Fascinating pictures have emerged illustrating the career of a legendary Nazi U-boat commander who became the most successful submarine officer of the Second World War.
Images show Hitler’s Admiral Otto Kretschmer who was responsible for the sinking of 47 vessels in the space of just 18 months.
This short but prolific spell on U-boats accounted for the sinking of 273,043 tons worth of ships – more than any other navy commander managed throughout the entirety of the war.
Fascinating pictures have emerged illustrating the career of legendary Nazi U-boat commander Admiral Otto Kretschmer who became the most successful submarine officer of the Second World War. One shows him shaking hands with Adolf Hitler after receiving the coveted Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords on November 12, 1940
Kretschmer is pictured at his navigation periscope during a November 1940 patrol for which he was awarded the Oak Leaves honour from Hitler. The patrol saw his U-99 sink three British armed merchant cruisers – HMS Laurentic, HMS Patroclus and HMS Forfar
Kapitänleutnant Hermann Michahelles(left), commander of U35 and Kretschmer (right) look out of U35’s conning tower during a patrol in the Second World War. Hitler’s Admiral Otto Kretschmer who was responsible for the sinking of 47 vessels in the space of just 18 months
Otto Kretschmer’s short but prolific spell on U-boats accounted for the sinking of 273,043 tons worth of ships – more than any other navy commander throughout the entirety of the war. He is pictured, left, in 1940 and, right, infront of one of his top officers Stabsobersteuermann Heinrich Petersen
Pictures in the book ‘Otto Kretschmer: The Life of Germany’s Highest Scoring U-boat Captain’ by Lawrence Paterson show him with a nervous look on his face as he was being presented with an award by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
One shows him sharing a beer with colleagues following a successful mission and another sees him barking out instructions to his crew ahead of one of his many dives.
During his service he was credited with a string of awards by Germany, including the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, the Wehrmacht Long Service Award, the Iron Cross and the U-boat war badge.
But his luck ran out on March 17, 1941 when ‘HMS Walker’ and ‘HMS Vanoc’ attacked his U-99 with a depth charge as they defended a convoy.
During his service he was credited with a string of awards by Germany, including the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, the Wehrmacht Long Service Award, the Iron Cross and the U-boat war badge. He is pictured, right, receiving his copy of ‘The Kretschmer March’, a song dedicated to him, while the crew of his U99 vessel look on
Kretschmer is pictured issuing instructions to his crew as U99 leaves port. Flying from the commander’s staff in the background is the boat’s commissioning pennant
Klaus Bargsten, the captain of another U-boat, secures a medal ribbon around Kretschmer’s neck during another ceremony honouring his prolific work
Otto Kretschmer comes ashore at the Prince’s Landing Stage in Liverpool and into captivity. His luck had finally run out on March 17, 1941, when ‘HMS Walker’ and ‘HMS Vanoc’ attacked his U-99 with a depth charge as they defended a convoy
After the war Kretschmer was sent to a camp for hardline Nazis but was allowed to return to Germany in 1947. Eventually he joined the newly formed Bundesmarine and in 1962 was transferred to NATO to become a staff officer. Kretschmer retired in 1970 and died at the age of 86 in 1998
Kretschmer scuttled his submarine but was captured along with all but three of his crew. He went on to become a prisoner of war in Canada.
After the war he was sent to a camp for hardline Nazis but was allowed to return to Germany in 1947.
Eventually he joined the newly formed Bundesmarine and in 1962 was transferred to NATO to become a staff officer. Kretschmer retired in 1970 and died at the age of 86 in 1998.
George Creasy, Director of Anti-Submarine Warfare for the British Admiralty, was so intrigued by Kretschmer that he arranged a private meeting at his flat in London shortly after he had been captured, in an attempt to get in the mind of the man himself.
Paterson says that, were it not for the advancements in technology to combat U-boats in between the First and Second World War’s, it’s very likely that Kretschmer would have been the most successful U-boat commander of all time.
‘Otto Kretschmer remains almost legendary within the annals of submarine warfare,’ he writes.
Kretschmer is believed to be pictured in this photo sharing a coffee with fellow crew on the foredeck of a Type II submarine
Pictures in the book ‘Otto Kretschmer: The Life of Germany’s Highest Scoring U-boat Captain’ by Lawrence Paterson show Kretschmer answering questions from an Army reporter in Lorient in the summer of 1940
The Kriegsmarine ensign is raised aboard U99 at the commissioning ceremony when the boat officially became operational. Kretschmer scuttled the vessel after it was attacked by Allied ships in 1941
After Kretschmer was awarded the coveted Knight’s Cross, the Admiral and and his crew retired to the foredeck of U99 for a bottle of beer each
The typically clean-shaven crew of U99 return from patrol on November 8, 1940.
‘During the Second World War he was the highest scoring “ace” of the German U-boat service, about which so much has been written.
‘Kretschmer was not history’s most successful U-boat commander – his credited tally of commercial shipping lies at 273,043 tons sunk and five other ships damaged, plus four warships destroyed. That ranks Kretschmer as the fourth most successful U-boat commander ever.
‘However, the Second World War presented considerably greater difficulties for Kretschmer and his fellow second generation of German U-boat commanders.
‘During the previous conflict, submarine warfare was fresh territory, whereas by 1939 weaponry and tactics for combating U-boats had already been developed and successfully used.’
Otto Kretschmer: The Life of Germany’s Highest Scoring U-boat Captain by Lawrence Paterson is published by Greenhill Books.