Military Figure, U-Boat Commander (Korvettenkapitan Kriegsmarine). Considered by many to be the greatest U-boat ace of all time. He proved he could attack by night on the surface and carry out his personal principle of "one torpedo, one ship." It was from this time that he became the first commander to attack convoys only by night and always on the surface. His methods proved so effective that he ended the war with the highest number of enemy ships sunk and the most successful submarine commander in history. He sank 47 ships for a total of 274.333 tons and 5 ships damaged for a total of 37.965 tons. For this he received the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and swords. He was captured by the British in March, 1941 but managed to scuttle his U-99 and save it from capture. He spent the next 6 1/2 years in captivity. After the war he served in the German Bundesmarine until his retirement in 1970. His final rank was Flotillenadmiral. During a vacation during the summer of 1998 he died in hospital in Bavaria after a boating accident while celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. In his will, he refused a State Military funeral and opted instead for cremation. His ashes were scattered in the North Sea.
Military Figure, U-Boat Commander (Korvettenkapitan Kriegsmarine). Considered by many to be the greatest U-boat ace of all time. He proved he could attack by night on the surface and carry out his personal principle of "one torpedo, one ship." It was from this time that he became the first commander to attack convoys only by night and always on the surface. His methods proved so effective that he ended the war with the highest number of enemy ships sunk and the most successful submarine commander in history. He sank 47 ships for a total of 274.333 tons and 5 ships damaged for a total of 37.965 tons. For this he received the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and swords. He was captured by the British in March, 1941 but managed to scuttle his U-99 and save it from capture. He spent the next 6 1/2 years in captivity. After the war he served in the German Bundesmarine until his retirement in 1970. His final rank was Flotillenadmiral. During a vacation during the summer of 1998 he died in hospital in Bavaria after a boating accident while celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. In his will, he refused a State Military funeral and opted instead for cremation. His ashes were scattered in the North Sea.
Bio by: Thom White
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