the deck gun when it appeared to resist the torpedo damage, but retreated when the ship fired back. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged.[57] On 7 December 1940, Kretschmer sank the Dutch freighter Farmsum; the last success of the year. The ship was loaded with coal, set for Buenos Aires, Argentina. The ship sank slowly. Kretschmer learned its identity from frantic radio signals.[58]
Defeat and capture
Several of Kretschmer's senior officers left the boat before the final patrol. Klaus Bargsten served aboard U-99 under Kretschmer, before being promoted to captain himself and becoming the sole survivor of U-521 on 2 June 1942.[59]
On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. For 13 days Kretschmer sailed without success. U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB 290. Prien achieved several sinkings, Kretschmer did not; the pair was chased off by destroyers. Prien's reports were picked up by the Luftwaffe which sent
The operation against Convoy OB 293 proved disastrous for the Lorient group. Prien and Kretschmer, along with U-70 (Matz) and UA, attacked the convoy. The ships were protected by an escort group of two destroyers, Wolverine and Verity, and two corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia.[61] As with the group that eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and competent.[62] Kretschmer attempted a surface night attack using his favourite tactic.[63] On 7 March Kretschmer sank two ships from the convoy including the 20,638 GRT Terje Viken.[64] Four ships were sunk, but two U-boats were sunk, one of which was U-47. Prien along with his crew disappeared, presumably in a depth charge attack.[65] British reports of the action mention a large red glow appearing deep below the surface amid the depth charge explosions.[66]
On 16 March 1941 Kretschmer attacked
Kretschmer's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat. One signalman sent a message to the escorts "we are sinking" and the firing stopped.[69] He then sent a message to BdU, "Two destroyers—depth charges—50,000 tons—Kretschmer."[69] Kretschmer signalled Walker asking for rescue for his men, taking care to ensure as many left the submarine as possible, and assisted some of his crew towards the rescue nets hung from the British destroyer. 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.[70]
Prisoner of war
Kretschmer and his crew were landed in
Once in London, Royal Navy interrogators questioned the crew. The report, filed in the archives, was named "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941". The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. 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 spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. 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. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried."[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. He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship."[74]
Following his capture, Kretschmer spent almost seven years as a
On 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured by the Royal Navy. The officers were also taken to the prisoner-of-war camp at Grizedale Hall.[77] Kretschmer was senior officer at the camp. An illegal "Court of Honour" was convened and headed by Kretschmer. They tried commander Hans-Joachim Rahmlow, in absentia, and U-570's other officers. Rahmlow and his second-in-command, Bernhard Berndt, were found "guilty of cowardice"; the other two officers were "acquitted". On the night of 18/19 October, Berndt escaped from the camp. A detachment of the Home Guard apprehended him, shooting him when he tried to escape. 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.[78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. Its commander, Hugo Förster, was repatriated to Germany and committed suicide before the end of the war.[79]
In 1943, the German navy tried to rescue him in Operation Kiebitz but that daring plan (later dramatized in the novel The Bowmanville Break and the film, The McKenzie Break) failed. Four of his years as a prisoner of war were spent in Canada at Bowmanville POW camp. Kretschmer was released from captivity on 31 December 1947, and returned to Germany.[18]
Postwar career
In 1955, Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. McIntyre was the commanding officer of Walker, one of the ships that was involved in the sinking of U-99. At the time, Kretschmer was president of the Deutscher Marinebund, a member club of the International Maritime Confederation.[80]
On 1 December 1955, Kretschmer joined
From 1 March to 31 October 1958, Kretschmer served as Admiralstabsoffizier (Asto—officer of the admiralty staff) with the
While on holiday in Bavaria in the summer of 1998, Kretschmer died in an accident during a boating expedition on the Danube to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary, at the age of 86. He was on a holiday cruise from Regensburg to Budapest when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps. A fall caused fatal injuries. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936)[9]
- Memel Medal (26 October 1939)[9]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (9 November 1939)[9]
- Sudetenland Medal (20 December 1939)[9]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
- Knight's Cross on 4 August 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-99[52][81]
- 6th Oak Leaves on 4 November 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-99[52][82]
- 5th Swords on 26 December 1941 as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-99[52][83]
Notes
- ^ The Ordensburg Sonthofen was later renamed Generaloberst-Beck-Kaserne.
References
Citations
- ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 717.
- ^ a b Paterson 2018, p. 1.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 2.
- ^ a b Paterson 2018, pp. 2–4.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 3.
- ^ a b c d Busch & Röll 2003, p. 41.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 8–9.
- ^ Busch & Röll 2003, pp. 41–42.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Busch & Röll 2003, p. 42.
- ^ Thomas 1990, p. 110.
- ^ Zabecki 1999, p. 380.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 9.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 11–12.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 14–15.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 14.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 15–19.
- ^ Magnozzi 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Busch & Röll 2003, p. 43.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 37.
- ^ a b c d e Paterson 2018, p. 254.
- ^ a b Haarr 2010, p. 107.
- ^ a b c d Thomas 1997, p. 406.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 37, 254.
- ^ Haarr 2010, pp. 180–181.
- ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 44.
- ^ Haarr 2010, p. 450.
- ^ Rohwer 1999, p. 9.
- ^ Haarr 2010, p. 451.
- ^ Haarr 2010, p. 453.
- ^ Rohwer 1999, p. 14.
- ^ a b Haarr 2010, p. 106.
- ^ a b Haarr 2010, p. 459.
- ^ Wiggins 1999, p. 30.
- ^ a b c d Busch & Röll 2003, p. 45.
- ^ Morgan & Taylor 2011, p. 73.
- ^ Wiggins 1999, p. 31.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 256.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 80.
- ^ Sturma 2011, p. 80.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 87, 256.
- ^ Terraine 1989, p. 770.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 81.
- ^ a b Paterson 2018, pp. 98–101.
- ^ Tennent 2001, p. 264.
- ^ Busch & Röll 2003, pp. 42, 45.
- ^ Milner 2011, pp. 40–41.
- ^ Milner 2011, p. 41.
- ^ Milner 2011, pp. 40–4.
- ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 97.
- ^ Rohwer 1999, pp. 35, 37.
- ^ Morgan & Taylor 2011, p. 68.
- ^ a b c d Scherzer 2007, p. 474.
- ^ a b Paterson 2018, p. 255.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 161–162.
- ^ Milner 2011, p. 46.
- ^ Morgan & Taylor 2011, pp. 74, 76–77.
- ^ a b Morgan & Taylor 2011, p. 72.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 172–173.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 67–70, 247.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 184–186.
- ^ Rohwer & Hümmelchen 2005, p. 62.
- ^ Milner 2011, p. 52.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 187–190.
- ^ Rohwer 1999, p. 45.
- ^ Rohwer & Hümmelchen 2005, pp. 62–63.
- ^ Terraine 1989, p. 314.
- ^ Rohwer 1999, p. 46.
- ^ a b Morgan & Taylor 2011, p. 77.
- ^ a b c Milner 2011, p. 53.
- ^ Padfield 1995, p. 115.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 230–232.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 222.
- ^ "Interrogation of U-99 survivors"
- ^ "Interrogation of U-99 survivors"
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 202.
- ^ Paterson 2018, p. 230.
- ^ Blair 1998, p. 347.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 222–228, 238, 240.
- ^ Paterson 2018, pp. 228–234.
- ^ Der Spiegel Volume 46/1955.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 274.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 53.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 39.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-30787-437-5.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Claasen, Adam R. A. (2001). Hitler's Northern War: The Luftwaffe's Ill-Fated Campaign, 1940–1945. Lawrence, Kansas: ISBN 978-0-7006-1050-1.
- Edwards, Bernard (2004). The Twilight of the U-boats. ISBN 978-1844150359.
- Haarr, Geirr H. (2012). The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 - April 1940. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1591148845.
- Haarr, Geirr (2010). The Battle for Norway: April-June 1940. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78346-905-5.
- Hadley, Michael L. (1995). Count Not the Dead: The Popular Image of the German Submarine. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 978-0-773512-82-5.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-23". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-99". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Magnozzi, Michele (2021). "'One Torpedo, One Ship': An appraisal of Otto Kretschmer's U-boat tactics, 1939–1941". The Mariner's Mirror. 107 (2): 202–215. S2CID 233464270.
- ISBN 978-0-7524-6187-8.
- Mitcham, Samuel (2012). Hitler's Commanders: Officers of the Wehrmacht, the Luftwaffe, the Kriegsmarine and the Waffen SS. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-1153-7.
- Morgan, Daniel; Taylor, Bruce (2011). U-Boat Attack Logs: A Complete Record of Warship Sinkings from Original Sources, 1939–1945. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-118-2.
- ISBN 0-7195-5168-4.
- Paterson, Lawrence (2018). Otto Kretschmer: The Life of the Third Reich's Highest Scoring U-Boat Commander. Barnsley: Greenhill Books. ISBN 978-1-78438-194-3.
- ISBN 978-1-5575-0915-4.
- ISBN 978-1-55750-029-8.
- ISBN 978-1-59114-119-8.
- OCLC 929331677.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Sturma, Michael (2011). Surface and Destroy: The Submarine Gun War in the Pacific. ISBN 978-0-8131-2996-9.
- Tennent, Alan J. (2001). British and Commonwealth Merchant Ship Losses to Axis Submarines, 1939-1945. The History Press: Sutton. ISBN 978-0-7509-2760-4.
- ISBN 978-0-85052-760-5.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
- Thomas, Charles (1990). The Germany Navy in the Nazi Era. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-0444-5493-9.
- Vause, Jordan (1997). Wolf: U-boat Commanders in World War II. Washington: ISBN 978-1-55750-874-4.
- Wiggins, Melanie (1999). U-boat Adventures: Firsthand Accounts from World War II. ISBN 978-1-59114-958-3.
- ISBN 978-1-57638-042-0.
- ISBN 978-1-59884-980-6.
- ISBN 0-8240-7029-1.
- "Otto Kretschmer". ISSN 0038-7452. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
External links
- Otto Kretschmer in the German National Library catalogue
- Newspaper clippings about Otto Kretschmer in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW
- Telegraph On-line edition, February 4, 2008
- On line interviews (RealAudio)
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Otto Kretschmer". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2007.