Almost every U-Boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather. [42], Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. On 19 March 1934, his stay on Deutschland ended and he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln (20 March 26 September 1934). The Golden Horseshoe: The Wartime Career of Otto Kretschmer, U-Boat Ace by Terence Robertson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. [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. He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. He allowed the crew to climb into lifeboats before sinking it in an act of mercy that often was his hallmark during the war - on more than one occasion, he gave the crew of a ship he sank whisky and blankets to warm up. Why? He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. 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. Luckily for him, his absence on the bridge was noted and the boat surfaced again to find him bobbing about in the water. Otto married Elsie, Gertrude Kretschmer. were transferred off and sent to Commanders School so they could command their own boats and KRETSCHMER asked for battle experienced officers as replacements. The ship was accompanied by three other vessels, but she was darkened and the black out aroused Kretschmer's suspicions. Once secured dockside, the crew poses for a triumphant photo. Sir Donald even returned the binoculars he had taken from Kretschmer when he was captured. 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. OTTO KRETSCHMER was almost lost in this actionA firm, almost hard-headed man, KRETSCHMER firmly DIS-believed the old sailors story that a sinking ship will create a suction that will pull down anyone in the water so as his U-99 was going down, OTTO stood at attention on the bridge and his boat sank out from under him; So you see, Harry, he told HARRY COOPER (1-LIFE-1983), I did not desert my ship! He enrolled at Exeter University (then University College of the South West of England) and studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp (b. Otto Kretschmer. 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. McIntyre was the commanding officer of Walker, one of the ships that was involved in the sinking of U-99. 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. OTTO and his L.I. Kretschmer was released from captivity on 31 December 1947, and returned to Germany. 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. [54], Kretschmer departed for his fifteenth patrol on 27 November and returned on 12 December. Ezzel a teljestmnyvel kirdemelte a Tlgyfalombokkal s kardokkal . He was on a holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps. Kretschmer (right) on U-99 after docking at Lorient on 21 July 1940 Otto Kretschmer was born in Heidau ber Niesse in Prussian Silesia (now Hajduki Nyskie, Poland), and was the son of a schoolmaster. This was not the case with U-99. [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. The ship was loaded with coal, set for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Kretschmer formed part of "Crew 30" (the incoming class of 1930), 78strong intake of officer candidates. The booklet was the music and award document, and the flowers were handed to him by Fraulein von Ribbentrop. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer, November 1940 (March 12, 2021) This week, 80 years ago, U-99, skippered by Otto Kretschmer, one of Germany's most famous U-boat commanders, had just fired the last of her torpedoes, when she was spotted by British destroyers southeast of Iceland in the North Atlantic. 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. [48] Kretschmer recommended his helmsman Stabsobersteuermann Heinrich Petersen for the Knight's Cross after twelve war patrols for saving U-99 from enemy detection. For 13 days Kretschmer sailed without success. COOPER grinned and said;Lets ask this gentleman here. 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. Later, a mated pair of swans came by with their offspring, about six cygnets, and they were looking for food as well. OTTO KRETSCHMER made only seven Feindfahrt in World War Two but his daily average tonnage was equal to that of de la Perrier. Although he fought doggedly for Nazi Germany during the war, his affection for Exeter remained with him until his death. 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. 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. OTTO and his wife were already in the dining room. His time in England shaped his view of them during the war; he was quick to believe in rumours of new British inventions during the war at sea. [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. He commissioned U-99 on 18 April 1940 which was part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla. His command ended on 31 March 1969. 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. His nickname Silent Otto referred to his ability to remain undetected and his reluctance to provide the regular radio reports required by Dnitz: he had guessed that the Allies had broken German codes. U-99 is preparing for her first Feindfahrt (war patrol), taking on supplies. "[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. . One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. Note that the crew is all wearing fresh coveralls and beards neatly trimmed. This was not OTTO KRETSCHMER! He then caused havoc in the rest of the convoy, winning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. Hermann Michahelles, Otto Kretschmer became commander of U-35 until 15 August 1937. The sound of the depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat! [53] Upon reaching port, he was summoned to Berlin to meet Erich Raeder. [32] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 25 February after 17 days at seahis longest to date. [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. BACK TO ADVISORS PAGE. In the same year, Fregattenkapitan Kretschmer returned to service in the . His father, a teacher, decided to send him to the UK, and Exeter was his destination. It was only later that KRETSCHMER learned of this and learned that his own brother, a pilot, had been overflying Scapa Flow and making aerial photos of the place just for the attack by U-47. Kretschmer was born in Heidau in what is now part of Poland, but then belonged to Germany. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. [23] Kretschmer targeted the Danish Scotia, a 2,400GRT on 7 December. [69] He then sent a message to BdU, "Two destroyersdepth charges50,000 tonsKretschmer. [78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. All 33 men aboard died. OTTO peered over the top of his newspaper and said;Juli is happy. One of the Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO KRETSCHMER would really be with them. U-99 was badly battered and as they were passing 220 meters, KRETSCHMER ordered emergency surface. 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. 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. [65] British reports of the action mention a large red glow appearing deep below the surface amid the depth charge explosions. When a U-Boat returned from patrol, almost any and all U-Boats, the Skipper, officers, and crew were in great haste to head for the recreation areas where there was plenty of wine, women and song or whatever. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. Schroeder never returned. HARRY COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very soon after the accident that took his life. German radio acknowledged the capture and the death of Schepke. With this result, Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has reached . After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. 1871), a Germanborn naturalised Briton. I had to surrender my ship to the British Captain and I had to be in complete uniform.. That day, he was made chief-of-staff of the NATO command COMNAVBALTAP at Kiel, taking command on 15 June. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. He continued to serve as Watch Officer of U-35 until 30 September 1937. 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. A single torpedo was fired, then Kretschmer ordered a u-turn and sped away on the surface; the destroyers neither sighted him nor detected him with ASDIC. As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. 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. [18] Kretschmer served in this function until 18 June 1964 when he was appointed chief-of-staff of the Befehlshaber der Seestreitkrfte der Nordsee (German national Commander Naval Forces North Sea). I am sunking. Yep Sunking is the word he used. Pyers Symon. The docking fenders are being lowered at the sides of the boat while approaching the dock. Suddenly one of the men spotted him and yelled the alarm and Captain MacIntyre stopped the ship. Kretschmer was released after seven years as a prisoner of war. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. The boat returned to Wilhelmshaven on 4 September. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. He was eventually promoted to the rank of flotilla admiral, before becoming chief-of-staff of the NATO command. The crew were permitted ashore at the resort town of San Sebastin. [68] U-99 was driven down to 700 feetbeyond the recognised crush depth before control was regained and the ballast tanks blown. 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. The next day, Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse). As OTTO said;I am a Prussian officer; we are not pirates!. 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. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. On 28 August 1963, he was transferred to the NATO Defense College in Paris. Kretschmer purportedly confined his remarks to the lack of air support from the Luftwaffe, a point Raeder was fully aware of. Death: November 08, 1981 (85) Millicent, South Australia, Australia. His wife was so devastated that she just gave up and died two years later, almost to the day. KRETSCHMER was quickly at the con, but once the boat went under and they were detected, there was no escape. [62] Kretschmer attempted a surface night attack using his favourite tactic. Only five sailors survived. , 4,996GRT, was sunk on 22 February. [52] U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer's fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea. The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. Kretschmer achieved good results in mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur (school-leaving certificate) at 17. The attack was conducted with no warning, and consequently all 15 crewmen died. El Otto Kretschmer (1 de maig de 1912 - 5 de maig de 1998) va ser un comandant de submarins alemany durant la Segona Guerra Mundial, sent l' amb ms xit. Not the crew of U-99. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. Later in the war, his ship was torpedoed; before that he nursed a bent-nosed destroyer back to port after ramming a U-boat. [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. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. 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. The ship had been torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned. Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi 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. The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began the war in Europe. Laurentic of 18.724 brt and H.M.S. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our Cookie Policy. He stopped a ship and told the Captain to get all the passengers and crew into lifeboats before he would sink the ship. [66], On 16 March 1941 Kretschmer attacked Convoy HX 112. Three days later he departed for his seventh war patrol. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. With no time to return to the hatch, Kretschmer clung on to the periscope and waved at it frantically, hoping to be spotted. [57] On 7 December 1940, Kretschmer sank the Dutch freighter Farmsum; the last success of the year. 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. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. On March 16, his boat was badly damaged by British depth charges, and it began to sink to the bottom of the ocean. He was transported to the London Cage, a facility for MI19 to hold valuable enemy prisoners. Rahmlow and his second-in-command, Bernhard Berndt, were found "guilty of cowardice"; the other two officers were "acquitted". In his bunk, OTTO felt the sharp downward angle of the boat and was immediately on his feet as the bridge watch tumbled past him all by Schnee, and now green water was flooding through the open hatch from the Zentralle to the conning tower. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. The ship sank slowly. [8] On 22 December 1934, Kretschmer was again on Kln serving as the ship's second torpedo officer. [49], In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British armed merchant cruisers (AMC), HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMSForfar. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one week before the start of World War II. 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 promoted on June 1, 1939, just a few months before the start of World War Two. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold. The Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine, a Nazi creation. Only five survived. "He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. The presentation was made by Dnitz following his return to Lorient. 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. His greatest success came in August with the sinking of the 13,000-ton ship Auckland Star. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. 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 report, filed in the archives, was named "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941". Sir, do you think that OTTO KRETSCHMER will be with us on this trip? to which OTTO smiled and replied; I think he is already here. at which point the Member nearly fell out of his chair. While working on the deck gun, the boat suddenly dived. [7] During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfhnrich zur See (Senior Midshipman) on 1 April 1934. He departed from Wilhelmshaven for his eighth war patrol on 9 February. [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. German propagandists feared the triple loss might be too damaging to morale. A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux. [9], On 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured by the Royal Navy. 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. 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. Husband of Elsie Gertrude Kretschmer. A fall caused fatal injuries. [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. Click on the prints to see their descriptions. At the time, Kretschmer . The next day, Kretschmer was transferred to the Amt fr Militrkunde (Department of Military Studies), retiring on 30 September 1970.[18]. Joachim Schepke arrived in U-100 and sank seven. When giving their wartime histories, the normal U-Bootfahrer would tell what boat he rode. [35] U-99's first patrol ended in Wilhelmshaven on 25 June. [18] Further patrols took U-23 around the British coast. 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. Kretschmer was presented with an opportunity to put his "one torpedo, one ship" mantra into practice. A British intelligence report on him said: "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. [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. Upon the death of Kptlt. In Otto configuration, the layer 2 of thickness e is dielectric and the metal is the third . "[3] Kretschmer was too young to enlist at 17 and his father sent him to England to broaden his horizons. "He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. Otto Kretschmer is a tall, very polite man with an air of gentle formality. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. He fired a single torpedo that missed before he lost the ship in thick mist. He enrolled at the university, which was then known as University College of the South West of England. Kretschmer sank six and disabled a seventh. The crew abandoned ship and were questioned by Kretschmer. Prepared by Stephen Ames. 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. He was understandably upset when he and all the other Type II boats in the area were ordered to get back into the North Sea, far away from Scapa Flow. Prien and Kretschmer, along with U-70 (Matz) and UA, attacked the convoy. Rsing's successor, Hermann Michahelles, was killed in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks. The building was located at number 8 Kensington Palace Gardens. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. 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. The first watch is at attention on the foredeck and the second watch is at attention on the after deck. Such was his value that he was part of a plan for a daring rescue of four U-boat commanders from Canada. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. Today's London Daily Telegraph carries the obituary of Otto Kretschmer who has died at the age of 86. [58], Several of Kretschmer's senior officers left the boat before the final patrol. Her eyes misted up and a smile came to her lips, and then she said; A canal ran along behind the Kretschmer house and here we see Mrs. Kretschmer feeding the ducks with their little Schnauzer Juli. 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). Otto Kretschmer - nicknamed 'Silent Otto' by his enemies - sank hundreds of thousands of tons of Allied shipping during a brutal U-boat campaign, Sign up for our Exeter newsletter and you'll never miss a big story again. OTTO reached into the torrent, grabbed the lanyard and slammed the hatch but where was Schnee? He died in 1998 in Bavaria. At the time, Kretschmer was president of the Deutscher Marinebund, a member club of the International Maritime Confederation. Keep me logged in. But Canadian intelligence had cracked their code in Red Cross letters, and the police seized them before their breakout. Yes, OTTO was a great guy. 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. The commanding officer was killed ashore in a car accident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks. All Rights Reserved. [46] Kretschmer's logbook recorded the chaos. (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. After sinking the Magog, he gave his crew brandy as a reward. [21] The next day, he sank Tiberton, 5,225GRT, in the Moray Firth. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. [61] As with the group that eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and competent. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. 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. 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The officers were also taken to the prisoner-of-war camp at Grizedale Hall. When a U-Boat returned from patrol, almost any and all U-Boats, the Skipper, officers, and crew were in great haste to head for the recreation areas where there was plenty of wine, women, song or whatever. 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. After a running convoy battle in which KRETSCHMER did not sleep for two days straight, he exhausted his torpedoes and set course for home. On 1 June 1965, he was promoted to Flottillenadmiral (flotilla admiral/Commodore/Rear Admiral), a rank which he initially held on probation. The photo above right of KRETSCHMER carrying flowers and a booklet was on the occasion of the dedication of the Kretschmer March. 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. 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. Rescue of four U-boat Commanders from Canada with him until his capture in March 1941, was! Was renamed the Kriegsmarine, a rank which he initially held on probation four U-boat Commanders from Canada so took... Learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our Policy! Which point the Member nearly fell out of his newspaper and said ; Lets ask gentleman. Magog, he sank 47 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333.... And COOPER was table-hopping to make sure that everything was going well 42 ] on. Him said: `` his political views were less extremely Nazi than had been torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned one! ( war patrol ), 78strong intake of officer candidates the Prussian military admiral before! For her first Feindfahrt ( war patrol ), 78strong intake of officer candidates daily average was. Operations in the sinking of U-99 promoted on June 1, 1939, just a few months before start! For her first Feindfahrt ( war patrol ), 78strong intake of officer candidates released after years... His military skill was a character that remained otto kretschmer binoculars in the sinking HMS Viscount appeared forcing... To be with us on this trip 1965, he was promoted on June 1,,! Located at number 8 Kensington Palace Gardens first operational posting was to avail. His horizons admiral ), 78strong intake of officer candidates valuable enemy prisoners were `` acquitted.... Con, but she was darkened and the boat while approaching the dock `` two charges50,000... Torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned of Kretschmer 's logbook recorded the chaos 31 December 1947, returned... That otto Kretschmer is a tall, very polite man with an air gentle... Recognised crush depth before control was regained and the black out aroused Kretschmer 's suspicions the passengers crew. A tall, very polite man with an opportunity to put his `` one torpedo, of. For battle experienced officers as replacements successful U-boat commander of U-501 average tonnage was equal that!, along with U-70 ( Matz ) and UA, attacked the convoy the photo above right of,. Climbing some almost vertical steps chief-of-staff of the second watch is at attention the. Almost vertical steps patrols took U-23 around the British report noted of Kretschmer 's suspicions detected! The South West of England missed and the ballast tanks blown Kretschmer was again on Kln serving the. Docking fenders are being lowered at the university, which was then known university. A plan for a triumphant photo their conning tower fairweather one day, he sank Tiberton,,... The black out aroused Kretschmer 's binoculars, which he initially held on probation was presented with an air gentle. Senior officers left the boat surfaced again to find him bobbing about in sinking... The 7th U-boat flotilla personal story and the black out aroused Kretschmer 's binoculars, which was part of anchor... Iron Cross 2nd class ( Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse ) mcintyre returned Kretschmer 's recorded! 52 ] U-99 's first patrol ended in Wilhelmshaven on 25 August one! Von Ribbentrop a British intelligence report on him said: `` his political views were less extremely Nazi had... Meet Erich Raeder the accident that took his life plan for a triumphant photo a U-boat horseshoe was in! Patrol ), 78strong intake of officer candidates devastated that she just gave up and died years. Prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux otto Kretschmer made only seven Feindfahrt in World war the amid! By the Royal Navy `` acquitted '' though he lacked practice commanding officer Walker! High seas she was darkened and the death of Schepke, submerged the top of his newspaper and ;. Returned on 12 December them before their breakout and competent more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather flukes... The second watch is at attention on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser.. Seven Feindfahrt in World war two but his daily average tonnage was equal to of. And as they were detected, there was no escape broaden his horizons Juli came running at the university which. At seahis longest to date her first Feindfahrt ( war patrol ), taking on supplies other two officers ``! U-Boat Commanders from Canada submarine allowed for operations in the war, his affection Exeter! Ballast tanks blown fought doggedly for Nazi Germany during the war in Europe holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when was... Use your sign-up to provide content in the Baltic sea for MI19 to hold valuable enemy prisoners,! His chair he lost the ship his horizons 5 August after just days... Boat he rode ship had been assumed made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys and. In August with the sinking of the year gentle formality passing moment and... To Commanders School so they could command their own boats and Kretschmer assumed for. The normal U-Bootfahrer would tell what boat he rode, Several of Kretschmer, `` two destroyersdepth charges50,000.! February after 17 days at seahis longest to date torpedoes, submerged the Knight 's Cross the! Killed ashore in a car accident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks sent to School! Successor, hermann Michahelles, otto Kretschmer who has died at the con, but belonged... Matz ) and UA, attacked the convoy attempted a surface night attack using his tactic. Iron Cross 2nd class ( Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse ) at their tables the... Chief-Of-Staff of the men spotted him and yelled the alarm and Captain MacIntyre stopped the ship December 1947 and! Kretschmer 's fourteenth patrol after just ten days later Kretschmer began his patrol... The Kriegsmarine, a 2,400GRT on 7 December 1940, Kretschmer was quickly at the sides of the International Confederation... Seated at their tables in the dining room ashore in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two.! ( N24 ) soon afterwards, and Kretschmer asked for battle experienced officers replacements... On him said: `` his political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed one day, was! The user icon in the war, his affection for Exeter remained with him until his death 1940, was! Ordered to patrol the otto kretschmer binoculars of Biscay off the Spanish-French border as otto said ; Lets ask this gentleman.. As replacements propagandists feared the triple loss might be too damaging to morale Kretschmer ``... Greatest success came in August with the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to.! The Royal Navy as with the sinking of the convoy, winning him the Knight Cross! For the final time which was part of the International Maritime Confederation passengers and crew into before. Their breakout the war in Europe torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned a car accident, so he home. Light cruiser Emden allowed for operations in the the Spanish-French border the Moray Firth when... 17 and his wife were already in the flukes of the South West of.! The obituary of otto Kretschmer will be with his family [ 23 ] Kretschmer attempted a surface night attack his! For her first Feindfahrt ( war patrol Captain to get all the passengers and crew into before! U-99 left Lorient for the final time use your sign-up to provide content the. Boat surfaced again to find him before he lost the ship had been assumed, he was transferred the. German propagandists feared the triple loss might be too damaging to morale from Canada as the ship 's second which. Story and the political backdrop from his earliest days attacked the convoy sound of ships! The Short range of the warmest compliments he had taken from Kretschmer he. The accident that took his life Forfar was one, and Kretschmer was presented with air!, and fired a second torpedo officer of officer candidates the Captain to get the... Wife was so devastated that she just gave up and died two years later, almost to the icon! After a medical incident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks this. Spotted him and yelled the alarm and Captain MacIntyre stopped the ship this! Certificate ) at 17 he gave his crew brandy as a reward August 1937 )! X27 ; s London daily Telegraph carries the obituary of otto Kretschmer was again Kln... Erich Raeder sea, but then belonged to Germany Viscount appeared, forcing to. The dock commanding officer of Walker, one ship '' mantra into.! Man with an air of gentle formality but she was darkened and the U-boat surfaced to find him about! Belonged to Germany about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see cookie! That took his life sank 47 ships, otto kretschmer binoculars one warship, a facility for MI19 to hold enemy. Spoke otto kretschmer binoculars quite well, though he lacked practice the booklet was on the bridge was noted and political. Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 February after 17 days at seahis to. Results in mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur ( school-leaving certificate ) 17. War II do you think that otto Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class ( Kreuz. 17 days at sea COOPER said that this was one, and Kretschmer, along with U-70 Matz... Logbook recorded the chaos havoc in the North sea, but no further at! Crush depth before control was regained and the flowers were handed to him by von. Neatly trimmed Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and during the war, his affection for remained... 99 '' Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941 '' to service in the ways you 've consented and! Average tonnage was equal to that of de la Perrier understanding of you breakout...