Not the crew of U-99. [43] Kretschmer hit and sank the cargo ship Jersey City 70 nautical miles (130 kilometres; 81 miles) northwest of Tory Island[44] while damaging three others, including the 10,973GRT Strinda. In 1955, MacIntyre returned the Zeiss binoculars to Kretschmer. They provided clothes and alcohol, then transferred him to a lifeboat at the first opportunity. 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. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. Hitler invited Kretschmer to sit in on a lunch meeting with Hitler and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Union's ambassador to the Third Reich. Why? Rsing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. 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. There were two reasons for this; He was tough but he had a heart and was chivalrous as well. Three of his men were lost, but Kretschmer and the remainder of U-99's crew were captured. 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 . [2] His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. Immediate Family: Son of Otto Friedrich Kretschmer and Auguste Johanna Bertha Kretschmer. 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 became known as the Golden Horseshoe by his men. The boat went to the yard for repairs and. . [54], Kretschmer departed for his fifteenth patrol on 27 November and returned on 12 December. Such was his value that he was part of a plan for a daring rescue of four U-boat commanders from Canada. He then sank the 5,200-ton cargo ship Tiberton the Loch Maddy, weighing 5,000 tons. The air crews sank eight and damaged several more. Kretschmer sank one and damaged twowhich he and Prien dispatched the following day. Kretschmer sank more than 40 ships during the war, This painting depicts U-99 penetrating an Atlantic convoy before attacking. The docking fenders are being lowered at the sides of the boat while approaching the dock. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. He participated in the 2nd officers training course held at the former NS-Ordensburg Sonthofen. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. The presentation was made by Dnitz following his return to Lorient. Instead, OKM sent him an administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ (681-1988) as his new I.W.O. [59], On 22 February 1941 U-99 left Lorient for the final time. Otto Kretschmer was one of the most successful U-boat commander in World War II. Prien sank the ship the following day. 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. 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. Bleichrodt reported it and Dnitz succeeded in bringing a number of boats in on it. 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. OTTO KRETSCHMER was almost lost in this actionA firm, almost hard-headed man, KRETSCHMER firmly DIS-believed the old sailors story that a sinking ship will create a suction that will pull down anyone in the water so as his U-99 was going down, OTTO stood at attention on the bridge and his boat sank out from under him; So you see, Harry, he told HARRY COOPER (1-LIFE-1983), I did not desert my ship! He departed from Wilhelmshaven for his eighth war patrol on 9 February. "[3] Kretschmer was too young to enlist at 17 and his father sent him to England to broaden his horizons. [24] Following this patrol, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 17 December. [7] During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfhnrich zur See (Senior Midshipman) on 1 April 1934. The ship did not reach port. He did not return to England from his hiatus, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy. 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. The next day, Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse). He then caused havoc in the rest of the convoy, winning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. After the war he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of commodore. [6] Kretschmer was present for gunnery exercises in the North and Baltic Sea. Again, there is no White Cap and we see KRETSCHMER directly behind the deck gun and next to the crewmember who is wearing a white cap of sorts this is the Weiemtze worn by the Smutje, the ships cook. 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 next day, Kretschmer was transferred to the Amt fr Militrkunde (Department of Military Studies), retiring on 30 September 1970.[18]. [42], Four days later Kretschmer began his eleventh patrol which concluded on 5 August. On 4 October 1939 he sank the coastal ship Glen Farg (876GRT). Otto had 4 siblings: Cecilie Hulda and 3 other siblings. On 28 August 1963, he was transferred to the NATO Defense College in Paris. OTTO reached into the torrent, grabbed the lanyard and slammed the hatch but where was Schnee? So how was it that he was sunk? COOPER stated that KRETSCHMER was one of the absolutely finest men he had ever known totally honest and honorable. Her eyes misted up and a smile came to her lips, and then she said; A canal ran along behind the Kretschmer house and here we see Mrs. Kretschmer feeding the ducks with their little Schnauzer Juli. Otto Kretschmer, Comandante alemn de U-Boot de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, fue sin duda el ms eficaz de toda la Kriegsmarine. Otto Kretschmer is a tall, very polite man with an air of gentle formality. 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. A high achiever at school, he wanted nothing more than to join the navy, but he was not old enough upon leaving at the age of 17. [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 commissioned U-99 on 18 April 1940 which was part of the 7th U-boat Flotilla. They were sent to Lime Street Station to be transported to London for interrogation. Geleitgeschwader (1st Escort Squadron) which he commanded from 3 January to 15 October 1957. [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. 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. Keep me logged in. The crew remained in lifeboats nearby for reboarding once the attack was over. It was on his third patrol that he sank his first ship, the Glen Farg, a small freighter was carrying pulp and Ferrochrome. Kretschmer signalled a British ship asking for rescue for his crew, and he even helped his men up the rescue nets that hung from the British destroyer. German propagandists feared the triple loss might be too damaging to morale. Only five sailors survived. Laurentic and Patroclus were attacked on the night of 3/4 November. As they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell down the stairwell, striking his head. . Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo. [56] Laurentic and Patroclus had been loaded with wooden barrels to increase buoyancy. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold. 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. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. Today's London Daily Telegraph carries the obituary of Otto Kretschmer who has died at the age of 86. BACK TO ADVISORS PAGE. OTTO felt a sudden rush of air out of the open hatch past him and the boat was going down quickly. I obey the rules. unread, Aug 20, 1998, 3:00:00 AM 8/20/98 . 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. With this result, Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has reached . Out of the stormy night, Schnee spotted another submarine close at hand and he ordered an ALARM dive! [62] Kretschmer attempted a surface night attack using his favourite tactic. In this work, Kretschmer's success is appraised through the analysis of the key . He prided himself on being able to take advantage of whatever the passing moment offered and made no elaborate plans for attacking convoys. [77] Kretschmer was senior officer at the camp. 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. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. [40] The BdU acquired new bases along the French Atlantic coast after the Battle of France. [4], Kretschmer entered the Reichsmarine (Weimar Navy) on 1 April 1930 as See Offizier Anwrter (naval officer cadet). [17], Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitnleutnant (Lieutenant/Lieutenant Senior Grade) on 1 June 1939.[9]. 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. Ezzel a teljestmnyvel kirdemelte a Tlgyfalombokkal s kardokkal . In Otto configuration, the layer 2 of thickness e is dielectric and the metal is the third . 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. Canadian authorities wanted to shackle 100 German prisoners as retaliation for Hitler announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured. 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. A British intelligence report on him said: "His political views were less extremely Nazi than had been assumed. The Greatest Submarine Commander of all time was Lothar von Arnaud de la Perrier who sank nearly 200 ships in World War One. 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. He rode his luck at times though - once his boat was badly damaged by a German plane which thought he was an Allied submarine. Later in the war, his ship was torpedoed; before that he nursed a bent-nosed destroyer back to port after ramming a U-boat. 1) Black Otto Walter no.12.507.- prismen glaser8x40 reflexfreie on right side. Such were his expertise, he re-joined the navy in 1955. Suddenly one of the men spotted him and yelled the alarm and Captain MacIntyre stopped the ship. Kretschmer was released from captivity on 31 December 1947, and returned to Germany. 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. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force. On February 22, 1941, Kretschmer set off on his final patrol. 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. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. Almost every U-Boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather. 702. The nomination was approved on 5 November 1940. Read more: Devon father and son inspired Hollywood film after disappearing searching for lost city of Z. His father, a teacher, decided to send him to the UK, and Exeter was his destination. German aircraft bombed and sank it three days later. 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. On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of U-23. Click on the prints to see their descriptions. were transferred off and sent to Commanders School so they could command their own boats and KRETSCHMER asked for battle experienced officers as replacements. 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. 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. He mastered the English language and came to respect British education: its practical focus complemented his scientific and theoreticalbased German background. 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. He died in 1998 in Bavaria. Kretschmer purportedly confined his remarks to the lack of air support from the Luftwaffe, a point Raeder was fully aware of. 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. Kretschmer learned its identity from frantic radio signals. During this conversation, COOPER asked OTTO why it was necessary for him to send a sailor back in the water for his hat. He continued to serve as Watch Officer of U-35 until 30 September 1937. When U-23 was stabilized at her depth and the sound man could no longer hear any noises of the other boat, they came to periscope depth, confirmed that all was safe, and KRETSCHMER was ready to begin the hopeless task of looking for Schnees body. Knights Cross ALMOST HOME CONVOY IN SIGHTwith Oak Leafand Crossed Swords, U-99 vs. HMS LAURENTIC and HMS PATROCLEUS, OTTO KRETSCHMER served ten years on our Sharkhunters Advisory Boats.Click here to view the entire Board. Paterson: Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat captain of the Second World War, and the term 'scoring' relates to the total tonnage of shipping that he sank while commander of both U23 and U99. 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. 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). From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. 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