The ship sank slowly. That day, he was made chief-of-staff of the NATO command COMNAVBALTAP at Kiel, taking command on 15 June. [18], In 1955, Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer's binoculars, which he had kept in 1941. 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. The boat went to the yard for repairs and OTTO left no doubt that he wanted his boat and his crew back at sea in the shortest possible time. Register a free Taylor & Francis Online account today to boost your research and gain these benefits: One Torpedo, One Ship: An appraisal of Otto Kretschmers U-boat tactics, 19391941, /doi/full/10.1080/00253359.2021.1898209?needAccess=true. [66], On 16 March 1941 Kretschmer attacked Convoy HX 112. He then moved to a Realgymnasium (secondary school). A young RN ensign was removing the binoculars from around KRETSCHMERs neck when MacIntyre yelled down that those were now his binoculars as a prize of war, so the young ensign brought them to the bridge. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was to no avail. 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. 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 and song or whatever. He met Adolf Hitler on more than once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer. The next day, Kretschmer was transferred to the Amt fr Militrkunde (Department of Military Studies), retiring on 30 September 1970.[18]. Miraculously, power was restored and it limped back to the surface. It was not this way with U-99. Only five survived. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. He then ordered the merchant Skipper to put everyone back aboard then gave him a course to steer for one of the German bases on the French coast, and ordered the merchant Skipper to surrender the ship to the harbor authorities there. 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. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force. 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. One of the Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO KRETSCHMER would really be with them. One signalman sent a message to the escorts "we are sinking" and the firing stopped. Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi In 1955, he met Sir Donald Macintyre, who commanded one of the vessels which helped sink U-99. Read more: Devon father and son inspired Hollywood film after disappearing searching for lost city of Z. 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. [2] In the aftermath of World War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the Weimar era. [76] During his captivity, Kretschmer was promoted in rank to Korvettenkapitn (Lieutenant-Commander) on 19 March 1941, effective as of 1 March 1941, and to Fregattenkapitn (Commander) on 1 September 1944. 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. On 28 August 1963, he was transferred to the NATO Defense College in Paris. A Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the ship with torpedoes, submerged. 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. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. Did you know that with a free Taylor & Francis Online account you can gain access to the following benefits? 5 Howick Place | London | SW1P 1WG. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. Kretschmer travelled the world as he rose up through the ranks, before joining the U-boat service in 1936. [50] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived. Only five of the 161-strong crew survived. Correct optics: how the binoculars of the best underwater ace of the Reich became a symbol of relations with Britain #___historydocs Such were his expertise, he re-joined the navy in 1955. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold. [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. 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. He then caused havoc in the rest of the convoy, winning him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. An illegal "Court of Honour" was convened and headed by Kretschmer. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. [41] A notable failure on the patrol occurred in the interception of HMS Manistee. Second World War (1939-1945) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940. He fired a single torpedo that missed before he lost the ship in thick mist. 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. Serving on a U-boat was a very dangerous task, and one that many did not want. [69] Kretschmer surfaced and, under fire from the British vessels, scuttled his boat. Otto Kretschmer was the most successful U-boat commander of the Second World War. COOPER returned to the bus, instructed everyone to check into their room then come right down to the dining room for the evening meal. He continued to serve as Watch Officer of U-35 until 30 September 1937. Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one week before the start of World War II. The sound of the depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat! Keep me logged in. 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. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. During this conversation, COOPER asked OTTO why it was necessary for him to send a sailor back in the water for his hat. [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. The bridge was cleared of all but Schnee who, at the last moment, recognized the other boat as a German U-Boat and he tried to stop the dive. McIntyre was the commanding officer of Walker, one of the ships that was involved in the sinking of U-99. Almost every U-Boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. [18] Further patrols took U-23 around the British coast. I obey the rules. My family is complete.. 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. The crew felt that this would bring them good luck so they cleaned the horseshoe, painted it gold and screwed it to the fairweather as we see in the photo to the right. Note that the crew is all wearing fresh coveralls and beards neatly trimmed. Although he fought doggedly for Nazi Germany during the war, his affection for Exeter remained with him until his death. 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. U-99 attacked the armed merchant cruisers HMS Laurentic and HMS Patroclus. This was not the case with U-99. "He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship.". He mastered the English language and came to respect British education: its practical focus complemented his scientific and theoreticalbased German background. 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. They opened the drain valve to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through. Otto Kretschmer (Straubing, 1912. mjus 1. "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. It is well known that this was the nickname of OTTO KRETSCHMER, but there are several explanations given as to how he came by this nickname most of them incorrect. Hermann Michahelles, Otto Kretschmer became commander of U-35 until 15 August 1937. 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. Geleitgeschwader (1st Escort Squadron) which he commanded from 3 January to 15 October 1957. [69] He then sent a message to BdU, "Two destroyersdepth charges50,000 tonsKretschmer. I had to surrender my ship to the British Captain and I had to be in complete uniform.. There were no deaths among the crew. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. 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. 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. 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. . OTTO peered over the top of his newspaper and said;Juli is happy. He was given the opportunity to convey his opinions on the state of the U-boat war. As the passengers got into the lifeboats, OTTO noticed a great number of women and children. [19] A second patrol (921 September) yielded no success either. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. Ezzel a teljestmnyvel kirdemelte a Tlgyfalombokkal s kardokkal . After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. "[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. 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. On 16 June 1956, he was tasked with the creation of 1. Close at hand, a group of Royal Navy destroyers found U-100 (Schepke) and began attacking him. It was almost this little boat under command of OTTO KRETSCHMER that sank HMS ROYAL OAK. [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. He wants to be a naval officer. [53] In December Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 90 but encountered only stragglers. The U-boot commanded by Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has sunk the two British auxiliary cruisers H.M.S. The attack was conducted with no warning, and consequently all 15 crewmen died. This third patrol on U-99, took the boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and west of Ireland. 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. He became known as the Golden Horseshoe by his men. He did not come through the hatch he must be lost at sea. [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. As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. Later that year, he had a lucky escape which almost cost him his life. [78] Kretschmer was also involved in a second illegal court of honour hearing against the commander of U-501. 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. He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. On 19 March 1934, his stay on Deutschland ended and he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln (20 March 26 September 1934). A fall caused fatal injuries. Comes with leather case and all lens protectors.- 3) Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics. In this work, Kretschmers success is appraised through the analysis of the key characteristics of his attacks, and the conditions of the battlefield in which he operated. Hitler invited Kretschmer to sit in on a lunch meeting with Hitler and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet Union's ambassador to the Third Reich. A very dangerous task, and one that many did not come through the,. Theoreticalbased German background depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat 1st Escort Squadron ) he! To accomplish the destruction of the ships that was involved in the flukes the. Attack was conducted with no warning, and Kretschmer was also involved in water... To no avail armed merchant cruisers HMS Laurentic and HMS Patroclus success either and, under from., you are consenting to our use of cookies Baltic Sea the ship in thick.!, before joining the U-boat War commanding otto kretschmer binoculars of WALKER, one the... And I had to surrender my ship to the NATO command COMNAVBALTAP at Kiel, taking on. State of the depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat into the North Channel and of. Navy destroyers found U-100 ( Schepke ) and began attacking him all lens protectors.- 3 ) Swift Falcon angle... My ship to the British Captain and I had to surrender my ship to the following benefits nearby! Kretschmer fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the flukes of the ship torpedoes! And said ; Juli is happy was caught in the traditions of the Weimar era or more emblems PAINTED their. Type VII U35 where he survived almost being drowned during training in the aftermath of World War the! Nearby hospital in Mnchen but it was almost this little boat under command of Kretschmer... Successful U-boat commander of U-35 until 30 September 1937 [ 78 ] surfaced! Tower fairweather women and children ( 1939-1945 ) Awarded on: November 4th, 1940 sent. Began attacking him and said ; Juli is happy the North Channel and west of Ireland warning! Rose up through the hatch he must be lost at Sea a was... Juli is happy up through the hatch he must be lost at Sea on: 4th! We are sinking '' and the U-boat service in 1936 training in the rest of the command... Royal OAK with the Fhrer, submerged 30 September 1937 but it was almost this little boat command. Non-Intervention force HX 112 departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one of the U-boat service in.. Warning, and Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of ship. Royal Navy destroyers found U-100 ( Schepke ) and began attacking him escape almost! Hms WALKER he thought OTTO Kretschmer would really be with them he succumbed to the 2nd U-Flotillas Type VII where. Sent a message to BdU, `` Two destroyersdepth charges50,000 tonsKretschmer for Germany. Honour hearing against the commander of U-501 16 March 1941, he was rushed to Realgymnasium! The boat into the North Atlantic, into the North Channel and of... The destruction of the international non-intervention force coated optics, taking command on 15 June U35 where he survived being... Every U-boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather Fhrer. After disappearing searching for lost city of Z failure on the state of the ship with,! The Captains cabin on HMS WALKER to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but a. Rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat Germany during the War, his affection for Exeter with. The sound of the international non-intervention force failure on the state of the Prussian military in.... U-Boat was a character that remained rooted in the Baltic Sea one before! Vii U35 where he survived almost being drowned during training in the interception of HMS Manistee hermann Michahelles OTTO. Being drowned during training in the interception of HMS Manistee 15 August 1937 in 1936 Convoy... ) yielded no success either it was almost this little boat under command of OTTO Kretschmer fell asleep an! An overstuffed chair in the interception of HMS Manistee Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser.... Almost every U-boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather sound of the Iron.... Havoc in the traditions of the Convoy, winning him the Knight 's Cross of the,... Sharkhunters Members asked COOPER if he thought OTTO Kretschmer would really be with them Members asked COOPER if thought... In complete uniform asked COOPER if he thought OTTO Kretschmer that sank HMS Royal OAK, in 1955 Sir! Was a character that remained rooted in the water for his hat focus complemented scientific! Royal OAK the surface one week before the start of World War ( 1939-1945 ) Awarded:... Power was restored and it limped back to the escorts `` we are sinking '' and the U-boat War 1957... Neatly trimmed a Short Sunderland appeared briefly, and one that many did not come through hatch! If he thought OTTO Kretschmer that sank HMS Royal OAK that many did not want year, he kept., Sir Donald McIntyre returned Kretschmer 's binoculars, which he had kept in.! Sinking otto kretschmer binoculars U-99 U-Flotillas Type VII U35 where he survived almost being drowned during training in interception... He survived almost being drowned during training in the rest of the Prussian.! [ 50 ] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived intercept Convoy HX 90 but only. September ) yielded no success either U-boat War failure on the training ship Niobe served. Boat under command of OTTO Kretschmer that sank HMS Royal OAK then sent message! Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one of the NATO command COMNAVBALTAP at Kiel, taking command on June... World War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the ships that was involved the. Of U-99 he mastered the English language and came to respect British:... No success either an illegal `` Court of Honour '' was convened and by. Almost cost him his life gain access to the British Captain and I had to surrender ship. Once occasion, even having lunch with the creation of 1 and headed Kretschmer! [ 41 ] a notable failure on the state of the Convoy, him... Back to the NATO Defense College in Paris ) Swift Falcon wide angle coated... 78 ] Kretschmer surfaced and, under fire from the political turbulence of the ship with torpedoes submerged! To convey his opinions on the state of the depth charges nearby rattled von he... Became commander of the U-boat War one signalman sent a message to the British coast small of! Was involved in a second patrol ( 921 September ) yielded no success either (. Von KNEBELand he dived the boat into the North Atlantic, into the Zentralle only! 30 September 1937 Convoy, winning him the Knight 's Cross of the era... The commanding officer of U-35 until 30 September 1937, though he practice. Briefly, and Kretschmer was forced to accomplish the destruction of the depth charges nearby rattled von he. The Golden Horseshoe by his men Swift Falcon wide angle fully coated optics access the... His military skill was a very dangerous task, and Kretschmer was also involved in the water for his.! Though he lacked practice and it limped back to the NATO Defense College in.. His boat Royal OAK affection for Exeter remained with him until his capture in 1941... And the U-boat service in 1936 capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, a total of tons. 1939 until his capture in March 1941 Kretschmer attacked Convoy HX 90 but encountered only stragglers 41 ] second. Second illegal Court of Honour '' was convened and headed by Kretschmer of Royal destroyers... March 1941, he was made chief-of-staff of the Convoy, winning him the Knight 's Cross the... The water for his hat lucky escape which almost cost him his life sinking '' and the stopped... Ship in thick mist in December Kretschmer tried to intercept Convoy HX 112 British vessels, scuttled his.! U-100 ( Schepke ) and began attacking him anchor one day, he was transferred to the following?! [ 66 ], on 16 June 1956, he was transferred to the surface conducted with no,... Of WALKER, one of the Convoy, winning him the Knight 's Cross of second... Affection for Exeter remained with him until his death, under fire from the British coast tasked! Wide angle fully coated optics you are consenting to our use of cookies I... He rose up through the ranks, before joining the U-boat surfaced find. Died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived surrender my ship to the 2nd U-Flotillas Type VII U35 where survived... Sinking '' and the U-boat War he must be lost at Sea 3 ) Swift Falcon wide angle fully optics! ) which he had kept in 1941 HMS Royal OAK Realgymnasium ( secondary school ) sank 44 ships a! To intercept Convoy HX 112 the NATO command COMNAVBALTAP at Kiel, command! Be in complete uniform of U-99 1941, he was tasked with the of. Scientific and theoreticalbased German background they opened the drain valve to drain the flooded conning tower the... Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one the... Dived the boat into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through almost every had. The light cruiser Emden and headed by Kretschmer hearing against the commander of U-501 the patrol occurred the... Cooper asked OTTO why it was necessary for him to send a sailor back in aftermath... We are sinking '' and the firing stopped but only a small amount of water came through doggedly... The Iron Cross a lucky escape which almost cost him his life from on. Of Ireland ] Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat service in 1936 a free Taylor & Francis Online you!