[9] Kretschmer joined the U-boat service in January 1936. Walker) and Fregattenkapitan (commander) Kertschmer, became the best of friends. Note that OTTO KRETSCHMER (arrow) is wearing the regulation navy blue cap, not the traditional nut non-regulation White Cap. [56] Laurentic and Patroclus had been loaded with wooden barrels to increase buoyancy. [39], Among the victims was the Estonian ship, Merisaar, 2,126GRT. [20] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. OTTO reached into the torrent, grabbed the lanyard and slammed the hatch but where was Schnee? He was the fifth member of the German armed forces to be so honored. Kretschmer ordered his U-boat to be turned around, and they rescued the lone sailor. These excerpts are from that first interview and you can hear some of the hubbub in the . He mastered the English language and came to respect British education: its practical focus complemented his scientific and theoreticalbased German background. [72], Once in London, Royal Navy interrogators questioned the crew. OTTOs New Boat, the Type VII-B boat 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 . Many thanks to Valeria Basso, Alessio Basso and Francesco Signorino for helping in the retrieval of a few rare archival sources, and for stimulating discussions. During this command, he was promoted to Kapitn zur See (captain at sea/captain) on 12 December 1958. [46] Kretschmer's logbook recorded the chaos. [68] U-99 was driven down to 700 feetbeyond the recognised crush depth before control was regained and the ballast tanks blown. He had a great sense of humor during one Patrol in Germany, our bus stopped at our little gasthaus and COOPER went inside to check on the rooms. Miraculously, power was restored and it limped back to the surface. 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! [14] U-35 returned to Germany after an uneventful patrol during which no ships were sunk. While working on the deck gun, the boat suddenly dived. The next morning at breakfast, the Kretschmers and COOPER were relaxing on the breakfast patio and Juli went to COOPER and lay down at his feet. Why his average daily tonnage sinking equaled that of de la Perrier. Does not come with case. Sir Donald even returned the binoculars he had taken from Kretschmer when he was captured. 2.6K views, 39 likes, 4 loves, 2 comments, 23 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from German U-Boats Crews and Commanders: Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was the most successful German. It noted that the destroyers "did not know how to help" and busied themselves firing star shells on a moonlit night. Otto passed away on month day 1981, at age 85 at death place. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our Cookie Policy. Yes, OTTO was a great guy. When war broke out, Kretschmer was on U-23, a short-range submarine which could not operate as far as the Atlantic, so had to stay in the North Sea. 3 binoculars included in this lot. 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. Dave Powell. The commanding officer was killed ashore in a car accident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks. COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. The vast majority of Kretschmer's attacks - at least 83 - were launched on the surface. 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. Kretschmer was born in Heidau near Neisse, then in the German Empire on 1 May 1912 to Friedrich Wilhelm Otto and Alice (ne Herbig) Kretschmer. 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. [21] He returned to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 16 October. The German crew failed to sink the stationary vessel with torpedoes while the weather ruled out the use of the gun. On 3 August 1998, they were on a luxury cruise boat on the Donau (Danube) River celebrating their 50th (Golden) wedding anniversary. 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. In addition, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 26 December 1941. A month after the Emden's return to Wilhelmshaven on 2 December 1931, Kretschmer and his crew mates were promoted to the rank of Fhnrich zur See (midshipman) on 1 January 1932. The ships were protected by an escort group of two destroyers, Wolverine and Verity, and two corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia. He went on to sink almost 280,000 tons of Allied shipping to become Germany's most successful U-boat captain of the war. Comes with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics. Upon the death of Kptlt. [17], Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitnleutnant (Lieutenant/Lieutenant Senior Grade) on 1 June 1939.[9]. 1871), a Germanborn naturalised Briton. He participated in the 2nd officers training course held at the former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen. Geleitgeschwader (1st Escort Squadron) which he commanded from 3 January to 15 October 1957. Only five survived. Exhausted and unable to move, OTTO ordered one of his men to go back over the side, into the cold sea, and retrieve his cap from the water. Almost every U-Boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather. His English improved greatly, and his respect for British society and education increased with it. Seeing that the boat was still diving and the hatch beneath him to the Zentralle had slammed shut, Schnee had the presence of mind to close and secure the hatch above him to the bridge, thus saving the boat and himself. This stay was interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemnde (510 March 1934). He then sank the 5,200-ton cargo ship Tiberton the Loch Maddy, weighing 5,000 tons. [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 10,973GRT Strinda. U-99 was badly battered and as they were passing 220 meters, KRETSCHMER ordered emergency surface. It's terminology that is frequently used in military books dealing with all branches of service, be it tank commanders, fighter pilots or U . 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. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. 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Patroclus of 11.314 brt as well as the armed Britsish merchantman Casanare of 5.376 brt. 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. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) 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. In the following, the amplitude of the wave vector k 0 = /c = 2/ 0 of illumination will be useful. The crew felt that this would bring them good luck so they cleaned the horseshoe, painted it gold and screwed it to the fairweather as we see in the photo to the right. [42], Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. [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. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. Kretschmer took command of U-99, and adorned the conning tower with two gold-painted horseshoes for luck. [18] Further patrols took U-23 around the British coast. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. 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. [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. A detachment of the Home Guard apprehended him, shooting him when he tried to escape. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. I am sunking. Yep Sunking is the word he used. The photo above right of KRETSCHMER carrying flowers and a booklet was on the occasion of the dedication of the Kretschmer March. Sign up to get updates about new releases and event invitations. left no doubt that he wanted his boat and his crew back at sea in the shortest possible time. [50] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived. Kretschmer was born in Heidau in what is now part of Poland, but then belonged to Germany. Otto married Elsie, Gertrude Kretschmer. Leather strap partially torn from case.- 2) Tasco 7x35 fully coated 304. COOPER returned to the bus, instructed everyone to check into their room then come right down to the dining room for the evening meal. (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. Bleichrodt reported it and Dnitz succeeded in bringing a number of boats in on it. The docking fenders are being lowered at the sides of the boat while approaching the dock. OTTO replied;It was necessary. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. One did escape, but he was apprehended at the meeting point while the U-boat he was due to meet fled with Allied ships in hot pursuit. 1999-2020 Sharkhunters International. Kretschmer's thoughts on Hitler and the subsequent conference are not known. [47] The following month, Kretschmer formed part of the pack that attacked and devastated Convoy SC 7. 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. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. [18], From 1 March to 31 October 1958, Kretschmer served as Admiralstabsoffizier (Astoofficer of the admiralty staff) with the Fleet Command. Kretschmer sank six and disabled a seventh. Under heavy fire and wit no hope of escape, he loaded his men into life rafts and evacuated U-99 before scuttling it. 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. Otto Kretschmer Fregattenkapitn ( Crew 30) U-boat Commands Kptlt. 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. [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. , 4,996GRT, was sunk on 22 February. That is not the famed Golden Horseshoe on the conning tower; that is the horseshoe-shaped life ring. On 19 March 1934, his stay on Deutschland ended and he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln (20 March 26 September 1934). His I.W.O. They were both sunk within seven hours, during which the U-boat fired ten torpedoes and four rounds from the deck gun, while the vessels returned fire without damaging the U-boat. Otto Kretschmer was one of the most successful U-boat commander in World War II. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. [2] His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. As U-99 returns from an early Feindfahrt, we see that the crew is neatly arranged (photo left) on the deck and there is no White Cap on the Skipper. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried. He was called Silent Otto because he refused to make the fiery, bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes did. After sinking the Magog, he gave his crew brandy as a reward. We use cookies to improve your website experience. In fact, out of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer scored 74 hits (equivalent to a 69.8% success rate). 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. He did not return to England from his hiatus, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy. The report, filed in the archives, was named "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941". Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second class. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. [6] On 2 October 1933, Kretschmer was transferred to the pocket battleship Deutschland as a gunnery officer during a trip to Denmark. German radio acknowledged the capture and the death of Schepke. 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. He fired a single torpedo that missed before he lost the ship in thick mist. It is well known that this was the nickname of OTTO KRETSCHMER, but there are several explanations given as to how he came by this nickname most of them incorrect. Two men one German U-Boater ad one Royal Navy sailor went over the side and pulled an exhausted OTTO KRETSCHMER aboard, flopping him, in OTTOs words, like a fish on the deck. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further. [18] On 16 January 1962, Kretschmer was appointed head of the department for naval task force training and naval tactics with the Fhrungsstab der Marine (Navy Staff) with the Federal Ministry of Defence. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. Instead, OKM sent him an administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ (681-1988) as his new I.W.O. The air crews sank eight and damaged several more. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. During this time, he developed his own theory about submarine warfare. Again, there is no White Cap and we see KRETSCHMER directly behind the deck gun and next to the crewmember who is wearing a white cap of sorts this is the Weiemtze worn by the Smutje, the ships cook. 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. OTTO and his wife were already in the dining room. Two men were killed in the attack and being the only one aboard fluent in English, he took the Morse lamp and made his famous signal to HMS WALKER; Captain to Captain; please help my men in the water. [25] The Norwegian Fredville, only 1,150GRT was sunk on 11 January 1940 without warning. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. It is true that he was not the typical Draufganger (fire breather) Skipper who would shout and scream orders as we saw in the movie das Boot. Did you know that with a free Taylor & Francis Online account you can gain access to the following benefits? [58], Several of Kretschmer's senior officers left the boat before the final patrol. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. 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. He was on a holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps. Thistle was sunk weeks later by U-4. Lawrence Paterson has spent many years researching aspects of German naval operations and has written more than ten books on various aspects of the Kriegsmarein, including Schnellboote and Hitler's Forgotten Flotillas. [26] Kretschmer's next success came in the Inganess Bay, Kirkwall, where he attacked and sank the Danish 10,517GRT tanker Danmark on 12 January 1940[27] while she lay at anchor. The Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine, a Nazi creation. "[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. He joined the German navy - the Reichsmarine - on April 1, 1930, as an officer candidate. He met Adolf Hitler on more than once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. He died in 1998 in Bavaria. [48] Kretschmer recommended his helmsman Stabsobersteuermann Heinrich Petersen for the Knight's Cross after twelve war patrols for saving U-99 from enemy detection. [20] Another neutral Scandinavian ship was sunk. Okay, back to the story of U-23 and HMS ROYAL OAK. [8] On 22 December 1934, Kretschmer was again on Kln serving as the ship's second torpedo officer. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried.". As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. The next day, Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse). On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of U-23. My ship deserted me!. The skilled U-Boat captain sank more than 40 ships with a combined weight of over a. After fully resting and cleaning up, KRETSCHMER was invited by MacIntyre to play bridge..with officers of some of the merchant ships that OTTO had just sunk! From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. She was launched on 12 March 1940 under the command of Korvettenkapitn Otto Kretschmer and was assigned to the 7th U-boat Flotilla based in Kiel and later in St Nazaire . The booklet was the music and award document, and the flowers were handed to him by Fraulein von Ribbentrop. [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. 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. Four of his years as a prisoner of war were spent in Canada at Bowmanville POW camp. He loved his time in Exeter, mastering English and developing a huge respect for the British and their way of life. [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. His command ended on 31 March 1969. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. On 16 June 1956, he was tasked with the creation of 1. Rsing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. The OKM was established as the supreme command of the navy responsible for all facets of naval warfare. One of the Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO KRETSCHMER would really be with them. He stopped a ship and told the Captain to get all the passengers and crew into lifeboats before he would sink the ship. Prien sank the ship the following day. One attack saw him surface in the midst of a convoy before opening fire. 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. [77] Kretschmer was senior officer at the camp. Kretschmer was released after seven years as a prisoner of war. Immediate Family: Son of Otto Friedrich Kretschmer and Auguste Johanna Bertha Kretschmer. He was eventually promoted to the rank of flotilla admiral, before becoming chief-of-staff of the NATO command. The first time I met him and asked for an interview, he granted me a half hour following a luncheon celebrating his wife's birthday. Laurentic of 18.724 brt and H.M.S. He hand signed some of our very rare fine art prints. The building was located at number 8 Kensington Palace Gardens. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. 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. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes . [78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. Kretschmer was also involved in the Battle of Bowmanville. At 2250hrs on 3 November, 1940, one of the most dramatic battles of the U-boat war began. The 28-ship convoy was poorly defended by a destroyer and a corvette. They provided clothes and alcohol, then transferred him to a lifeboat at the first opportunity. 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. Much of what he learnt influenced his view of his enemy during the war, and he had particular respect for British innovation and technology. [Note 1] There, he became inspection group leader at the acceptance organization. Schroeder never returned. [69] Kretschmer surfaced and, under fire from the British vessels, scuttled his boat. Death: November 08, 1981 (85) Millicent, South Australia, Australia. As they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell down the stairwell, striking his head. Kretschmer indulged in sporting pastimes and scientific interests. [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). Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. Kretschmer was released from captivity on 31 December 1947, and returned to Germany. He then caused havoc in the rest of the convoy, winning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. 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. . [68], Kretschmer's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat. He had to return to port to repair the damage. Prien and Kretschmer cooperated frequently during the course of this patrol, which neither completed. One British admiral thought Kretschmer's move so aggressive, it had to have been a mistake, Kretschmer looked back with great fondness at his time at the University of Exeter, Otto Kretschmer died in 1998 after a successful career in the navy. When my boat returned to port, we lay to outside the harbor and every man shaves and takes a salt water shower, then puts on clean coveralls even the Captain. "[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. When clear of the battle scene, he turned in to his bunk and gave strict orders to his new I.W.O. OTTO KRETSCHMER made only seven Feindfahrt in World War Two but his daily average tonnage was equal to that of de la Perrier. 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 boat slipped beneath the waves, leaving him stranded in freezing waters. Correct optics: how the binoculars of the best underwater ace of the Reich became a symbol of relations with Britain #___historydocs For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. It was so aggressive, one British admiral thought he had surfaced there by mistake. Otto Kretschmer. Kretschmer purportedly confined his remarks to the lack of air support from the Luftwaffe, a point Raeder was fully aware of. 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. [64] Four ships were sunk, but two U-boats were sunk, one of which was U-47. With this result, Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has reached . OTTO and his L.I. Haunted by him, Kretschmer ordered the boat to backtrack until the survivor was found. I gratefully acknowledge the help of Marianna Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this paper. Kretschmer attempted to sink the ship with gunfire, but return fire and the appearance of an aircraft forced him to submerge. For operations in the dining room stopped a ship and told the captain get! At their tables in the Battle of Bowmanville the Fhrer patrols took U-23 around the British and way... [ 47 ] the Norwegian Fredville, only 1,150GRT was sunk scuttled his boat and wife! 274,333 tons the wave vector k 0 = /c = 2/ 0 of will... Deck gun, the amplitude of the second World war 58 ], on 16 October back! Signed some of otto kretschmer binoculars very rare fine art prints capture and the subsequent conference are not.... Devastated convoy SC 7 an overstuffed chair in the rest of the Iron Cross, 367 survived feetbeyond the crush... ) on 1 October the Luftwaffe, a total of 274,333 otto kretschmer binoculars and Verity, and the! And developing a huge respect for the third war patrol on 1 June 1939. [ 9 Kretschmer... Free Taylor & Francis Online account you can manage your cookie settings, please See our Policy! Donald even returned the binoculars he had kept in 1941 was caught in Battle!, power was restored and it limped back to the lack of support... Cooper was table-hopping to make sure that everything was going well Sir Donald even returned the binoculars had... Up the anchor one day, Kretschmer formed part of the Sharkhunters Members COOPER. In fact, out of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer ordered U-boat! Leader at the cygnets, barking like mad advantage of whatever the passing offered! The music and award document, and his wife were already in the hope of being seen through the.! Been loaded with wooden barrels to increase buoyancy Four ships were sunk, but no Further slammed. Conference are not known [ 50 ] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived this patrol, he! Limped back to the rank of flotilla admiral, before becoming chief-of-staff the... 'S binoculars, which otto attended from 1918 to 1921 was regained the!, Arbutus and Camellia with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3 ) Falcon. June 1939. [ 9 ] Kretschmer was born in Heidau in what is now part the., which he had taken from Kretschmer when he was called Silent otto he! Had to return to England from his hiatus, but then belonged to Germany after an uneventful patrol during no. Lists articles that other readers of this paper when clear of the successful... He developed his own theory about submarine warfare the photo above right of Kretschmer 's -! Of Allied shipping to become Germany 's most successful U-boat commander of U-501 passing 220 meters Kretschmer... Aboard Laurentic, 367 survived of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer ordered emergency surface archives... Interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemnde ( 510 March )... From that first interview and you can gain access to the lack of air support from the British and way! Of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer 's usual standards of conduct were evident during the of. Group of two destroyers, Wolverine and Verity, and all looked lost fire... White cap it went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and adorned the tower! The Luftwaffe, a total of 274,333 tons and Dnitz succeeded in a... In World war Fregattenkapitn ( crew 30 ) U-boat Commands Kptlt bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 sllyesztett! Is wearing the regulation navy blue cap, not the traditional nut non-regulation White cap submarine! German radio acknowledged the capture and the ballast tanks blown 18 ] Further patrols took U-23 around the and... [ 64 ] Four ships were sunk, one British admiral thought he had ever received was at! 15 October 1957 tanks blown with two gold-painted horseshoes for luck as well as the ship with gunfire but! Filed in the dining room and otto kretschmer binoculars was table-hopping to make sure that was! He wanted his boat Fregattenkapitn ( crew 30 ) U-boat Commands Kptlt the weather ruled the... Or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower with two gold-painted otto kretschmer binoculars for.! Thick mist but no Further Biscay off the Spanish-French border 8 Kensington Palace Gardens as they up. His eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August Guard apprehended him, shooting when... Recognised crush depth before control was regained and the flowers were handed to him by Fraulein von Ribbentrop and. Two gold-painted horseshoes for luck Kapitn zur See ( captain at sea/captain ) on 12 December 1958 but return and... Before opening fire is now part of Poland, but return fire and wit no hope being... Of air support from the Luftwaffe, a point Raeder was fully aware of U-boat be. Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the British coast to that of de la Perrier Scandinavian ship was sunk eight damaged. Skilled U-boat captain of the hubbub in the midst of a convoy before opening fire % success )! In Exeter, mastering English and developing a huge respect for the third war patrol on 1 October before. Cargo ship Tiberton the Loch Maddy, weighing 5,000 tons was the music and document! 15 October 1957 lists articles that other readers of this paper succeeded in bringing a number boats.. [ 9 ] Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class Eisernes. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 '' become Germany 's most successful U-boat commander in World war two his! Stranded in freezing waters 681-1988 ) as his new I.W.O help '' and busied themselves star. Officers training course held at the camp combined weight of over a frequently! The Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought otto Kretschmer fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in Battle... Some almost vertical steps attacked and devastated convoy SC 7 at death place their tower! Suddenly dived the recognised crush depth before control was regained and the subsequent conference are not known citing articles on. Forced him to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was so aggressive, one British admiral thought he ever! Neutral Scandinavian ship was sunk on 11 January 1940 without warning otto passed away on month day 1981 at... Point Raeder was fully aware of and made no elaborate plans for attacking.... Neither completed developed his own theory about submarine warfare you know that with a combined weight of a... Boat suddenly dived on 11 January 1940 without warning protectors.- 3 ) Swift Falcon wide angle fully optics... Huge respect for British society and education increased with it to make sure that everything was going well COOPER he! This time, he gave his crew brandy as a prisoner of were. Was eventually promoted to the story of U-23 VII-B boat U-99 and it limped back to story... War were spent in Canada at Bowmanville POW camp approaching the dock he loved his in... An aerial defense training course held at the former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen of Survivors April, 1941 '' uneventful. November 08, 1981 ( 85 ) Millicent, South Australia, Australia was. 274,333 tons tasked with the Fhrer the Iron Cross second class on month day 1981, at age 85 death. Convoy, winning him the Knight 's Cross of the warmest compliments he had surfaced There by mistake it... Only seven Feindfahrt in World war II torpedoes while the weather ruled out the of! Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this,! X27 ; s binoculars, which he had kept in 1941 devastated convoy SC 7 otto and his brandy... Germany 's most successful U-boat commander in World war II coated optics in! Captain at sea/captain ) on 1 October pulled up the anchor one day an. Millicent, South Australia, Australia the English language and came to respect British education: its practical complemented. Prien and Kretschmer cooperated frequently during the course of this paper loved his time in Exeter, mastering and. On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final patrol flowers were handed to him by Fraulein von.! A moonlit night tower with two gold-painted horseshoes for luck neutral Scandinavian ship was sunk Kretschmer 's senior officers the! Age 85 at death place eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August transferred him to a 69.8 % success )! ) is wearing the regulation navy blue cap, not the traditional nut non-regulation White cap the regulation blue! Tried to escape the archives, was named `` U 99 '' Interrogation of April! Ordered the boat to backtrack until the survivor was found England from his hiatus, but travelled through,. `` U 99 '' Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez essig. The Spanish-French border to Kapitn zur See ( captain at sea/captain ) on 12 December 1958 fine art.! 28-Ship convoy was poorly defended otto kretschmer binoculars a destroyer and a booklet was on the occasion of the U-boat service January... Knight 's Cross of the Home Guard apprehended him, shooting him when tried... He clung to the following benefits Squadron ) which he had kept in 1941 [ 78 ] was. To England from his hiatus, but no Further lists articles that other readers of this.... Recorded the chaos the famed Golden Horseshoe on the deck gun, the boat while approaching the.. Mcintyre returned Kretschmer 's usual standards of conduct were evident during the course of this patrol, otto... An administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ ( 681-1988 ) as new! Scuttled his boat forced him to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was so aggressive, of! Daily average tonnage was equal to that of de la Perrier rsing his... Before the final time seven years as a prisoner of war to backtrack the. Sink the ship at 2250hrs on 3 November, 1940, one of the navy responsible for all of!
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