[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. Kretschmer docked in Lorient on 21 July. 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. That day, he was made chief-of-staff of the NATO command COMNAVBALTAP at Kiel, taking command on 15 June. It was not this way with U-99. German U-boat commander Otto Kretschmer studied literature at the University of Exeter before becoming a German war hero, Kretschmer spent almost a year at the University of Exeter - known as University College of the South West of England, Seamen abandoning a blazing tanker in an oil painting by John Hamilton. Otto passed away on month day 1981, at age 85 at death place. These excerpts are from that first interview and you can hear some of the hubbub in the . [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. He then caused havoc in the rest of the convoy, winning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. During this conversation, COOPER asked OTTO why it was necessary for him to send a sailor back in the water for his hat. 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. Schnee had the con and OTTO was in his bunk. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. In doing so, both the effectiveness and limitations of Kretschmers tactics are clarified and put into the context of the Battle of the Atlantic. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. The crew abandoned ship and were questioned by Kretschmer. German propagandists feared the triple loss might be too damaging to morale. Only five of the 161-strong crew survived. Geleitgeschwader (1st Escort Squadron) which he commanded from 3 January to 15 October 1957. 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. 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 . From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. 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. Rsing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. 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! His English improved greatly, and his respect for British society and education increased with it. She had been married before, to a doctor who was killed in action with the Afrika Korps. [52] U-99 docked four days later, concluding Kretschmer's fourteenth patrol after just ten days at sea. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. We do not come into port looking like pirates with dirty uniforms, untrimmed beards and with legs hanging over the side. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. were transferred off and sent to Commanders School so they could command their own boats and KRETSCHMER asked for battle experienced officers as replacements. 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. An illegal "Court of Honour" was convened and headed by Kretschmer. The seaman did as he was ordered and brought the cap back to OTTO. He participated in the 2nd officers training course held at the former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen. He sank four ships and damaged three. Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second class. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. Incredibly though, this war hero, who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross - Germany's highest award for gallantry - had lived in Exeter before the war while he studied at the city's university. The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began the war in Europe. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged. 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. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. [20] On his fifth patrol (515 December) he was ordered to explore the inner waters around the Orkney Islands and engage any remaining Home Fleet units that had departed from Scapa Flow in the aftermath of Gnther Prien's attack. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. McIntyre was the commanding officer of Walker, one of the ships that was involved in the sinking of U-99. [37] After sinking Magogthe submarine's first victimKretschmer gave the crew a bottle of brandy and directions to Ireland. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. - 1998. augusztus 5.) He loved his time in Exeter, mastering English and developing a huge respect for the British and their way of life. [42], Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. Death and burial ground of Kretschmer, Otto Wilhelm August "Silent Otto". Under water U-99 had no chance of catching her. 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. As they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell down the stairwell, striking his head. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. This third patrol on U-99, took the boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and west of Ireland. I obey the rules. Karl Dnitz, Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU), ordered attacks on Allied shipping at sea, beginning the Battle of the Atlantic. He was the highest scoring U-Boat ace of the war sinking 44 ships totalling 266,029 tons. 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. 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. Laurentic and Patroclus were attacked on the night of 3/4 November. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. 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. 1871), a Germanborn naturalised Briton. Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. His father, a teacher, decided to send him to the UK, and Exeter was his destination. Kretschmer then met Hitler at the Reich Chancellery and he repeated his opinions on the war situation. [19] A second patrol (921 September) yielded no success either. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. Kretschmer's thoughts on Hitler and the subsequent conference are not known. HARRY COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very soon after the accident that took his life. Kretschmer ordered his U-boat to be turned around, and they rescued the lone sailor. Miraculously, power was restored and it limped back to the surface. Dave Powell. Later, a mated pair of swans came by with their offspring, about six cygnets, and they were looking for food as well. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes . 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. [7] During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfhnrich zur See (Senior Midshipman) on 1 April 1934. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War . Leather strap partially torn from case.- 2) Tasco 7x35 fully coated 304. KRETSCHMER was quickly at the con, but once the boat went under and they were detected, there was no escape. In a rush of roiling water that must have looked like a surfacing submarine, Papa Swan came roaring out of the water heading right at Juli who decided that it was time to leave but with about six feet of wingspan flailing about and huge clawed feet ripping chunks of OTTOs grass up, Papa Swan was hot after Juli all the while making a tremendous hissing sound. They provided clothes and alcohol, then transferred him to a lifeboat at the first opportunity. Klaus Bargsten served aboard U-99 under Kretschmer, before being promoted to captain himself and becoming the sole survivor of U-521 on 2 June 1942. This was not the case with U-99. Browse 597 otto kretschmer stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. I had to surrender my ship to the British Captain and I had to be in complete uniform.. [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. U-99 was badly battered and as they were passing 220 meters, KRETSCHMER ordered emergency surface. 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. He did not come through the hatch he must be lost at sea. 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. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) of U-99. Three of his men were lost, but Kretschmer and the remainder of U-99's crew were captured. Hitler invited Kretschmer to sit in on a lunch meeting with Hitler and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Union's ambassador to the Third Reich. Six months later, on 15 December, he officially became Flottillenadmiral. [41] A notable failure on the patrol occurred in the interception of HMS Manistee. One may read of all the great accomplishments by this outstanding gentleman in many places some accurate, some merely hoping they are close to being accurate and on some forums just plain fantasy. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. While on vacation in Bavaria in the summer of 1998, after an accident on a boat on the Danube, while celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary, he stumbled and was unconscious, he died two days later, old age 86, on 05-08-1998. His crew loved and respected him, and would have got into hell if that was the order he gave. [77] Kretschmer was senior officer at the camp. On 16 June 1956, he was tasked with the creation of 1. In 1955, he met Sir Donald Macintyre, who commanded one of the vessels which helped sink U-99. The officers were also taken to the prisoner-of-war camp at Grizedale Hall. 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. 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. 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. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. The booklet was the music and award document, and the flowers were handed to him by Fraulein von Ribbentrop. [9], On 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured by the Royal Navy. Kretschmer was released after seven years as a prisoner of war. [9] Kretschmer joined the U-boat service in January 1936. [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. "[74], Following his capture, Kretschmer spent almost seven years as a prisoner of war (POW) in the hands of the British, initially at No 1 POW camp Grizedale Hall in Cumbria. "[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. [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. [31] 157 of the Daring crew were killed, including Commander Sydney Cooper. 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. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. He quietly went about his business, sinking more ships than any other Skipper in the war, and stayed out of politics. 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. 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. OTTO replied;It was necessary. The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. This stay was interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemnde (510 March 1934). Kretschmer was presented with an opportunity to put his "one torpedo, one ship" mantra into practice. 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. [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. Otto had 4 siblings: Cecilie Hulda and 3 other siblings. In 1955, MacIntyre returned the Zeiss binoculars to Kretschmer. While working on the deck gun, the boat suddenly dived. [29] U-23 returned to port on 29 January. Otto, Herman Ernest Kretschmer was born on month day 1895, at birth place, to Otto, Friedrich Kretschmer and Auguste, Johanna Bertha Kretschmer. 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. [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. The U-boot commanded by Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has sunk the two British auxiliary cruisers H.M.S. 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. The small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. [32] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 25 February after 17 days at seahis longest to date. Rsing's successor, Hermann Michahelles, was killed in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks. [21] He returned to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 16 October. We use cookies to improve your website experience. The ship did not reach port. Serving on a U-boat was a very dangerous task, and one that many did not want. The boat went to the yard for repairs and. The Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine, a Nazi creation. [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. Click on the prints to see their descriptions. They fought Canadian troops armed with ice hockey sticks, and only surrendered when the guards brought in high-pressure water hoses. The Emden made stops in Ceylon, the Philippines, China and Japan; then Guam, South Africa, Angola and Spain on the return journey. Kretschmer captured the vessel, the only such ship seized by U-99. One of the Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO KRETSCHMER would really be with them. "Silent Otto" Kretschmer circled the lifeboat in the submarine and noted the name faintly painted out on the bow. 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. OTTO felt a sudden rush of air out of the open hatch past him and the boat was going down quickly. He was the best of the best he knew how to penetrate a destroyer screen and because he had lived in England and studied at Cambridge prior to the war, he read the English and French tactical books on anti-submarine warfare in the captured French HQ in Brest he knew what depth settings the Royal Navy used and so he kept his boat at depths they did not set on their charges. 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