176 men died. [78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. We will cover his accomplishments on another page. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) of U-99. 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. Husband of Elsie Gertrude Kretschmer. 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. The crew were permitted ashore at the resort town of San Sebastin. These excerpts are from that first interview and you can hear some of the hubbub in the . 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. It was so aggressive, one British admiral thought he had surfaced there by mistake. OTTO KRETSCHMER indeed, was a fine man! For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. Thistle was sunk weeks later by U-4. 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. 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. McIntyre was the commanding officer of Walker, one of the ships that was involved in the sinking of U-99. My ship deserted me!. 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. 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. Only five survived. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. Otto Kretschmer. OTTO reached into the torrent, grabbed the lanyard and slammed the hatch but where was Schnee? [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. Note that OTTO KRETSCHMER (arrow) is wearing the regulation navy blue cap, not the traditional nut non-regulation White Cap. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. The ship had been torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned. The attack was conducted with no warning, and consequently all 15 crewmen died. [30] The destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy. [69] Kretschmer surfaced and, under fire from the British vessels, scuttled his boat. "[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. [21] The next day, he sank Tiberton, 5,225GRT, in the Moray Firth. On 4 October 1939 he sank the coastal ship Glen Farg (876GRT). [64] Four ships were sunk, but two U-boats were sunk, one of which was U-47. [42], Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. He went on to sink almost 280,000 tons of Allied shipping to become Germany's most successful U-boat captain of the war. U-99 is preparing for her first Feindfahrt (war patrol), taking on supplies. They fought Canadian troops armed with ice hockey sticks, and only surrendered when the guards brought in high-pressure water hoses. This is a trusted computer. [6] On 2 October 1933, Kretschmer was transferred to the pocket battleship Deutschland as a gunnery officer during a trip to Denmark. 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. It was not this way with, . He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. [72], Once in London, Royal Navy interrogators questioned the crew. 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. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. 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. Kretschmer also favoured surfaced attacks as opposed to the recommended submerged engagement, listing 11 Points of Submarine Warfare: [16], The 'one torpedo, one ship' tactics implemented by Kretschmer resulted in a very effective usage of torpedoes, as each attack was designed to maximize the chances of a hit. 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. When clear of the battle scene, he turned in to his bunk and gave strict orders to his new I.W.O. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. 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. Why? 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. "[11], During Kretschmer's stay on Kln, he attended an aircraft catapult course at Travemnde. 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 . On 3 August 1998, they were on a luxury cruise boat on the Donau (Danube) River celebrating their 50th (Golden) wedding anniversary. On 19 March 1934, his stay on Deutschland ended and he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln (20 March 26 September 1934). [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. In 1955, he met Sir Donald Macintyre, who commanded one of the vessels which helped sink U-99. He wants to be a naval officer.". [6] During another torpedo training course at Flensburg-Mrwik (27 September 21 December 1934), Kretschmer received his commission as Leutnant zur See (Junior Sub-Lieutenant/Ensign) on 1 October 1934. 1) Black Otto Walter no.12.507.- prismen glaser8x40 reflexfreie on right side. A special thank you to Gertrud Kassel for sharing her family records about the history of U99, including many unpublished photos. 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. As they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell down the stairwell, striking his head. 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. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. 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. [36] Kretschmer's tenth patrol (27 June21 July) yielded over 20,000GRT. The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. He stopped a ship and told the Captain to get all the passengers and crew into lifeboats before he would sink the ship. But he always dreamed of joining the navy, and his ability in a U-boat saw him haunt Allied shipping lanes and claim countless sailors' lives in the name of the German war effort. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. He became known as the Golden Horseshoe by his men. He was being transferred to a shore base where he would teach his tactics to Skippers in training. 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. His command ended on 31 March 1969. OTTO KRETSCHMER got his first command; the Type II-B coastal boat ( dugout canoe ), U-23. Prien and Kretschmer, along with U-70 (Matz) and UA, attacked the convoy. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. Read more: Devon father and son inspired Hollywood film after disappearing searching for lost city of Z. Kretschmer indulged in sporting pastimes and scientific interests. Carefully KRETSCHMER opened the hatch from the Zentralle into the conning tower and found, to his dismay and great relief, there was a soggy Schnee, waiting patiently to be rescued. 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. The Emden made stops in Ceylon, the Philippines, China and Japan; then Guam, South Africa, Angola and Spain on the return journey. 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. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. [17], Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitnleutnant (Lieutenant/Lieutenant Senior Grade) on 1 June 1939.[9]. In the following, the amplitude of the wave vector k 0 = /c = 2/ 0 of illumination will be useful. He loved his time in Exeter, mastering English and developing a huge respect for the British and their way of life. My family is complete.. The seaman did as he was ordered and brought the cap back to OTTO. The boat went to the yard for repairs and OTTO left no doubt that he wanted his boat and his crew back at sea in the shortest possible time. 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. The boat slipped beneath the waves, leaving him stranded in freezing waters. The photo above right of KRETSCHMER carrying flowers and a booklet was on the occasion of the dedication of the Kretschmer March. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. [70], Kretschmer and his crew were landed in Liverpool. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. [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. Schnee had the con and OTTO was in his bunk. Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi Haunted by him, Kretschmer ordered the boat to backtrack until the survivor was found. [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). Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. On the night of 18/19 October, Berndt escaped from the camp. Patroclus of 11.314 brt as well as the armed Britsish merchantman Casanare of 5.376 brt. [75] In March 1942, the prisoners were transported to Bowmanville Camp near Lake Ontario in Canada. I was a lieutenant on U-35, in the second submarine flotilla, and together with U . During this time, he developed his own theory about submarine warfare. Upon the death of Kptlt. [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). He then moved to a Realgymnasium (secondary school). Luckily for him, his absence on the bridge was noted and the boat surfaced again to find him bobbing about in the water. The report, filed in the archives, was named "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941". Ezzel a teljestmnyvel kirdemelte a Tlgyfalombokkal s kardokkal . KRETSCHMER was quickly at the con, but once the boat went under and they were detected, there was no escape. The first watch is at attention on the foredeck and the second watch is at attention on the after deck. Serving on a U-boat was a very dangerous task, and one that many did not want. Prien's demise was not disclosed. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. At 2250hrs on 3 November, 1940, one of the most dramatic battles of the U-boat war began. 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. [45][dubious discuss], On U-99's fourth war patrol in September 1940,[34] Kretschmer formed part of a wolfpack that struck against Convoy HX 72. In fact, out of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer scored 74 hits (equivalent to a 69.8% success rate). [9], In 1933 Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power. Immediate Family: Son of Otto Friedrich Kretschmer and Auguste Johanna Bertha Kretschmer. His greatest success came in August with the sinking of the 13,000-ton ship Auckland Star. He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. The nomination was approved on 5 November 1940. [37] After sinking Magogthe submarine's first victimKretschmer gave the crew a bottle of brandy and directions to Ireland. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. OTTO replied;It was necessary. 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. 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 vast majority of Kretschmer's attacks - at least 83 - were launched on the surface. However, he was haunted by the image of a lone survivor in a life raft who would surely die if not rescued. It took nine torpedoes and one dud to sink them; the latter was sunk after it stopped to pick up survivors from the former. 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. 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. Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second class. [46] Kretschmer's logbook recorded the chaos. [24] Following this patrol, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 17 December. [69] He then sent a message to BdU, "Two destroyersdepth charges50,000 tonsKretschmer. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. [14] U-35 returned to Germany after an uneventful patrol during which no ships were sunk. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. We do not come into port looking like pirates with dirty uniforms, untrimmed beards and with legs hanging over the side. [40] The BdU acquired new bases along the French Atlantic coast after the Battle of France. They opened the drain valve to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through. He quietly went about his business, sinking more ships than any other Skipper in the war, and stayed out of politics. Only five of the 161-strong crew survived. 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. For 13 days Kretschmer sailed without success. Kretschmer attempted to sink the ship with gunfire, but return fire and the appearance of an aircraft forced him to submerge. Kretschmer achieved good results in mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur (school-leaving certificate) at 17. With no time to return to the hatch, Kretschmer clung on to the periscope and waved at it frantically, hoping to be spotted. 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. After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. [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. As the boat went under, she was immediately picked up on the ASDIC of the Royal Navy sub hunters and they came after this new contact. And all looked lost was on the training ship Niobe he served the... Of politics had served as Kretschmer 's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99 he quietly about. Successful U-boat captain of the most successful U-boat captain of the most dramatic battles of the wave k... Petersen had served as Kretschmer 's stay on Kln, he received the Iron second... 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Rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was so aggressive, one of the compliments! 5 August the boat slipped beneath the waves, leaving him stranded in waters. School ) not the traditional nut non-regulation White cap 5.376 brt history of U99, including warship... 17 December image of a lone survivor in a second illegal court of honour otto kretschmer binoculars against the of!
