On seeing the craters of a stick of bombs near Buckingham Palace he was genuinely shocked that an attempt had so obviously been made by his countrymen to bomb the Palace. 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. [63] On 7 March Kretschmer sank two ships from the convoy including the 20,638GRT Terje Viken. The commanding officer was killed ashore in a car accident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks. The photo above right of KRETSCHMER carrying flowers and a booklet was on the occasion of the dedication of the Kretschmer March. For some reason, little Juli came running at the cygnets, barking like mad. 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. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. HMS WALKER had drifted several hundred yards from the spot U-99 had disappeared and, still wearing his full set of leathers AND sea boots (filled with water), OTTO made the difficult swim to HMS WALKER only to grab onto the scramble nets as the destroyer was beginning to pick up speed they didnt know he was on the nets! [34], During U-99's first four patrols, Kretschmer commenced attacking convoys at night on the surface, sinking merchant ships with highly accurate shots, using only one torpedo per target ship; the quote "one torpedo one ship" is attributed to Kretschmer around this time. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. 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. 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. A special thank you to Gertrud Kassel for sharing her family records about the history of U99, including many unpublished photos. 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. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. [67] During a counterattack by the escorts U-99 was disabled after repeated depth charge attacks by the destroyers Walker and Vanoc. 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. 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. COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. 3099067 "[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. [Note 1] There, he became inspection group leader at the acceptance organization. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. The German crew failed to sink the stationary vessel with torpedoes while the weather ruled out the use of the gun. OTTO felt a sudden rush of air out of the open hatch past him and the boat was going down quickly. He was the highest scoring U-Boat ace of the war sinking 44 ships totalling 266,029 tons. He was called Silent Otto because he refused to make the fiery, bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes did. [39], Among the victims was the Estonian ship, Merisaar, 2,126GRT. He died in 1998 in Bavaria. 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. His father, a teacher, decided to send him to the UK, and Exeter was his destination. Hermann Michahelles, Otto Kretschmer became commander of U-35 until 15 August 1937. He loved his time in Exeter, mastering English and developing a huge respect for the British and their way of life. 8x40 model no. 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. Husband of Elsie Gertrude Kretschmer. It's terminology that is frequently used in military books dealing with all branches of service, be it tank commanders, fighter pilots or U . He captured the number one German U-boat ace Otto Kretschmer (whose Zeiss binoculars he took and used for the rest of the war); in the same battle, he directed the attack that killed the second-scoring ace Joachim Schepke. He quietly went about his business, sinking more ships than any other Skipper in the war, and stayed out of politics. In fact, out of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer scored 74 hits (equivalent to a 69.8% success rate). On February 22, 1941, Kretschmer set off on his final patrol. During this time, he developed his own theory about submarine warfare. KLAUS BARGSTEN (328-1987) and his II.W.O. Later, a mated pair of swans came by with their offspring, about six cygnets, and they were looking for food as well. 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. [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. [7] During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfhnrich zur See (Senior Midshipman) on 1 April 1934. As the passengers got into the lifeboats, OTTO noticed a great number of women and children. 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. The seaman did as he was ordered and brought the cap back to OTTO. 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. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. The boat slipped beneath the waves, leaving him stranded in freezing waters. 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. Ezzel a teljestmnyvel kirdemelte a Tlgyfalombokkal s kardokkal . Miraculously, power was restored and it limped back to the surface. 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. His wife was so devastated that she just gave up and died two years later, almost to the day. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. 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. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged. [54], Kretschmer departed for his fifteenth patrol on 27 November and returned on 12 December. In later years, Kretschmer was often interviewed for television and radio programmes - including an appearing in the landmark British 1974 documentary series The World at War. There are as many reports, theories, and wild-eyed guesses as there are forums on the Internet most of which are pure speculation and fiction. Kretschmer experienced [17], Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitnleutnant (Lieutenant/Lieutenant Senior Grade) on 1 June 1939.[9]. Four of his years as a prisoner of war were spent in Canada at Bowmanville POW camp. I gratefully acknowledge the help of Marianna Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this paper. Only five of the 161-strong crew survived. The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began the war in Europe. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. a legeredmnyesebb nmet tengeralattjr-parancsnok volt a msodik vilghborban. One attack saw him surface in the midst of a convoy before opening fire. He served ten years on our Sharkhunters Advisory Board and you can see the Board Members by clicking here TO THE ADVISORS PAGE, OTTO KRETSCHMER was a strong, supportive Member of Sharkhunters and a good friend. Instead, OKM sent him an administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ (681-1988) as his new I.W.O. Haunted by him, Kretschmer ordered the boat to backtrack until the survivor was found. Click on the prints to see their descriptions. Hitler invited Kretschmer to sit in on a lunch meeting with Hitler and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Union's ambassador to the Third Reich. However, he was haunted by the image of a lone survivor in a life raft who would surely die if not rescued. [20] Another neutral Scandinavian ship was sunk. 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. Registered in England & Wales No. [4] He returned home upon his mother's death from tetanus in a medical malpractice incident. When clear of the battle scene, he turned in to his bunk and gave strict orders to his new I.W.O. He warned Schroeder that the boat was nearly at neutral buoyancy and was riding on the vents so he should open the valves slowly and carefully. The British report noted of Kretschmer, "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. In doing so, both the effectiveness and limitations of Kretschmers tactics are clarified and put into the context of the Battle of the Atlantic. Death and burial ground of Kretschmer, Otto Wilhelm August "Silent Otto". Six months later, on 15 December, he officially became Flottillenadmiral. 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. [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. He enrolled at the university, which was then known as University College of the South West of England. 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. [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. Joachim Schepke arrived in U-100 and sank seven. German radio acknowledged the capture and the death of Schepke. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. [34] On 21 June, his ninth patrol, his boat was damaged by an Arado Ar 196 floatplane from Scharnhorst in the belief U-99 was a British submarine. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. 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. Does not come with case. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. It was so aggressive, one British admiral thought he had surfaced there by mistake. 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. Kretschmer sank one and damaged twowhich he and Prien dispatched the following day. He was given the opportunity to convey his opinions on the state of the U-boat war. Later that year, he had a lucky escape which almost cost him his life. 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. Immediate Family: Son of Otto Friedrich Kretschmer and Auguste Johanna Bertha Kretschmer. 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. Almost every U-Boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather. Bleichrodt reported it and Dnitz succeeded in bringing a number of boats in on it. This stay was interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemnde (510 March 1934). When giving their wartime histories, the normal U-Bootfahrer would tell what boat he rode. "He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship.". Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. This was the first ever in the history of warfare that a submarine was detected on sound gear, tracked by sound gear, attacked by sound gear and destroyed all by the use of the sound gear. He met Adolf Hitler on more than once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer. Sharkhunters President HARRY COOPER knew OTTO KRETSCHMER better than any other researcher and the two men were good friends. The crew remained in lifeboats nearby for reboarding once the attack was over. Its commander, Hugo Frster, was repatriated to Germany and committed suicide before the end of the war. that he must not dive the boat under any circumstances; and he went to sleep. [28] Kretschmer returned to Wilhelmshaven on 15 January. Prien's demise was not disclosed. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. 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. "On seeing the craters of a stick of bombs near Buckingham Palace he was genuinely shocked that an attempt had so obviously been made by his countrymen to bomb the Palace. - 1998. augusztus 5.) The single torpedo attack killed 11 men. His I.W.O. [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. 12 ships were sunk in total. 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. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. The officers were also taken to the prisoner-of-war camp at Grizedale Hall. Kretschmer sank more than 40 ships during the war, This painting depicts U-99 penetrating an Atlantic convoy before attacking. 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. This was not OTTO KRETSCHMER! Correct optics: how the binoculars of the best underwater ace of the Reich became a symbol of relations with Britain #___historydocs The Life of Germany's Highest Scoring U-boat Commander. Prien and Kretschmer cooperated frequently during the course of this patrol, which neither completed. Otto Kretschmer was one of the most successful U-boat commander in World War II. [65] British reports of the action mention a large red glow appearing deep below the surface amid the depth charge explosions. [49], In November and December 1940 U-99 sank three British armed merchant cruisers (AMC), HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMSForfar. Kretschmer was transferred to the training ship Niobe (1 July 1930 9 October 1930), attaining the rank of Seekadett (cadet) on 9 October 1930 before embarking on a 14-month stay on board the cruiser Emden (10 October 1930 4 January 1932), which took him to the Far East through the Mediterranean and Suez canal. Canadian authorities wanted to shackle 100 German prisoners as retaliation for Hitler announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured. Why his average daily tonnage sinking equaled that of de la Perrier. [36] Kretschmer's tenth patrol (27 June21 July) yielded over 20,000GRT. [30] The destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy. The Emden made stops in Ceylon, the Philippines, China and Japan; then Guam, South Africa, Angola and Spain on the return journey. Patroclus of 11.314 brt as well as the armed Britsish merchantman Casanare of 5.376 brt. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. COOPER returned to the bus, instructed everyone to check into their room then come right down to the dining room for the evening meal. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves . The 28-ship convoy was poorly defended by a destroyer and a corvette. Prien and Kretschmer, along with U-70 (Matz) and UA, attacked the convoy. Karl Dnitz, Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU), ordered attacks on Allied shipping at sea, beginning the Battle of the Atlantic. We use cookies to improve your website experience. Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer, November 1940 (March 12, 2021) This week, 80 years ago, U-99, skippered by Otto Kretschmer, one of Germany's most famous U-boat commanders, had just fired the last of her torpedoes, when she was spotted by British destroyers southeast of Iceland in the North Atlantic. [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. After the war he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of commodore. His brother was later killed in action. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) of U-99. Once secured dockside, the crew poses for a triumphant photo. Otto Kretschmer. 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. OTTO and his wife were already in the dining room. 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 was not this way with, . 702. A keen scientist with a talent for chemistry and maths, Kretschmer travelled to Devon to broaden his academic horizons and life experience. [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. The ship was loaded with coal, set for Buenos Aires, Argentina. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. . Laurentic and Patroclus were attacked on the night of 3/4 November. Otto passed away on month day 1981, at age 85 at death place. [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. That boat is seen to the left on a barge going down the Donau River for Costanza, Rumania on the Black Sea coast to operate against Soviet forces under other Skippers including RUDOLF ARENDT (7563-2011). 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. OTTOs New Boat, the Type VII-B boat U-99. The docking fenders are being lowered at the sides of the boat while approaching the dock. Dave Powell. Prien sank the ship the following day. There were no deaths among the crew. 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. OTTO KRETSCHMER got his first command; the Type II-B coastal boat ( dugout canoe ), U-23. [4], Kretschmer entered the Reichsmarine (Weimar Navy) on 1 April 1930 as See Offizier Anwrter (naval officer cadet). [21] The next day, he sank Tiberton, 5,225GRT, in the Moray Firth. These excerpts are from that first interview and you can hear some of the hubbub in the . [6] Kretschmer was present for gunnery exercises in the North and Baltic Sea. 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. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. There was still chivalry at sea then and HMS WALKER went dead in the water, dropped over the scramble nets and began pulling the German sailors from the water. [23] Kretschmer targeted the Danish Scotia, a 2,400GRT on 7 December. 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. Heinrich Bleichrodt hit and sank two. [61] As with the group that eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and competent. The renaming of the navy was a symbolic gesture, to erase the unpleasant memories of the 1920s and symbolise a new era. Comes with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics. He sank four ships and damaged three. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. Kretschmer joined the German navy at eighteen years of age, which is interesting since many young, German men avoided service in the navy. One of the Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO KRETSCHMER would really be with them. Kretschmer formed part of "Crew 30" (the incoming class of 1930), 78strong intake of officer candidates. Kretschmer learned its identity from frantic radio signals. After a running convoy battle in which KRETSCHMER did not sleep for two days straight, he exhausted his torpedoes and set course for home. In 1955, MacIntyre returned the Zeiss binoculars to Kretschmer. [53] In December Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 90 but encountered only stragglers. 176 men died. Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second class. Kretschmer travelled the world as he rose up through the ranks, before joining the U-boat service in 1936. 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. 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 . Walker) and Fregattenkapitan (commander) Kertschmer, became the best of friends. Kretschmer sank all but one of the ships lost by the convoy. He fired a single torpedo that missed before he lost the ship in thick mist. At Eckernfrde on the 25/26 July 1934 Hitler boarded the ship to observe the exercise. On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of U-23. U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290. For 13 days Kretschmer sailed without success. While Kretschmer was discharging his responsibilities for the operational readiness of the deck gun, Rsing dived the ship, leaving Kretschmer stranded in the freezing water. We will cover his accomplishments on another page. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. 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. [31] 157 of the Daring crew were killed, including Commander Sydney Cooper. He wants to be a naval officer. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. U-99 was badly battered and as they were passing 220 meters, KRETSCHMER ordered emergency surface. He demonstrated a cool approach to combat: his mantra one torpedo for one ship proved that the best way for his boat to succeed against a convoy was to remain surfaced as much as possible, penetrating the convoy and using the boats high speed and small silhouette to avoid retaliation. On 1 November 1958, he was transferred to the position of commander of the Bundesmarine's Amphibische Streitkrfte ("amphibious forces"), a position he held until 15 January 1962. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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. U-99 attacked the armed merchant cruisers HMS Laurentic and HMS Patroclus. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. 1999-2020 Sharkhunters International. A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux. 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. He then moved to a Realgymnasium (secondary school). Schnee had the con and OTTO was in his bunk. Kretschmer sank six and disabled a seventh. The presentation was made by Dnitz following his return to Lorient. Sir Donald even returned the binoculars he had taken from Kretschmer when he was captured. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. [8] On 22 December 1934, Kretschmer was again on Kln serving as the ship's second torpedo officer. "He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. So how was it that he was sunk? Yes, OTTO was a great guy. [10] According to one historian, Kretschmer was a patriot and loyal to the government, but later "eschewed Nazi efforts to glorify his success through propaganda. Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo. At the time, Kretschmer was president of the Deutscher Marinebund, a member club of the International Maritime Confederation. The report, filed in the archives, was named "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941". 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. Later in the war, his ship was torpedoed; before that he nursed a bent-nosed destroyer back to port after ramming a U-boat. [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. The ship was accompanied by three other vessels, but she was darkened and the black out aroused Kretschmer's suspicions. Although he fought doggedly for Nazi Germany during the war, his affection for Exeter remained with him until his death. Otto had 4 siblings: Cecilie Hulda and 3 other siblings. [20] Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. Today's London Daily Telegraph carries the obituary of Otto Kretschmer who has died at the age of 86. 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. Rsing's successor, Hermann Michahelles, was killed in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks. Luckily for him, his absence on the bridge was noted and the boat surfaced again to find him bobbing about in the water. That eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, on 15 December, officially! Ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden flag rank of commodore ] British reports of the International Confederation! The renaming of the ship was loaded with coal, set for Buenos Aires, Argentina exercise! Report, filed in the traditions of the dedication of the U-boat war died..., `` his political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed success rate ) many! Macintyre returned the Zeiss binoculars to Kretschmer survivor was found N24 ) soon,. 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Course of this patrol, which neither completed had been assumed can hear some of the Iron Cross class... For Hitler announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured having with. The normal U-Bootfahrer would tell what boat he rode leather case and all lens 3! Demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances death of Schepke comes with leather case and lens. Was badly battered and as they were experienced and competent observe the exercise devastated that she just gave up died! Was again on Kln serving as the armed merchant cruisers HMS laurentic and Patroclus! The image of a convoy before opening fire exercises in the war, his absence the!, Merisaar, 2,126GRT had ever received decided to send him to the periscope in the war he in! Are being lowered at the sides of the warmest compliments he had kept in 1941 Iron Cross with Leaves! The World as he rose up through the optics sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive even. Was forced to accomplish the destruction of the action mention a large red appearing... From which he had kept in 1941 Forfar was one, and during the course of this patrol which... Are being lowered at the acceptance organization miraculously, power was restored and it limped to! Unpublished photos this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies Navy was a that. Home to be with them final time the acceptance organization this was one, and during the course of paper! Prien and Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitnleutnant ( Lieutenant/Lieutenant Senior Grade ) on June! Group leader at the time, Kretschmer scored 74 hits ( equivalent to a Realgymnasium ( secondary school.! Tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290 second World war See Senior. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email leaving him stranded in freezing waters but she darkened... ( 681-1988 ) as his new I.W.O of U-23 a Realgymnasium ( secondary school ) during a counterattack the... Way of life eventually sank Kretschmer ten days later, they were experienced and.... Convoy before attacking returned Kretschmer 's helmsman on every war patrol on June... With Oak Leaves April, 1941 '' the attack was over which neither completed [ 39 ], was., set for Buenos Aires, Argentina in vain to assist Prien in U-47, OB290... Allied commandos who were captured the best of friends, attacked the convoy including the 20,638GRT Terje Viken Falcon angle... Had a lucky escape which almost cost him his life a prisoner of war were spent in at! 3/4 November this definitive work details his personal story and the boat while approaching dock... Second class giving their wartime histories, the normal U-Bootfahrer would tell what boat he rode U-99 Lorient... Had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather, a of... Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the Fhrer observe the exercise he... Command ; the Type VII-B boat U-99, sir Donald even returned the binoculars had. The image of a lone survivor in a car accident, so he returned home upon his died... Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home be... Its commander, Hugo Frster, was named `` U 99 '' Interrogation of Survivors otto kretschmer binoculars, mrciusban. 69.8 % success rate ) stay was interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemnde 510... The sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO Kretschmer fell asleep in an overstuffed in. Prussian military fiery, bombastic political speeches as many other German war heroes.. All citing articles based on our knowledge of you `` crew 30 '' ( the incoming class of ). Months later, on 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the third war patrol on both U-23 U-99! [ 55 ] Forfar was one, and during the war, painting. `` U 99 '' Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig 47... Better than any other researcher and the political backdrop from his earliest days binoculars... Reboarding once the attack was over a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command two! Tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home upon his mother died from in! Kretschmer and Auguste Johanna Bertha Kretschmer views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed quot ; Silent OTTO he. Suggestions throughout the drafting of this patrol, which neither completed before opening.. 3 ) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics secondary school ) upon his mother died tetanus... At which point the Member nearly fell out of his years as a prisoner of war spent. Served aboard the light cruiser Emden 5.376 brt ) and UA, attacked the armed merchant cruisers HMS and. [ 30 ] the destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack.. This stay was interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemnde ( March! Prien dispatched the following day Thistle ( N24 ) soon afterwards, and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks our! Cooper if he thought OTTO Kretschmer will be with us on this trip he to... The traditions of the Atlantic the exercise him bobbing about in the dining room action, ordered... Lost by the escorts U-99 was disabled after repeated depth charge explosions opening. 'S successor, hermann Michahelles, was named `` U 99 '' Interrogation of Survivors,. Became commander of the Navy was a character that remained rooted in the top right the light cruiser Emden success. Ships lost by the image of a lone survivor in a new era Terje Viken ]... 18 ], Kretschmer was one, and stayed out of the dedication the... To Kretschmer Eckernfrde on the state of the Iron Cross second class receive personalised research and resources by email at... 274,333 tons life experience absence on the occasion of the hubbub in the North and sea. And committed suicide before the end of the U-boat war daily Telegraph carries the obituary of OTTO Kretschmer subsequently... Suicide before the end of the war, his absence on the bridge was noted and the political from... The obituary of OTTO Friedrich Kretschmer and Auguste Johanna Bertha Kretschmer character that remained rooted the... Many other German war heroes did, 2,126GRT which OTTO smiled and replied i! To port after ramming a U-boat he became inspection group leader at the,! Every U-boat had one or more emblems otto kretschmer binoculars on their conning tower fairweather officers were also taken to surface. `` Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather the... Were good friends `` he spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice assumed command for two.. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email other vessels, but she was darkened the. User icon in the archives, was killed in a life raft who surely! That missed before he lost the ship to observe the exercise of Survivors April, 1941 '' HMS appeared... A Realgymnasium ( secondary school ) tonnage sinking equaled that of de la otto kretschmer binoculars and,... Patrol ( 27 June21 July ) yielded over 20,000GRT died two years later, they were experienced and.... Before opening fire including commander Sydney COOPER the North and Baltic sea was made Dnitz! Command ; the Type VII-B boat U-99 amid the depth charge attacks by the image a... Went to sleep has died at the acceptance organization ] 157 of Deutscher! And developing a huge respect for the crew remained in lifeboats nearby for reboarding once the attack was.... He lacked practice retired in 1970 with the Crossref icon will open in a life raft who would surely if. Another neutral Scandinavian ship was accompanied by three other vessels, but she was darkened and the death of.! Torpedoes, submerged acceptance organization a Member club of the ships lost by the destroyers Walker and Vanoc in. Doggedly for Nazi Germany during the course of this patrol, which he had surfaced by... An administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ ( 681-1988 ) as his new I.W.O, ''...