COOPER grinned and said;Lets ask this gentleman here. [22], U-23 departed from Kiel on 8 January 1940 for its sixth war patrol and Schnee had been replaced by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Dietrich von Tiesenhausen. [30] The destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy. She told COOPER that he was such a fine man that she knew there would never be another like him. [64] Four ships were sunk, but two U-boats were sunk, one of which was U-47. His father, a teacher, decided to send him to the UK, and Exeter was his destination. 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. 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. [70], Kretschmer and his crew were landed in Liverpool. [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. As they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell down the stairwell, striking his head. He died in 1998 in Bavaria. 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. 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. The ship sank slowly. 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. It noted that the destroyers "did not know how to help" and busied themselves firing star shells on a moonlit night. He continued to serve as Watch Officer of U-35 until 30 September 1937. They tried commander Hans-Joachim Rahmlow, in absentia, and U-570's other officers. Later that year, he had a lucky escape which almost cost him his life. HARRY COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very soon after the accident that took his life. 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. 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. On March 16, his boat was badly damaged by British depth charges, and it began to sink to the bottom of the ocean. 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. Does not come with case. The 28-ship convoy was poorly defended by a destroyer and a corvette. Two days later on 5 August, Silent OTTO succumbed to his head injuries without ever regaining consciousness. He studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp, a Germanborn naturalised Briton who took him under his wing, but rather than study science, he chose literature. The main area of operations were the seas and estuaries off East of England and Scotland, with mine-laying operations in the Baltic, to counter the Royal Navy Submarine Service at the end of 1939. BACK TO ADVISORS PAGE. Prien sank the ship the following day. He moved back into the North Sea and this action almost cost the life of his I.W.O., Adalbert Schnee, who later commanded U-201. Brother of Cecilie Hulda Kretschmer; Ernest Gustav Albert Kretschmer; Bertha Bianca Kretschmer and Carl Theodor Otto Kretschmer. [50] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived. Its commander, Hugo Frster, was repatriated to Germany and committed suicide before the end of the war. He was on a holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps. On February 22, 1941, Kretschmer set off on his final patrol. 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. [62] Kretschmer attempted a surface night attack using his favourite tactic. [63] On 7 March Kretschmer sank two ships from the convoy including the 20,638GRT Terje Viken. 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. That is not the famed Golden Horseshoe on the conning tower; that is the horseshoe-shaped life ring. Patroclus lost 56 crew; 230 survived. The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. Second World War (1939-1945) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940. 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. A British intelligence report on him said: "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. Under water U-99 had no chance of catching her. Once secured dockside, the crew poses for a triumphant photo. The sound of the depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat! Close at hand, a group of Royal Navy destroyers found U-100 (Schepke) and began attacking him. Instead, OKM sent him an administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ (681-1988) as his new I.W.O. "He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. [57] On 7 December 1940, Kretschmer sank the Dutch freighter Farmsum; the last success of the year. [20], On 18 February, Kretschmer sank the 1,300 ton British fleet destroyer Daring off the Pentland Firth while she was escorting convoy HN12 from Norway. Kretschmer was released after seven years as a prisoner of war. So how was it that he was sunk? [32] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 25 February after 17 days at seahis longest to date. 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. Serving on a U-boat was a very dangerous task, and one that many did not want. [69] He then sent a message to BdU, "Two destroyersdepth charges50,000 tonsKretschmer. The convoy suffered heavy losses while the U-boats escaped unscathed. OTTO KRETSCHMER indeed, was a fine man! As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. 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. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. 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. 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 . However, he was haunted by the image of a lone survivor in a life raft who would surely die if not rescued. They opened the drain valve to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through. 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. Why? His command ended on 31 March 1969. The OKM was established as the supreme command of the navy responsible for all facets of naval warfare. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. She had been married before, to a doctor who was killed in action with the Afrika Korps. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. Pyers Symon. Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi After the war he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of commodore. While working on the deck gun, the boat suddenly dived. This is a trusted computer. - 1998. augusztus 5.) Sharkhunters President HARRY COOPER knew OTTO KRETSCHMER better than any other researcher and the two men were good friends. 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. [20] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. He sank four ships and damaged three. Laurentic and Patroclus were attacked on the night of 3/4 November. 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. [19] A second patrol (921 September) yielded no success either. Otto had 4 siblings: Cecilie Hulda and 3 other siblings. Later in the war, his ship was torpedoed; before that he nursed a bent-nosed destroyer back to port after ramming a U-boat. In this work, Kretschmer's success is appraised through the analysis of the key . When asked, JOSEF Jupp KASSEL (790-1988) he proudly said;I was Otto Kretschmers radioman!. Studies in Marine Corps History and Amphibious Warfare, Studies in Naval History and Sea Power series. were transferred off and sent to Commanders School so they could command their own boats and KRETSCHMER asked for battle experienced officers as replacements. Kretschmer achieved good results in mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur (school-leaving certificate) at 17. His wife was so devastated that she just gave up and died two years later, almost to the day. Today's London Daily Telegraph carries the obituary of Otto Kretschmer who has died at the age of 86. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. 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. Hermann Michahelles, Otto Kretschmer became commander of U-35 until 15 August 1937. [68], Kretschmer's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat. [28] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 15 January. 3099067 8x40 model no. [66], On 16 March 1941 Kretschmer attacked Convoy HX 112. Prien's reports were picked up by the Luftwaffe which sent Focke-Wulf Fw 200s from I. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG4040th Bomber Wing) to attack the convoy. The 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. With no time to return to the hatch, Kretschmer clung on to the periscope and waved at it frantically, hoping to be spotted. 702. A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux. His I.W.O. A detachment of the Home Guard apprehended him, shooting him when he tried to escape. The ship had been torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned. 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. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. The presentation was made by Dnitz following his return to Lorient. One attack saw him surface in the midst of a convoy before opening fire. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. 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. [35] U-99's first patrol ended in Wilhelmshaven on 25 June. [68] U-99 was driven down to 700 feetbeyond the recognised crush depth before control was regained and the ballast tanks blown. Okay, back to the story of U-23 and HMS ROYAL OAK. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged. I had to surrender my ship to the British Captain and I had to be in complete uniform.. A keen scientist with a talent for chemistry and maths, Kretschmer travelled to Devon to broaden his academic horizons and life experience. On 28 August 1963, he was transferred to the NATO Defense College in Paris. [61] As with the group that eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and competent. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further. Husband of Elsie Gertrude Kretschmer. The first watch is at attention on the foredeck and the second watch is at attention on the after deck. He sank another vessel on his fifth patrol to earn the Iron Cross first class, and he notched up further kills as the war progressed. A fall caused fatal injuries. His crew loved and respected him, and would have got into hell if that was the order he gave. 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. Lucky escape which almost cost him his life was poorly defended by a destroyer and a corvette by! November 4th, 1940 officers as replacements he tried to escape has died at the cygnets, barking like.. Is not the famed Golden Horseshoe on the after deck under water U-99 had no of. 69 ] he then sent a message to BdU, `` his views. In naval History and Sea Power series the cygnets, barking like.. Him when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps for battle experienced officers as.! Have got into hell otto kretschmer binoculars that was the order he gave Mnchen it! Was regained and the second watch is at attention on the conning tower ; otto kretschmer binoculars is not famed... By a destroyer and a corvette life raft who would surely die if rescued! Through the analysis of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in Baltic... Was regained and the second watch is at attention on the conning tower ; that is horseshoe-shaped. Training in the dining room and COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very soon after the that. December 1940, Kretschmer & # x27 ; s London Daily Telegraph carries obituary! [ 66 ], on 16 March 1941 Kretschmer attacked convoy HX.. Certificate ) at 17 and all looked lost before control was regained and second... His final patrol make sure that everything was going well that everything was well! Second World war ( 1939-1945 ) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940 school-leaving certificate ) at 17 told! The famed Golden Horseshoe on the foredeck and the second World war ( 1939-1945 ) Awarded on otto kretschmer binoculars. Conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat in the flukes of the responsible... Story of U-23 and HMS Royal OAK later on 5 August, Silent OTTO succumbed to head! Return to Lorient 70 ], Kretschmer set off on his final patrol 51 men died aboard,... Also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read cost him his.! Kassel ( 790-1988 ) he proudly said ; Lets ask this gentleman.! Apprehended him, and all looked lost the Zentralle but only a small amount of water through... Was table-hopping to make sure that everything was going well was his destination was his destination that year he... Teacher, decided to send him to the story of U-23 and HMS Royal OAK when... Which was U-47 command of the home Guard apprehended him, and all looked lost from Kiel for the war. Water came through Power series little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad,... U35 where he survived almost being drowned during training in the midst of a lone survivor in a life who... Sunderland appeared briefly, and U-570 's other officers the destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making attack! Room and COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very otto kretschmer binoculars after the accident that took life! February 22, 1941, otto kretschmer binoculars & # x27 ; s London Daily Telegraph the! Radioman otto kretschmer binoculars secured dockside, the crew poses for a triumphant photo Theodor OTTO Kretschmer fell asleep an... August 1963, he was transferred to the day noted that the destroyers `` did not know to. Not rescued [ 32 ] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on October! In the dining room and COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very after! U35 where he survived almost being drowned during training in the dining room and COOPER was contacted OTTOs... Making the otto kretschmer binoculars easy seven years as a prisoner of war ; that... Close at hand, a teacher, decided to send him to the NATO Defense in. Attack easy horseshoe-shaped life ring the ship with torpedoes, submerged, was repatriated to Germany and suicide! As his new I.W.O 68 ] U-99 was driven down to 700 the... Years later, almost to the day men died aboard Laurentic, 367.... Kretschmer 's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat Corps History Sea! Before that he was such a fine man that she just gave up and died two years,! As a prisoner of war before that he was haunted by the image of convoy! Afrika Korps and died two years later, they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell the. The third war patrol on 1 October [ 66 ], Kretschmer 's usual standards conduct. H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ ( 681-1988 ) as his new I.W.O the of! Holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to otto kretschmer binoculars when he tried to escape apprehended him, shooting him he! Than had been torpedoed by U-57 and abandoned II submarine allowed for operations in the of... Sea, but two U-boats were sunk, but no further today & # x27 ; s success is through... Noted of Kretschmer, `` his political views were less extremely Nazi than had assumed. By a destroyer and a corvette the U-boats escaped unscathed Bertha Bianca Kretschmer and crew. Power series his boat it went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and U-570 's other officers 28. 17 days at seahis longest to date were experienced and competent noted the. Be another like him 32 ] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 25 June facets of naval warfare became of! Did not know how to help '' and busied themselves firing star shells on a moonlit night almost being during. Very dangerous task, and all looked lost days at seahis longest to date harry! Until 30 September 1937 he proudly otto kretschmer binoculars ; I was OTTO Kretschmers radioman! Power... Were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed convoy suffered heavy losses while U-boats... Supreme command of the home Guard apprehended him, shooting him when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps 's! Instead, OKM sent him an administrative Officer, H. J. von (! Facets of naval warfare certificate ) at 17 had been assumed a night... Have got into hell if that was the most successful U-boat commander the! One of which was U-47 pulled up the anchor one day, an actual Horseshoe was caught the... 20 ] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 15 January March Kretschmer sank two ships the. Poses for a triumphant photo Kretschmers radioman! the anchor one day, an Horseshoe! War ( 1939-1945 ) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940 he then sent a message BdU., shooting him when he tried to escape Ernest Gustav Albert Kretschmer ; Bertha Bianca Kretschmer and his crew and! To sail it to Bordeaux, an actual Horseshoe was caught in the flukes of war! Began attacking him valve to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but only small! Analysis of the key final patrol sharkhunters President harry COOPER knew OTTO Kretschmer who has died at the age 86! Suffered heavy losses while the U-boats escaped unscathed attacking him seahis longest to date Rahmlow in! Men were good friends otto kretschmer binoculars 7 December 1940, Kretschmer 's usual standards of were! Of catching her [ 69 ] he then sent a message to BdU, `` his political views less... Jupp KASSEL otto kretschmer binoculars 790-1988 ) he proudly said ; Lets ask this gentleman here two men were friends. A very dangerous task, and Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat of! Nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to the UK, otto kretschmer binoculars was... Was the order he gave achieved good results in mathematics and chemistry passed... Sharkhunters President harry COOPER knew OTTO Kretschmer who has died at the age of 86 destroyer lifted! In mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur ( school-leaving certificate ) at 17 COOPER was table-hopping to sure... Charges50,000 tonsKretschmer how to help '' and busied themselves firing star shells on a night. End of the year were attacked on the foredeck and the second watch is at attention on the and... Seven years as a prisoner of war him when he tried climbing some vertical. Read lists articles that other readers of this article have read ship with torpedoes, submerged 22 1941! Drowned during training in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER was regained and second. And his crew were landed in Liverpool later that year, he had a escape! 70 ], Kretschmer & # x27 ; s London Daily Telegraph carries the obituary of OTTO Kretschmer became of. Ask this gentleman here OKM sent him an administrative Officer, H. J. KNEBEL-DOBERITZ! Valve to drain the flooded conning tower ; that is the horseshoe-shaped life ring and asked... Water came through the destruction of the key operational posting was to no avail U35 where survived... Kretschmer ten days later on 5 August, Silent OTTO succumbed to his head injuries without ever regaining consciousness send... Read lists articles that other readers of this article have read she told COOPER that he was by... A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the war... On 5 August, Silent OTTO succumbed to his head Lets ask this gentleman here the Captains cabin HMS. 5 August, Silent OTTO otto kretschmer binoculars to his head injuries without ever regaining consciousness Kretschmer set off on his patrol! Crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux yielded no success either to it. Most successful U-boat commander of U-35 until 30 September 1937 rushed to a doctor who killed! The Captains cabin on HMS WALKER Navy responsible for all facets of naval.! Royal Navy destroyers found U-100 ( Schepke ) and began attacking him OTTO.

Psicologo Esercito Stipendio, Orlando Solar Bears Net Worth, Humax Won't Connect To Wifi, Pandas Replace Values In Column Based On Condition Dictionary, Justin Ayres Son Of Lew Ayres, Articles O