The first watch is at attention on the foredeck and the second watch is at attention on the after deck. Rsing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. The cygnets came close to the seawall for the food while the adult birds stayed about five or six feet away. The presentation was made by Dnitz following his return to Lorient. Upon the death of Kptlt. 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. [29] U-23 returned to port on 29 January. His English improved greatly, and his respect for British society and education increased with it. 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. Second World War (1939-1945) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940. [65] British reports of the action mention a large red glow appearing deep below the surface amid the depth charge explosions. Comes with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics. Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi 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. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. [2] His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried. Four of his years as a prisoner of war were spent in Canada at Bowmanville POW camp. They provided clothes and alcohol, then transferred him to a lifeboat at the first opportunity. 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. [22], U-23 departed from Kiel on 8 January 1940 for its sixth war patrol and Schnee had been replaced by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Dietrich von Tiesenhausen. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further. OTTO and COOPER were splashed with the flying mud and water as Juli and Papa Swan ran madly around the yard, tearing up the soft green grass and leaving ruts and tracks in their wake. We do not come into port looking like pirates with dirty uniforms, untrimmed beards and with legs hanging over the side. His school report contained the remark: "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. There, they would meet a German U-boat to take them back to Germany. They opened the drain valve to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through. It was almost this little boat under command of OTTO KRETSCHMER that sank HMS ROYAL OAK. HARRY COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very soon after the accident that took his life. On March 16, his boat was badly damaged by British depth charges, and it began to sink to the bottom of the ocean. After sinking the Magog, he gave his crew brandy as a reward. OTTO KRETSCHMER got his first command; the Type II-B coastal boat ( dugout canoe ), U-23. Kretschmer was born in Heidau in what is now part of Poland, but then belonged to Germany. COOPER stated that KRETSCHMER was one of the absolutely finest men he had ever known totally honest and honorable. Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo. [15] Through the remaining Interwar period, Kretschmer developed his own approach to combat, which can be summarized by the phrase "one torpedo, one ship". 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. The German crew failed to sink the stationary vessel with torpedoes while the weather ruled out the use of the gun. 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. The Emden made stops in Ceylon, the Philippines, China and Japan; then Guam, South Africa, Angola and Spain on the return journey. [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). For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes . 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. While his wartime actions have been narrated several times, his tactics, summarized by the famous motto one torpedo, one ship, have never been systematically analysed. [7] During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfhnrich zur See (Senior Midshipman) on 1 April 1934. I had to surrender my ship to the British Captain and I had to be in complete uniform.. 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. In this work, Kretschmer's success is appraised through the analysis of the key . From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. 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 . He enrolled at Exeter University (then University College of the South West of England) and studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp (b. 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. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. The ship was accompanied by three other vessels, but she was darkened and the black out aroused Kretschmer's suspicions. [18] Further patrols took U-23 around the British coast. [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. The ship did not reach port. 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. He wants to be a naval officer. The air crews sank eight and damaged several more. . We will cover his accomplishments on another page. Six months later, on 15 December, he officially became Flottillenadmiral. Footnote: Otto Kretschmer (May 1, 1912 - August 5, 1998) was the most successful German U-boat commander in the Second World War and later an admiral in the Bundesmarine. that he must not dive the boat under any circumstances; and he went to sleep. 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. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) of U-99. OTTO knew that the battleship was in this protected harbor, but he felt that a small boat, like his Type II-B, could penetrate the narrow entrance, make a successful attack and withdraw safely. This is a trusted computer. [9][33] After two months' training and shakedown manoeuvres in German waters, Kretschmer took the boat into action on 18 June 1940. [49], In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British armed merchant cruisers (AMC), HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMSForfar. [52] U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer's fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea. He enrolled at the university, which was then known as University College of the South West of England. unread, Aug 20, 1998, 3:00:00 AM 8/20/98 . [77] Kretschmer was senior officer at the camp. Not the crew of U-99. It was not this way with, . 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 was promoted on June 1, 1939, just a few months before the start of World War Two. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. 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. He participated in the 2nd officers training course held at the former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen. 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. My ship deserted me!. 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. 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. On 3 August 1998, they were on a luxury cruise boat on the Donau (Danube) River celebrating their 50th (Golden) wedding anniversary. U-99 was badly battered and as they were passing 220 meters, KRETSCHMER ordered emergency surface. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. 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. Walker) and Fregattenkapitan (commander) Kertschmer, became the best of friends. [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. 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. There were no deaths among the crew. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. [46] Kretschmer's logbook recorded the chaos. [23] Kretschmer targeted the Danish Scotia, a 2,400GRT on 7 December. Kretschmer captured the vessel, the only such ship seized by U-99. With no time to return to the hatch, Kretschmer clung on to the periscope and waved at it frantically, hoping to be spotted. 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. The skilled U-Boat captain sank more than 40 ships with a combined weight of over a quarter of a million tons during his reign or terror, earning the nickname 'Silent Otto' from his adversaries for his skill in stalking his prey. He was the fifth member of the German armed forces to be so honored. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. [63] On 7 March Kretschmer sank two ships from the convoy including the 20,638GRT Terje Viken. Otto Kretschmer was the Watch Officer of U-35 from 03 November 1936 - 30 July 1937. Its commander, Hugo Frster, was repatriated to Germany and committed suicide before the end of the war. 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