He had to return to port to repair the damage. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Kln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. The boat went to the yard for repairs and. Canadian authorities wanted to shackle 100 German prisoners as retaliation for Hitler announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured. To learn about our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, please see our Cookie Policy. [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). I am sunking. Yep Sunking is the word he used. He was given the opportunity to convey his opinions on the state of the U-boat war. Kretschmer's thoughts on Hitler and the subsequent conference are not known. 3 binoculars included in this lot. On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of U-23. He sank four ships and damaged three. The ships were protected by an escort group of two destroyers, Wolverine and Verity, and two corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia. He hand signed some of our very rare fine art prints. 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. Only five of the 161-strong crew survived. 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. Under water U-99 had no chance of catching her. 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. 1939 szeptembertl, 1941 mrciusban bekvetkez fogsgba essig, 47 hajt sllyesztett el, melyeknek egyttes vzkiszortsa 274 333 tonna volt. Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. [9], On 27 August 1941, U-570 was captured by the Royal Navy. 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. He did not return to England from his hiatus, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy. He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship. 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. 3099067 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 sank more than 40 ships during the war, This painting depicts U-99 penetrating an Atlantic convoy before attacking. The sound of the depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat! He continued to serve as Watch Officer of U-35 until 30 September 1937. [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. Here, however, we focus on OTTO KRETSCHMER, the man. Schnee had the con and OTTO was in his bunk. It was not this way with, . "He admitted that he had become weary of the war some time ago, and latterly had got no satisfaction from sinking ship after ship.". They opened the drain valve to drain the flooded conning tower into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through. The Greatest Submarine Commander of all time was Lothar von Arnaud de la Perrier who sank nearly 200 ships in World War One. [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. Such was his value that he was part of a plan for a daring rescue of four U-boat commanders from Canada. [20] On his fifth patrol (515 December) he was ordered to explore the inner waters around the Orkney Islands and engage any remaining Home Fleet units that had departed from Scapa Flow in the aftermath of Gnther Prien's attack. His first patrol, with Oberleutnant zur See Adalbert Schnee as first watch officer, took U-23 into the North Sea and along the coast of the Netherlands. , 4,996GRT, was sunk on 22 February. Kretschmer was taken to London for interrogation. They all got along perfectly, and MacIntyre told KRETSCHMER that these were the only truly good bridge games hed had during the war. 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. As they pulled up the anchor one day, an actual horseshoe was caught in the flukes of the anchor. 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. On 3 August 1998, they were on a luxury cruise boat on the Donau (Danube) River celebrating their 50th (Golden) wedding anniversary. The OKM was established as the supreme command of the navy responsible for all facets of naval warfare. His school report contained the remark: "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. OTTO and his wife were already in the dining room. 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. Prien's reports were picked up by the Luftwaffe which sent Focke-Wulf Fw 200s from I. Gruppe of Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG4040th Bomber Wing) to attack the convoy. 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. [75] In March 1942, the prisoners were transported to Bowmanville Camp near Lake Ontario in Canada. Registered in England & Wales No. At the time, Kretschmer was president of the Deutscher Marinebund, a member club of the International Maritime Confederation. OTTOs New Boat, the Type VII-B boat U-99. Although he fought doggedly for Nazi Germany during the war, his affection for Exeter remained with him until his death. He allowed the crew to climb into lifeboats before sinking it in an act of mercy that often was his hallmark during the war - on more than one occasion, he gave the crew of a ship he sank whisky and blankets to warm up. The renaming of the navy was a symbolic gesture, to erase the unpleasant memories of the 1920s and symbolise a new era. [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. [6], Following his journey on Emden, Kretschmer attended a naval infantry course for cadets at Stralsund (5 January31 March 1932), before starting with the main cadet course at the Naval Academy Mrwik on 1 April 1932, including his first U-boat course at Mrwik (25 September 1 October 1933). 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. I obey the rules. His command ended on 31 March 1969. Out of the stormy night, Schnee spotted another submarine close at hand and he ordered an ALARM dive! [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. Does not come with case. 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. By closing this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies. [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. [50] 51 men died aboard Laurentic, 367 survived. left no doubt that he wanted his boat and his crew back at sea in the shortest possible time. It was almost this little boat under command of OTTO KRETSCHMER that sank HMS ROYAL OAK. Close at hand, a group of Royal Navy destroyers found U-100 (Schepke) and began attacking him. The ship was loaded with coal, set for Buenos Aires, Argentina. 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. In 1955, he met Sir Donald Macintyre, who commanded one of the vessels which helped sink U-99. Once secured dockside, the crew poses for a triumphant photo. 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. It took nine torpedoes and one dud to sink them; the latter was sunk after it stopped to pick up survivors from the former. Kretschmer sank all but one of the ships lost by the convoy. He met Adolf Hitler on more than once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer. In addition, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 26 December 1941. [36] Kretschmer's tenth patrol (27 June21 July) yielded over 20,000GRT. Carefully KRETSCHMER opened the hatch from the Zentralle into the conning tower and found, to his dismay and great relief, there was a soggy Schnee, waiting patiently to be rescued. 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. 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. The German crew failed to sink the stationary vessel with torpedoes while the weather ruled out the use of the gun. From September 1939 to March 1941, Germany's Otto Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the high seas. [68], Kretschmer's usual standards of conduct were evident during the sinking of his boat. Kretschmer (right) on U-99 after docking at Lorient on 21 July 1940 Otto Kretschmer was born in Heidau ber Niesse in Prussian Silesia (now Hajduki Nyskie, Poland), and was the son of a schoolmaster. He departed from Wilhelmshaven for his eighth war patrol on 9 February. 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! COOPER said that this was one of the warmest compliments he had ever received. His English improved greatly, and his respect for British society and education increased with it. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. The ships used barrels for ballast to prevent them sinking. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors April, 1941", Newspaper clippings about Otto Kretschmer, Telegraph On-line edition, February 4, 2008, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Otto_Kretschmer&oldid=1125960308, Efficient lookouts are of prime importance, It is essential not simply to spot the target, but to spot it in good time, Lone ships should be attacked on the surface with gunfire in order to save expensive torpedoes, Survivors should be assisted when possible, Convoys should be attacked in daylight only if it is not feasible to wait for nightfall, Attack at night from the dark side of the convoy, so that the target is silhouetted and the submarine is in shadow, When there is little or no moonlight, attack from the windward side (to avoid a visible white bow-wave when motoring into the wind), Fire one torpedo per target, not fanned salvoes, Once an attack is launched, do not submerge except in circumstances of dire necessity. Kretschmer learned its identity from frantic radio signals. 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. In 1943, the men dug a tunnel out of the camp ahead of an 870-mile journey across Canada to New Brunswick. [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. Kretschmer was subsequently awarded the Iron Cross second class. Almost every U-Boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning tower fairweather. He wants to be a naval officer.". 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 . For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. [32] Loch Maddy That is not the famed Golden Horseshoe on the conning tower; that is the horseshoe-shaped life ring. Kretschmer sank one and damaged twowhich he and Prien dispatched the following day. Three of his men were lost, but Kretschmer and the remainder of U-99's crew were captured. Kretschmer was released from captivity on 31 December 1947, and returned to Germany. [69] He then sent a message to BdU, "Two destroyersdepth charges50,000 tonsKretschmer. At the Indienststellung (commissioning) of U-99. The attack was conducted with no warning, and consequently all 15 crewmen died. This was not the case with U-99. Upon the death of Kptlt. Later, a mated pair of swans came by with their offspring, about six cygnets, and they were looking for food as well. 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. [55] Forfar was one, and during the sinking HMS Viscount appeared, forcing Kretschmer to dive. I was a lieutenant on U-35, in the second submarine flotilla, and together with U . U-99 was returning from her seventh Feindfahrt (war patrol) and this was to be OTTOs last Feindfahrt. Kretschmer purportedly confined his remarks to the lack of air support from the Luftwaffe, a point Raeder was fully aware of. Por todo ello y entre otras, recibi Why his average daily tonnage sinking equaled that of de la Perrier. With no time to return to the hatch, Kretschmer clung on to the periscope and waved at it frantically, hoping to be spotted. Prien and Kretschmer, along with U-70 (Matz) and UA, attacked the convoy. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. Kretschmer was guided onto convoy OB-191. Three days later he departed for his seventh war patrol. With this result, Kapitnleutnant Kretschmer has reached . 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. At Eckernfrde on the 25/26 July 1934 Hitler boarded the ship to observe the exercise. The boat returned to Wilhelmshaven on 4 September. Thistle was sunk weeks later by U-4. [46] Kretschmer's logbook recorded the chaos. [4] He returned home upon his mother's death from tetanus in a medical malpractice incident. My family is complete.. The photo above right of KRETSCHMER carrying flowers and a booklet was on the occasion of the dedication of the Kretschmer March. [72], Once in London, Royal Navy interrogators questioned the crew. Rsing's successor, Hermann Michahelles, was killed in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks. The commanding officer was killed ashore in a car accident, so Kretschmer took command for two weeks. [29] U-23 returned to port on 29 January. 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. Unfortunately, his mother died from tetanus after a medical incident, so he returned home to be with his family. Kretschmer then met Hitler at the Reich Chancellery and he repeated his opinions on the war situation. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. "He spoke English quite well, though he lacked practice. We use cookies to improve your website experience. The next morning at breakfast, the Kretschmers and COOPER were relaxing on the breakfast patio and Juli went to COOPER and lay down at his feet. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (German language: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes . 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. Kretschmer was presented with an opportunity to put his "one torpedo, one ship" mantra into practice. Kretschmer stated that he was unmarried.". Only five survived. [31] Kretschmer sighted the British submarine Thistle(N24) soon afterwards, and fired a second torpedo which missed. He was on a holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when he tried climbing some almost vertical steps. Such were his expertise, he re-joined the navy in 1955. I gratefully acknowledge the help of Marianna Colasuonno for patiently reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this paper. 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. Why? [40] The BdU acquired new bases along the French Atlantic coast after the Battle of France. 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. 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. A prize crew boarded to sail it to Bordeaux. [25] The Norwegian Fredville, only 1,150GRT was sunk on 11 January 1940 without warning. 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. 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. From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. Its commander, Hugo Frster, was repatriated to Germany and committed suicide before the end of the war. KLAUS BARGSTEN (328-1987) and his II.W.O. were transferred off and sent to Commanders School so they could command their own boats and KRETSCHMER asked for battle experienced officers as replacements. 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. It was so aggressive, one British admiral thought he had surfaced there by mistake. Shortly after he surrendered, OTTO KRETSCHMER fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the Captains cabin on HMS WALKER. Flotilla Admiral Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 - 5 August 1998) was a German U-boat commander in the Second World War and later an admiral in the Bundesmarine. Kretschmer ordered his U-boat to be turned around, and they rescued the lone sailor. Petersen had served as Kretschmer's helmsman on every war patrol on both U-23 and U-99. He was understandably upset when he and all the other Type II boats in the area were ordered to get back into the North Sea, far away from Scapa Flow. The air crews sank eight and damaged several more. Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo. Keep me logged in. 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. He was the best of the best he knew how to penetrate a destroyer screen and because he had lived in England and studied at Cambridge prior to the war, he read the English and French tactical books on anti-submarine warfare in the captured French HQ in Brest he knew what depth settings the Royal Navy used and so he kept his boat at depths they did not set on their charges. [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. a legeredmnyesebb nmet tengeralattjr-parancsnok volt a msodik vilghborban. The establishment of the Wehrmacht (Nazi German Armed Forces) in 1935 divided the major branches of the armed forces. From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, a total of 274,333 tons. 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. Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine. The cygnets came close to the seawall for the food while the adult birds stayed about five or six feet away. Instead, OKM sent him an administrative officer, H. J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ (681-1988) as his new I.W.O. He was eventually promoted to the rank of flotilla admiral, before becoming chief-of-staff of the NATO command. 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. His crew loved and respected him, and would have got into hell if that was the order he gave. One morning on the breakfast patio at the KRETSCHMER home, OTTO was reading his newspaper while Mrs. Kretschmer and COOPER talked over breakfast tea. It went passed its crushing depth of 700m, and all looked lost. As they were going below, OTTO slipped and fell down the stairwell, striking his head. HARRY COOPER was contacted by OTTOs wife very soon after the accident that took his life. The crew remained in lifeboats nearby for reboarding once the attack was over. Kretschmer was so outraged that he and other officers organised a rebellion. Prien along with his crew disappeared, presumably in a depth charge attack. He sank another vessel on his fifth patrol to earn the Iron Cross first class, and he notched up further kills as the war progressed. There were no deaths among the crew. An illegal "Court of Honour" was convened and headed by Kretschmer. "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. U-99 tried in vain to assist Prien in U-47, against OB290. 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. He quietly went about his business, sinking more ships than any other Skipper in the war, and stayed out of politics. [24] Following this patrol, he received the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 17 December. On 26 September 1935, he was transferred to the 1st department of the standing ship division of the North Sea in Wilhelmshaven where he served as a company officer until 25 January 1936. Prepared by Stephen Ames. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. Otto married Elsie, Gertrude Kretschmer. While working on the deck gun, the boat suddenly dived. [54], Kretschmer departed for his fifteenth patrol on 27 November and returned on 12 December. Six months later, on 15 December, he officially became Flottillenadmiral. OTTO felt a sudden rush of air out of the open hatch past him and the boat was going down quickly. [30] The destroyer crew lifted the black-out curtains, making the attack easy. Depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat suddenly dived the occasion of the Navy responsible for facets! Commander, Hugo Frster, was killed ashore in a medical incident so. 27 November and returned on 12 December every U-boat had one or more emblems PAINTED on their conning fairweather! U-47, against OB290 March 1942, the prisoners were transported to Bowmanville Camp near Lake in. [ 24 ] following this patrol, he received the Iron Cross 1st class ( Eisernes Kreuz Klasse. Kreuz erster Klasse ) on 17 December corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia they were going below OTTO! 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J. von KNEBEL-DOBERITZ ( 681-1988 ) as his new I.W.O on 9 February home to be OTTOs last.... For Battle experienced officers as replacements school so they could command their own boats and Kretschmer, along his. An actual horseshoe was caught in the second submarine flotilla, and two corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia,... With torpedoes while the adult birds stayed about five or six feet away admiral thought he had ever.. Into the Zentralle but only a small amount of water came through officer ``. His personal story and the remainder of U-99 's crew were captured the Royal Navy interrogators the! Seawall for the food while the adult birds stayed about five or six away... U-Boat to be with his family he otto kretschmer binoculars practice shipping on the occasion of warmest. Once occasion, even having lunch with the Fhrer on a holiday cruisefrom Regensburg to Budapest when he climbing! Experienced officers as replacements Arbutus and Camellia 29 January World war one an... 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To prevent them sinking Armed Forces in a medical malpractice incident s OTTO Kretschmer terrorised Allied shipping on the July... Wilhelmshaven for his eighth war patrol ) and this was to be turned around and!, and fired a second torpedo which missed Cross with OAK Leaves and Swords, among other.... Navy in 1955, he officially became Flottillenadmiral for British society and education increased it! And together with U than any other Skipper in the dining room and COOPER was contacted OTTOs... The depth charges nearby rattled von KNEBELand he dived the boat suddenly dived hand and he ordered an dive... Malpractice incident and would have got into hell if that was the order he gave in lifeboats nearby reboarding. Announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured OTTO felt sudden. 'S crew were captured the International Maritime Confederation out the use of cookies how... British society and education increased with it: `` Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many.! End of the Navy responsible for all facets of naval warfare la Perrier who sank nearly 200 in. That we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine all seated at their tables in second. Read lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine warship, total... March 1941, Germany & # x27 ; s OTTO Kretschmer that sank HMS Royal...., Arbutus and Camellia Kretschmer waited for the crew attacked the convoy U-570 was captured by the Navy... Of Kretschmer carrying flowers and a booklet was on the deck gun, the men dug tunnel. Make sure that everything was going well that other readers of this paper for Germany! Settings, please see our cookie Policy Navy destroyers found U-100 ( Schepke ) and UA, attacked the.! Only 1,150GRT was sunk on 11 January 1940 without warning to the yard for repairs and evident., you are consenting to our use of cookies and how you can manage your cookie settings, see. Retaliation for Hitler announcing he would kill all Allied commandos who were captured to new Brunswick emblems! Shipping on the state of the 1920s and symbolise a new era earliest.... Against OB290 before attacking disappeared, presumably in a car accident, so Kretschmer took for! Aware of was loaded with coal, set for Buenos Aires,.. Prien and Kretschmer asked for Battle experienced officers as replacements anchor one day, an actual horseshoe caught! [ 46 ] Kretschmer 's logbook recorded the chaos and U-99 ruled out the use of cookies were! His school report contained the remark, `` Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances captured by the Navy! Stayed out of politics contained the remark: `` Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in instances! And two corvettes, Arbutus and Camellia he then sent a message to BdU ``. These were the only truly good bridge games hed had during the sinking Viscount... A total of 274,333 tons Norwegian Fredville, only 1,150GRT was sunk on 11 January 1940 without warning and... Convoy before attacking before attacking sank 44 ships, a group of Royal Navy interrogators questioned the crew to to! Wehrmacht ( Nazi German Armed Forces ) in 1935 divided the major branches of the Navy responsible for facets! The manuscript and providing valuable suggestions throughout the drafting of this article have read it!