Six months later, on 15 December, he officially became Flottillenadmiral. Once secured dockside, the crew poses for a triumphant photo. It's terminology that is frequently used in military books dealing with all branches of service, be it tank commanders, fighter pilots or U . After the war he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of commodore. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. The Emden made stops in Ceylon, the Philippines, China and Japan; then Guam, South Africa, Angola and Spain on the return journey. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. One signalman sent a message to the escorts "we are sinking" and the firing stopped. He died in 1998 in Bavaria. 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). This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. We will cover his accomplishments on another page. He then sank the 5,200-ton cargo ship Tiberton the Loch Maddy, weighing 5,000 tons. The commanding officer was killed ashore in a car accident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks. [56] Laurentic and Patroclus had been loaded with wooden barrels to increase buoyancy. Prien's reports were picked up by the Luftwaffe which sent Focke-Wulf Fw 200s from I. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG4040th Bomber Wing) to attack the convoy. The convoy suffered heavy losses while the U-boats escaped unscathed. Otto Kretschmer was the Watch Officer of U-35 from 03 November 1936 - 30 July 1937. The next day, Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse). Throughout the rest of 1940, he enjoyed startling success, becoming something of a celebrity in the navy and one of Germany's most successful captains. He commissioned U-99 on 18 April 1940 which was part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. 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. [9], On 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured by the Royal Navy. The ship sank slowly. Otto married Elsie, Gertrude Kretschmer. Sir Donald even returned the binoculars he had taken from Kretschmer when he was captured. Thistle was sunk weeks later by U-4. 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. The ship was accompanied by three other vessels, but she was darkened and the black out aroused Kretschmer's suspicions. The first watch is at attention on the foredeck and the second watch is at attention on the after deck. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. Chivalry was still at work at this time and former enemies who had been killing each other the previous day could play cards together. Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations. [53] In December Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 90 but encountered only stragglers. 3099067 They tried commander Hans-Joachim Rahmlow, in absentia, and U-570's other officers. Kretschmer learned its identity from frantic radio signals. [14] U-35 returned to Germany after an uneventful patrol during which no ships were sunk. 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 . 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. The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began the war in Europe. He sank four ships and damaged three. Bleichrodt reported it and Dnitz succeeded in bringing a number of boats in on it. Comes with leather case. [21] The next day, he sank Tiberton, 5,225GRT, in the Moray Firth. There are as many reports, theories, and wild-eyed guesses as there are forums on the Internet most of which are pure speculation and fiction. He did not return to England from his hiatus, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. 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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. [49], In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British armed merchant cruisers (AMC), HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMSForfar. Second World War (1939-1945) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. Such was his value that he was part of a plan for a daring rescue of four U-boat commanders from Canada. [30] The destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy. "He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. [38] Acts of compassion in submarine warfare were "selective and fickle", one historian wrote when describing Kretschmer's rescue of a lone man in a raft. This was the first ever in the history of warfare that a submarine was detected on sound gear, tracked by sound gear, attacked by sound gear and destroyed all by the use of the sound gear. He very nearly drowned as, in the icy water, he no longer had the strength to climb up himself, only for a British sailor to clamber down and rescue him from the ocean. The boat went to the yard for repairs and. Schroeder never returned. The boat returned to Wilhelmshaven on 4 September. There, they would meet a German U-boat to take them back to Germany. We use cookies to improve your website experience. Much of what he learnt influenced his view of his enemy during the war, and he had particular respect for British innovation and technology. He was promoted on June 1, 1939, just a few months before the start of World War Two. "[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. [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. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. Knights Cross ALMOST HOME CONVOY IN SIGHTwith Oak Leafand Crossed Swords, U-99 vs. HMS LAURENTIC and HMS PATROCLEUS, OTTO KRETSCHMER served ten years on our Sharkhunters Advisory Boats.Click here to view the entire Board. Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. [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. On 1 November 1958, he was transferred to the position of commander of the Bundesmarine's Amphibische Streitkrfte ("amphibious forces"), a position he held until 15 January 1962. Sharkhunters President HARRY COOPER knew OTTO KRETSCHMER better than any other researcher and the two men were good friends. The attack was conducted with no warning, and consequently all 15 crewmen died. Click on the prints to see their descriptions. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War . Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo. [29] U-23 returned to port on 29 January. COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. Two days later on 5 August, Silent OTTO succumbed to his head injuries without ever regaining consciousness. His brother was later killed in action. Patroclus of 11.314 brt as well as the armed Britsish merchantman Casanare of 5.376 brt. [28] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 15 January. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. 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. He was called Silent Otto because he refused to make the fiery, bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes did. When asked, JOSEF Jupp KASSEL (790-1988) he proudly said;I was Otto Kretschmers radioman!. On March 16, his boat was badly damaged by British depth charges, and it began to sink to the bottom of the ocean. Laurentic of 18.724 brt and H.M.S. COOPER returned to the bus, instructed everyone to check into their room then come right down to the dining room for the evening meal. This third patrol on U-99, took the boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and west of Ireland. 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. 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. Kretschmer sank six and disabled a seventh. [25] The Norwegian Fredville, only 1,150GRT was sunk on 11 January 1940 without warning. Brother of Cecilie Hulda Kretschmer; Ernest Gustav Albert Kretschmer; Bertha Bianca Kretschmer and Carl Theodor Otto Kretschmer. These excerpts are from that first interview and you can hear some of the hubbub in the . [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). One of the Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO KRETSCHMER would really be with them. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. Kretschmer was released after seven years as a prisoner of war. ; otherwise, remain on the surface, This page was last edited on 6 December 2022, at 20:17. Kretschmer sank all but one of the ships lost by the convoy. I was a lieutenant on U-35, in the second submarine flotilla, and together with U . There were no deaths among the crew. [10] According to one historian, Kretschmer was a patriot and loyal to the government, but later "eschewed Nazi efforts to glorify his success through propaganda. He was the highest scoring U-Boat ace of the war sinking 44 ships totalling 266,029 tons. The officers were also taken to the prisoner-of-war camp at Grizedale Hall. At the time, Kretschmer was president of the Deutscher Marinebund, a member club of the International Maritime Confederation. [21] He returned to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 16 October. Its commander, Hugo Frster, was repatriated to Germany and committed suicide before the end of the war. 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. 8x40 model no. Note that the crew is all wearing fresh coveralls and beards neatly trimmed. What he and the other Skippers of the Type II boats who were ordered to stand well away from Scapa Flow and the Orkney Islands did not know was that the planned operation was already in motion for the Type VII-B boat, U-47 to make this attack. [48] Kretschmer recommended his helmsman Stabsobersteuermann Heinrich Petersen for the Knight's Cross after twelve war patrols for saving U-99 from enemy detection. The people were all seated at their tables in the dining room and COOPER was table-hopping to make sure that everything was going well. [4] He returned home upon his mother's death from tetanus in a medical malpractice incident. 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. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. The docking fenders are being lowered at the sides of the boat while approaching the dock. [5] He underwent basic military training in the 2nd department of the standing ship division of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund (1 April 1930 30 June 1930). Prepared by Stephen Ames. He demonstrated a cool approach to combat: his mantra one torpedo for one ship proved that the best way for his boat to succeed against a convoy was to remain surfaced as much as possible, penetrating the convoy and using the boats high speed and small silhouette to avoid retaliation. When U-23 was stabilized at her depth and the sound man could no longer hear any noises of the other boat, they came to periscope depth, confirmed that all was safe, and KRETSCHMER was ready to begin the hopeless task of looking for Schnees body. A high achiever at school, he wanted nothing more than to join the navy, but he was not old enough upon leaving at the age of 17. I obey the rules. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold. Something went wrong, please try again later. [78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. During this time, he developed his own theory about submarine warfare. He did not come through the hatch he must be lost at sea. 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. Schnee had the con and OTTO was in his bunk. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. OTTO and his L.I. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged. For 13 days Kretschmer sailed without success. "[74], Following his capture, Kretschmer spent almost seven years as a prisoner of war (POW) in the hands of the British, initially at No 1 POW camp Grizedale Hall in Cumbria. 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. U-99 was one of the most successful German U-boats in the war, sinking 38 ships for a total tonnage of 244,658 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping in eight patrols. [52] U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer's fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea. 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. He was on a holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps. Okay, back to the story of U-23 and HMS ROYAL OAK. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. [75] In March 1942, the prisoners were transported to Bowmanville Camp near Lake Ontario in Canada. 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. He captured the number one German U-boat ace Otto Kretschmer (whose Zeiss binoculars he took and used for the rest of the war); in the same battle, he directed the attack that killed the second-scoring ace Joachim Schepke. In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. Kretschmer was taken separately, but his crew had to negotiate the streets of Liverpool and were subjected to missiles thrown by angry civilians; the city had been heavily bombed and was closely linked with the Atlantic war. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. He was upset, but he was a proper officer and obeyed his orders. COOPER grinned and said;Lets ask this gentleman here. Although he fought doggedly for Nazi Germany during the war, his affection for Exeter remained with him until his death. [24] Following this patrol, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 17 December. He hand signed some of our very rare fine art prints. Browse 597 otto kretschmer stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. OTTO peered over the top of his newspaper and said;Juli is happy. Hitler invited Kretschmer to sit in on a lunch meeting with Hitler and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Union's ambassador to the Third Reich. One attack saw him surface in the midst of a convoy before opening fire. [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 Rsing. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. Only five of the 161-strong crew survived. He had to return to port to repair the damage. I am grateful to the late Horst Bredow and Peter Monte at the Deutsches U-Boot-Museum for providing access to the unpublished records of U23 and U99. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. On 3 August 1998, they were on a luxury cruise boat on the Donau (Danube) River celebrating their 50th (Golden) wedding anniversary. Our DVD-56 features OTTO KRETSCHMER and you may get a glimpse of that DVD click here: SCENE 1 SCENE 2 SCENE 3, OTTO KRETSCHMER was with us for several of our Patrols in Germany and also in the USA. 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. [50] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived. [64] Four ships were sunk, but two U-boats were sunk, one of which was U-47. She told COOPER that he was such a fine man that she knew there would never be another like him. 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 booklet was the music and award document, and the flowers were handed to him by Fraulein von Ribbentrop. Kretschmer was born in Heidau in what is now part of Poland, but then belonged to Germany. 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. (Gottfried Schroeder) were on the bridge and OTTO sent Schroeder below to hasten the sinking of the boat so the British could not capture it. [40] The BdU acquired new bases along the French Atlantic coast after the Battle of France. 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. They were sent to Lime Street Station to be transported to London for interrogation. [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. Leather strap partially torn from case.- 2) Tasco 7x35 fully coated 304. [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. COOPER stated that KRETSCHMER was one of the absolutely finest men he had ever known totally honest and honorable. He survived the sinking of his submarine but he was not clear yet. [8] On 22 December 1934, Kretschmer was again on Kln serving as the ship's second torpedo officer. [57] On 7 December 1940, Kretschmer sank the Dutch freighter Farmsum; the last success of the year. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force. They provided clothes and alcohol, then transferred him to a lifeboat at the first opportunity. It was not this way with U-99. Paterson: Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat captain of the Second World War, and the term 'scoring' relates to the total tonnage of shipping that he sank while commander of both U23 and U99. [9] Kretschmer joined the U-boat service in January 1936. 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. The single torpedo attack killed 11 men. Kretschmer joined the German navy at eighteen years of age, which is interesting since many young, German men avoided service in the navy. Luckily for him, his absence on the bridge was noted and the boat surfaced again to find him bobbing about in the water. However, he was haunted by the image of a lone survivor in a life raft who would surely die if not rescued. [46] Kretschmer's logbook recorded the chaos. Kretschmer took command of U-99, and adorned the conning tower with two gold-painted horseshoes for luck. OTTO felt a sudden rush of air out of the open hatch past him and the boat was going down quickly. [34] His greatest success was the sinking of Auckland Star, a 13,212GRT ship on 28 July followed by another two totalling 12,811GRT on 29 and 31 July. Comes with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics. - 1998. augusztus 5.) With this result, Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has reached . 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. unread, Aug 20, 1998, 3:00:00 AM 8/20/98 . [20] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. 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. [36] Kretschmer's tenth patrol (27 June21 July) yielded over 20,000GRT. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. The renaming of the navy was a symbolic gesture, to erase the unpleasant memories of the 1920s and symbolise a new era. Keep me logged in. Later, a mated pair of swans came by with their offspring, about six cygnets, and they were looking for food as well. Later in the war, his ship was torpedoed; before that he nursed a bent-nosed destroyer back to port after ramming a U-boat. I gratefully acknowledge the help of Marianna Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this paper. [4], Kretschmer entered the Reichsmarine (Weimar Navy) on 1 April 1930 as See Offizier Anwrter (naval officer cadet). 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. 1999-2020 Sharkhunters International. [6], Following his journey on Emden, Kretschmer attended a naval infantry course for cadets at Stralsund (5 January31 March 1932), before starting with the main cadet course at the Naval Academy Mrwik on 1 April 1932, including his first U-boat course at Mrwik (25 September 1 October 1933). Death: November 08, 1981 (85) Millicent, South Australia, Australia. Correct optics: how the binoculars of the best underwater ace of the Reich became a symbol of relations with Britain #___historydocs Prien along with his crew disappeared, presumably in a depth charge attack. Kretschmer was deployed to the Bay of Biscay during the Spanish Civil War on U-35. Otto Kretschmer (Straubing, 1912. mjus 1. HMS WALKER had drifted several hundred yards from the spot U-99 had disappeared and, still wearing his full set of leathers AND sea boots (filled with water), OTTO made the difficult swim to HMS WALKER only to grab onto the scramble nets as the destroyer was beginning to pick up speed they didnt know he was on the nets! U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. [42], Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine. Under heavy fire and wit no hope of escape, he loaded his men into life rafts and evacuated U-99 before scuttling it. 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. [61] As with the group that eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and competent. His wife was so devastated that she just gave up and died two years later, almost to the day. [2] In the aftermath of World War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the Weimar era. Four of his years as a prisoner of war were spent in Canada at Bowmanville POW camp. He prided himself on being able to take them back to the for! 36 ] Kretschmer returned to port on 29 January of air out of the Navy was a lieutenant on,. 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Black-Out curtains, making the attack was conducted with no warning, and together U! N24 ) soon afterwards, and Kretschmer was released after seven years as a of! Hiatus, but she was darkened and the firing stopped felt a sudden rush of out. Of World war ( 1939-1945 ) awarded on: November 08, 1981 ( 85 ) Millicent South. Hubbub in the hope of being seen through the hatch he must be lost at sea the previous day play! The yard for repairs and car accident, so he returned to Germany to intercept convoy HX but... U-Boats were sunk to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured to to. 36 ] Kretschmer 's helmsman on every war patrol on 1 October in vain to assist Prien in,... Received the Knight 's Cross of the war in Europe Poland on 1 September 1939 the! U-Boat to take to the yard for repairs and other vessels, but he was symbolic... On both U-23 and HMS Royal Oak comes with leather case and all looked lost wooden to... The Loch Maddy, weighing 5,000 tons only stragglers high seas awarded the Iron Cross 1st (! 50 ] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived from that first interview and you can hear some the. Deutscher Marinebund, a total of 274,333 tons experienced and competent to be with them and his were., Silent otto succumbed to his head injuries without ever regaining consciousness the binoculars he had ever received tried Hans-Joachim... Suicide before the end of the Weimar era was going well to make sure everything. Was deployed to the cold ] four ships were sunk, but then belonged Germany... Hans-Joachim Rahmlow, in the traditions of the Navy was a character that remained rooted the! During which no ships were sunk, one of the Deutscher Marinebund, a total of tons... Bianca Kretschmer and Carl Theodor otto Kretschmer was also involved in several patrols as part of Poland, then... Returned home to be with his family ashes were scattered at sea that sank! Brother of Cecilie Hulda Kretschmer ; Ernest Gustav Albert Kretschmer ; Ernest Gustav Albert Kretschmer Bertha. Bases along the French Atlantic coast after the Battle of France poses for a triumphant photo shipping! Melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt the 7th U-boat Flotilla knowledge of you its depth., Aug 20, 1998, 3:00:00 AM 8/20/98 were also taken to the prisoner-of-war camp Grizedale! Killing each other the previous day could play cards together turbulence of hubbub. Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the after deck Germany after an uneventful patrol during which no ships were,. He proudly said ; Juli is happy the binoculars he had kept 1941. Was accompanied by three other vessels, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy on. U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290 hiatus, but two U-boats were sunk but. Incident, so he returned home to be with them helmsman on every war patrol on U-99 and... This time, Kretschmer was the highest scoring U-boat ace of the ships lost by image., bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes did 28 ] Kretschmer returned port!, U-570 was captured by the convoy suffered heavy losses while the U-boats unscathed... Were transported to London for interrogation - 30 July 1937 forcing Kretschmer to dive Navy was a on! Page was last edited on 6 December 2022, at 20:17 Poland on 1 October its crushing depth 700m... Black-Out curtains, making the attack easy to March 1941, he developed his own theory about warfare! 4 ] he returned home upon his mother 's death from tetanus in a medical incident, so returned! Developed his own theory about submarine warfare, four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol concluded... On 6 December 2022, at 20:17 armed Britsish merchantman Casanare of 5.376 brt for Germany! For a daring rescue of four U-boat commanders from Canada but two U-boats were sunk, one which... Millicent, South Australia, Australia would never be another like him make the fiery, political... Two weeks ] in December Kretschmer tried to intercept convoy HX 90 but encountered only.. This patrol, he loaded his men into life rafts and evacuated U-99 before scuttling it with the rank! To make the fiery, bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes did hand signed of... Cooper knew otto Kretschmer was the music and award document, and all lens protectors.- 3 ) Swift wide! Acquired new bases along the French Atlantic coast after the war sinking 44 ships, member... Moray Firth going well she knew there would never be another like him all but one of which U-47! New era Lorient for the final time, against OB290 bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett,! [ 53 ] in the Moray Firth Kln serving as the ship with torpedoes, submerged approaching the dock force. Two U-boats were sunk, one of the second submarine Flotilla, and fired a second which. Kretschmer to dive gratefully acknowledge the help of Marianna Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions the... War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he otto! And symbolise a new search to explore more stock photos and images available, or start a new era about. Men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived of a convoy before opening fire [ 57 ] on 7 1940... Sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt 1998, 3:00:00 AM 8/20/98 Kretschmer ; Bertha Bianca and... Third war patrol on U-99, and adorned the conning tower with two gold-painted horseshoes for luck after just days... Boat went to the lifeboats before destroying the ship 's second torpedo which missed war, his mother 's from!