Wolfgang_Lüth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wolfgang Lüth Wolfgang Lüth Wolfgang Lüth 15 October 1913(1913-10-15) – 14 May 1945 (aged 31) Awards • Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945) Spanish Cross Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds Wolfgang Lüth Place of birth Place of death Allegiance Service/ branch Years of service Rank Unit Riga, Latvia Flensburg-Mürwik, Germany Nazi Germany Kriegsmarine 1933 – 1945 Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea) 1. Unterseebootsflottille 6. Unterseebootsflottille 12. Unterseebootsflottille 22. Unterseebootsflottille U-13, U-9, U-138, U-43, U-181 22. Unterseebootsflottille Marineschule Mürwik Spanish Civil War World War II Captain Wolfgang August Eugen Lüth (15 October 1913 – 14 May 1945) was the second most successful German U-boat ace of World War II. His career record of 46 merchant ships plus the French submarine Doris sunk during 15 war patrols, with a total displacement of 230,781 gross register tons (GRT), was second only to that of Korvettenkapitän Otto Kretschmer, whose 47 sinkings totaled 272,958 GRT.[a][1] Lüth joined the Reichsmarine in 1933. After a period of training on surface vessels he transferred to the U-boat service in 1936. In December 1939 he received command of U-9, which he took on six war-patrols. In June 1940 he took command of U-138 for two patrols. In October 1940 he transferred again, this time to the ocean-going U-43 submarine for five war-patrols. After two warpatrols on U-181, the second being his longest of the war, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten). He was the first of two U-boat commanders to be honored in such a way during World War II, the other recipient being Albrecht Brandi. Lüth’s last service position was commander of the Naval Academy Mürwik at Flensburg-Mürwik. He was accidentally shot and killed by a German sentry on the night of 13 to 14 May 1945. Lüth was given the last state funeral of the Third Reich, the only Uboat commander to be so honored.[2] Biography Lüth was a Baltic German born in Riga in the Russian Empire. Here he went to the Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium and, after he had received his Abitur, he studied Law for three semesters at the Herder-Institut. With his parents approval he joined the Commands held Battles/ wars 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reichsmarine[b] on 1 April 1933 as an Offiziersanwärter (Officer Candidate). After he received his military basic training in the 2nd department (II. Abteilung) of the standing ship division (Schiffsstammdivision) of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund (1 April 1933–29 June 1933) he was transferred to the school ship Gorch Fock (30 June 1933–23 September 1933) attaining the rank of Seekadett (Midshipman) on 23 September, 1933. He served with surface fleet at first, going on a 9-month training tour around the world in the light cruiser Karlsruhe from 24 September 1933 to 27 June 1934. He advanced in rank to Fähnrich zur See (Ensign) on 1 July 1934 and served for a year aboard the light cruiser Königsberg (22 March 1936–31 January 1937), attaining the rank of Oberfähnrich zur See on 1 April 1936 and Leutnant zur See (Lieutenant at Sea) on 1 October 1936.[3] In February 1937 he transferred to the Uboat arm and promoted to Oberleutnant zur See (Senior Lieutenant at Sea) on 1 June 1938. In July he was appointed 2nd Watch Officer of U-27 (3 July 1938–23 October 1938). He sailed on a patrol in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War on the U-boat tender Erwin Wassner (13 April 1939–18 May 1939). In October he was appointed the 1st Watch Officer of U-38 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe, who during the course of World War II would earn the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). Lüth was on patrol with U-38 from 19 August 1939 until the 18 September when the war started on 1 September 1939.[4] Wolfgang Lüth U-9 between January and April 1940, earned the award in 1942 as commander of U-77.[4] On 27 June 1940 Lüth took command of U-138, a Type IID, with which he sunk 4 ships on his first patrol, totalling 34,644 GRT. In October, after having returned from his second patrol, on which he torpedoed (but missed) the Norwegian merchant steamer Dagrun (4,562 GRT), sank the British merchant steamer Bonheur (5,327 GRT) and damaged the British motor tanker British Glory (6,993 GRT). Lüth was mentioned for the first time in the daily Wehrmachtbericht (daily report by the High Command of the German Armed Forces regarding the military situation on all fronts) on 23 September 1940 and received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for his achievements on 24 October 1940.[4] On 21 October 1940 Lüth took command of U-43, a long range Type IX U-boat. With this boat he made five patrols totaling 204 days at sea, sinking 12 ships adding up to 64,852 GRT. On 1 January 1941 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant). Lüth, because of his experience — like many other top commanders — was tasked to train future U-boat commanders. These Uboat commander trainees often came along on single war-patrols, which would be their last exercise before they received their own U-boat command. Kapitänleutnant Erich Würdemann was one of Lüth’s trainees and sailed onboard of U-43 from April to July 1941. Würdemann would be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross as commander of U-506 in 1943 before he was killed in action on 14 July 1943.[5] Early war cruises On 30 December 1939 Lüth took command of U-9, a Type IIB U-boat. With this boat he went on six war-patrols, achieving successes steadily, including sinking the surfaced French submarine Doris on 9 May 1940 and 7 merchant ships of 16,669 gross register tons (GRT). Two of Lüth’s officers on U-9 would be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). His Leitender Ingenieur (chief engineer) Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Wiebe received the Knight’s Cross in 1944 as chief engineer of U-178. Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schonder, 1st Watch Officer on U-181 On 9 May 1942 Lüth was given command of a long-range Type IXD-2 U-boat, U-181. He left on his first patrol in September 1942, departing from Kiel. The target of this patrol was the Indian Ocean and South African waters. In October he reached the sea lanes outside Cape Town and spent a month patrolling, sinking 12 ships for 58,381 GRT before returning to Bordeaux, France, in January 1943. On 13 November 1942 he received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).[6] In March 1943 Lüth set out for a second patrol off South Africa into the Indian Ocean 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and in particular the waters around Mauritius. This patrol lasted 205 days (23 March 1943 – 14 October 1943) making it the second longest of the war (The longest combat patrol of World War II was 225 days in length, and this was achieved by EitelFriedrich Kentrat as commander of the U-196.) Lüth sank 10 ships totaling 45,331 GRT on this patrol, which turned out to be his last. While on patrol he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain) on 1 April 1943, and on 15 April 1943 received news that he had been awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern).[1] U-181 rendezvoused with the supply ship Charlotte Schliemann east of Mauritius to refuel on 21 June 1943. Also present at the supply point were U-177 under the command of Robert Gysae, U-178 under the command of Wilhelm Dommes, U-196 under the command of Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat, U-197 under the command of Robert Bartels and U-198 under the command of Werner Hartmann. Here the commanders exchanged experiences and discussed the problem of torpedo failures. On 9 August of the same year and still on patrol, Lüth was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillianten).[1][7] Lüth nominated two crew members of U-181 for the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross after this patrol. The chief engineer Kapitänleutnant Carl-August Landfermann and 2nd Watch Officer Johannes Limbach both received the Knight’s Cross for their achievements.[8] After five years of operational U-boat service, including 15 war-patrols and over 600 days at sea, Lüth took command of 22. Unterseebootsflottille stationed at Gotenhafen in January 1944. This was a training unit for U-boat commanders. In July 1944 he took command of the 1st Department of the Marineschule Mürwik (Naval Academy Mürwik) in Flensburg-Mürwik. He was promoted to Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain) on 1 August 1944 and became the commander of the entire Marineschule in September, and advanced in rank to Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea) on 1 September 1944.[1] Wolfgang Lüth Wolfgang Lüth’s state funeral, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz at the far right delivering the eulogy The British Forces had occupied Flensburg on 5 May 1945, though initially nothing changed in the daily routine at the Naval Academy Mürwik. On the night of 13 to 14 May 1945 Lüth was shot in the head by 18 year-old Matrose Mathias Gottlob, a German sentry at the Flensburg-Mürwik Naval Academy, when he failed to respond to the sentry’s challenge. The password of the day was "Tannenberg". Whether he deliberately failed to respond or if the guard simply did not hear his response, is unknown. The officer in charge immediately informed Großadmiral Karl Dönitz. Dönitz adjudant Fregattenkapitän Walter Lüdde-Neurath, who accepted the call, initially thought that this was a bad joke. Lüdde-Neurath then informed Lüth’s brother, Joachim Lüth, as the two brothers were staying together. It was he who informed Lüth’s wife and their four children that Lüth had died.[9] Dönitz contacted the British city commander of Flensburg, Colonel Roberts, asking him for a permission to conduct a formal state funeral, which Roberts approved. The last state funeral of the Third Reich was held for Lüth on 16 May 1945 with Adolf Hitler’s successor as Head of State, Reichspräsident and Großadmiral Karl Dönitz, delivering the eulogy.[10] Six U-boat commanders, all of them recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, formed the honour guard.[11] Dönitz ordered a board of inquiry and court martial to clarify the circumstances of the deadly shooting. Four officers under the command of a Navy Judge conducted the court martial. Mathias Gottlob stated that, according to his orders, had asked for the password three times without response from the person, whom he could not visually Death 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia identify in the darkness. Without aiming he had fired his rifle from the hip. The chain of events was confirmed by the Maschinenmaat Karl Franz, who was leading the watch at the time. The court ruled that Gottlob was not guilty and he was cleared of any fault in the killing of Kapitän zur See Wolfgang Lüth.[12] Wolfgang Lüth Notes Footnotes • a Sources are inconclusive regarding the total amount of Allied shipping sunk. Sources vary between 221,981 GRT and 230,781 GRT.[1][2][19][20] Sometime sources also speak of 17 war-patrols. Lüth aborted two patrols on U-43 prematurely after leaving harbour because of oil leakage.[21] • b The German Reichsmarine was renamed to Kriegsmarine on 1 June 1935. Summary of career Ships attacked During his career Lüth sank 46 commercial ships for 225,204 GRT, one warship of 552 GRT, and damaged two ships for 17,343 GRT.[13] His last patrol saw U-181 at sea for 206 days, patrolling the waters beween Capetown and Madagascar, making it the second-longest patrol of the war.[2] Citations [1] ^ Williamson 2006, p. 19. [2] ^ Kurowski 1995, p. 153. [3] Alman 1988, p. 8. [4] ^ Berger 1999, p. 190. [5] Range 1974, p. 182. [6] Williamson 2006, p. 18. [7] Alman 1988, pp. 159–161. [8] Kurowski 1995, pp. 131, 149. [9] Alman 1988, pp. 13–14. [10] Berger 1999, p. 192. [11] Alman 1988, p. 15. [12] Alman 1988, p. 16. [13] Alman 1988, pp. 282–283. [14] ^ Busch & Röhn 2003, p. 87. [15] Busch & Röhn 2003, p. 88. [16] ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 518. [17] Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, p. 310. [18] Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, p. 9. [19] Alman 1988, p. 281. [20] Berger 1999, p. 191. [21] Alman 1988, p. 75–76. Awards • Spanish Cross in Bronze (6 June 1939)[4] • The Return of Sudetenland Commemorative Medal of 1 October 1938 (16 September 1939)[14] • U-boat Front Clasp (12 October 1944)[4] • U-boat War Badge with Diamonds (26 January 1943)[4] • Croce di Guerra Italiana al valor militar (1 November 1941)[4] • Iron Cross (1939)[4] • 2nd Class (25 January 1940)[14] • 1st Class (15 May 1940)[14] • Gauehrenabzeichen des Reichgaues Wartheland (24 October 1943)[15] • Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds • Knight’s Cross (24 October 1940) as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-138[16] • 142nd Oak Leaves (13 November 1942) as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-181[16] • 29th Swords (15 April 1943) as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-181[16] • 7th Diamonds (9 August 1943) as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-181[16] • Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht References • Alman, Karl (1988) (in German). Wolfgang Lüth - Der erfolgreichste U-BootKommandant des Zweiten Weltkriegs - Mit vier Booten 609 Tage in See. Utting, Germany: Dörfler im Nebel Verlag. ISBN 3-89555-854-0. http://www.worldcat.org/ search?q=isbn%3A3895558540. • Berger, Florian (2000) (in German). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5. References in the Wehrmachtbericht 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Date Uboat Name of Ship Flandria Patria Linda destroyer San Tiburcio — British Nationality Tonnage Fate Swedish Swedish 1,179 1,188 Wolfgang Lüth 18 January U-9 1940 19 January U-9 1940 11 February 1940 20 April 1940 4 May 1940 U-9 U-9 U-9 sunk at 54°00′N 03°40′E / 54°N 3.667°E / 54; 3.667 (Flandria (ship)) sunk at 54°00′N 03°30′E / 54°N 3.5°E / 54; 3.5 (Patria (ship)) sunk at 58°51′N 01°54′E / 58.85°N 1.9°E / 58.85; 1.9 (Linda (ship)) torpedoed sunk at 57°46′N 03°45′E / 57.767°N 3.75°E / 57.767; 3.75 (San Tiburcio (ship)) by mine laid on 10 February 1941 sunk at 53°40′N 04°00′E / 53.667°N 4°E / 53.667; 4 (Doris (Q 135)) sunk at 51°29′N 02°25′E / 51.483°N 2.417°E / 51.483; 2.417 (Tringa (ship)) sunk at 51°22′N 02°26′E / 51.367°N 2.433°E / 51.367; 2.433 (Viiu) sunk at 51°92′N 02°38′E / 52.533°N 2.633°E / 52.533; 2.633 (Sigurd Faulbaum (ship)) sunk at 55°48′N 07°22′W / 55.8°N 7.367°W / 55.8; -7.367 (New Sevilla (ship)) sunk at 55°54′N 07°24′W / 55.9°N 7.4°W / 55.9; -7.4 (Boka (ship)) sunk at 55°55′N 08°20′W / 55.917°N 8.333°W / 55.917; -8.333 (City of Simla (ship)) sunk at 55°48′N 07°22′W / 55.8°N 7.367°W / 55.8; -7.367 (Empire Adventure) torpedo missed, detonating 30-50 meters to the side of the ship sunk at 57°10′N 08°36′W / 57.167°N 8.6°W / 57.167; -8.6 (Bonheur (ship)) damaged at 57°10′N 08°36′W / 57.167°N 8.6°W / 57.167; -8.6 (British Glory (ship)) sunk at 56°04′N 18°45′W / 56.067°N 18.75°W / 56.067; -18.75 (Pacific President (ship)) Estonian 1,213 — 5,995 9 May 1940 11 May 1940 11 May 1940 23 May 1940 U-9 U-9 Doris (Q 135) Tringa French British 552 1,930 U-9 U-9 Viiu Sigurd Faulbaum Estonian 1,908 Belgian 3,256 20 U-138 New Sevilla September 1940 20 U-138 Boka September 1940 20 U-138 City of Simla September 1940 21 U-138 Empire September Adventure 1940 13 October 1940 15 October 1940 15 October 1940 2 December 1940 U-138 Dagrun British 13,801 Panama 5,560 British 10,138 British 5,145 4,562 Norwegian British British 5,327 6,993 U-138 Bonheur U-138 British Glory U-43 Pacific President British 7,113 5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2 December 1940 6 December 1940 U-43 Victor Ross British 12,247 Wolfgang Lüth sunk at 56°04′N 18°30′W / 56.067°N 18.5°W / 56.067; -18.5 (Victor Ross (ship)) sunk at 53°N 21°W / 53°N 21°W / 53; -21 (Skrim (ship)) damaged at 49°50′N 20°55′W / 49.833°N 20.917°W / 49.833; -20.917 (Orari (ship)) sunk at 48°N 14°W / 48°N 14°W / 48; -14 (Notre Dame du Châtelet (ship)) sunk at 49°25′N 40°54′W / 49.417°N 40.9°W / 49.417; -40.9 (Yselhaven (ship)) sunk at 49°30′N 16°00′W / 49.5°N 16°W / 49.5; -16 (Cathrine (ship)) sunk at 41°50′N 29°28′W / 41.833°N 29.467°W / 41.833; -29.467 (Thornliebank (ship)) sunk at 36°54′N 29°51′W / 36.9°N 29.85°W / 36.9; -29.85 (Ashby) sunk at 35°40′N 24°00′W / 35.667°N 24°W / 35.667; -24 (Astral) sunk at 57°00′N 26°00′W / 57°N 26°W / 57; -26 (Yngaren) sunk at 58°30′N 19°40′W / 58.5°N 19.667°W / 58.5; -19.667 (Chepo) sunk at 58°42′N 19°18′W / 58.7°N 19.3°W / 58.7; -19.3 (Empire Surf) sunk at 37°23′S 13°34′E / 37.383°S 13.567°E / -37.383; 13.567 (East Indian (ship)) sunk at 36°00′S 26°32′E / 36°S 26.533°E / -36; 26.533 (Plaudit (ship)) sunk at 34°59′S 29°45′E / 34.983°S 29.75°E / -34.983; 29.75 (K.G. Meldahl (ship)) sunk at 32°23′S 30°07′E / 32.383°S 30.117°E / -32.383; 30.117 (Excello) sunk at 25°40′S 35°53′E / 25.667°S 35.883°E / -25.667; 35.883 (Gunda) sunk at 25°42′S 33°27′E / 25.7°S 33.45°E / -25.7; 33.45 (Corinthiakos (ship)) sunk at 26°59′S 33°10′E / 26.983°S 33.167°E / -26.983; 33.167 (Alcoa Pathfinder (ship)) U-43 Skrim Norwegian Orari British 1,902 10,350 13 Decem- U-43 ber 1940 15 May 1941 6 June 1941 17 June 1941 U-43 Notre Dame du Châtelet Yselhaven French 488 U-43 4,802 Netherlands U-43 Cathrine Thornliebank British British 2,727 5,569 29 Novem- U-43 ber 1941 30 Novem- U-43 ber 1941 2 December 1941 U-43 Ashby Astral British 4,868 7,542 American Yngaren Chepo Empire Surf Swedish Panama British 5,246 5,707 6,641 8,159 American U-181 Plaudit Panama 5,060 12 January U-43 1942 14 January U-43 1942 14 January U-43 1942 3 November 1942 8 November 1942 U-181 East Indian 10 Novem- U-181 K.G. Meldahl ber 1942 Norwegian 13 Novem- U-181 Excello ber 1942 19 Novem- U-181 Gunda ber 1942 20 Novem- U-181 Corinthiakos ber 1942 22 Novem- U-181 Alcoa ber 1942 Pathfinder 3,799 4,969 American 2,241 Norwegian Greek 3,562 6,797 American 6 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 24 Novem- U-181 Dorington ber 1942 Court 24 Novem- U-181 Mount ber 1942 Helmos 28 Novem- U-181 Evanthia ber 1942 30 Novem- U-181 Cleanthis ber 1942 2 December 1942 11 April 1943 11 May 1943 27 May 1943 7 June 1943 2 July 1943 15 July 1943 16 July 1943 4 August 1943 7 August 1943 U-181 Amarylis U-181 Empire Whimbrel U-181 Tinhow U-181 Sicilia U-181 Harrier U-181 Hoihow U-181 Empire Lake British 5,281 Wolfgang Lüth sunk at 27°00′S 34°45′E / 27°S 34.75°E / -27; 34.75 (Dorington Court) sunk at 26°38′S 34°59′E / 26.633°S 34.983°E / -26.633; 34.983 (Mount Helmos (ship)) sunk at 25°13′S 34°00′E / 25.217°S 34°E / -25.217; 34 (Evanthia (ship)) sunk at 24°29′S 35°44′E / 24.483°S 35.733°E / -24.483; 35.733 (Cleanthis) sunk at 28°14′S 33°24′E / 28.233°S 33.4°E / -28.233; 33.4 (Amarylis) sunk at 02°31′N 19°18′W / 2.517°N 19.3°W / 2.517; -19.3 (Empire Whimbrel (ship)) sunk at 25°15′S 33°30′E / 25.25°S 33.5°E / -25.25; 33.5 (Tinhow) sunk at 24°31′S 35°12′E / 24.517°S 35.2°E / -24.517; 35.2 (Sicilia (ship)) sunk at 29°00′S 34°00′E / 29°S 34°E / -29; 34 (Harrier (ship)) sunk at 19°30′S 55°30′E / 19.5°S 55.5°E / -19.5; 55.5 (Hoihow (ship)) sunk at 21°27′S 51°47′E / 21.45°S 51.783°E / -21.45; 51.783 (Empire Lake (ship)) sunk at 22°36′S 51°22′E / 22.6°S 51.367°E / -22.6; 51.367 (Port Franklin (ship)) sunk at 20°53′S 56°43′E / 20.883°S 56.717°E / -20.883; 56.717 (Dalfram (ship)) sunk at 20°18′S 57°14′E / 20.3°S 57.233°E / -20.3; 57.233 (Umvuma (ship)) sunk at 23°00′S 53°11′E / 23°S 53.183°E / -23; 53.183 (Clan Macarthur (ship)) Greek 6,481 Greek Greek 3,551 4,153 Panama British 4,328 5,983 British Swedish South African British British 5,232 1,633 193 2,798 2,852 U-181 Port Franklin U-181 Dalfram British 7,135 British 4,558 U-181 Umvuma British 4,419 12 August U-181 Clan 1943 Macarthur British 10,528 http://www.worldcat.org/ search?q=isbn%3A3950130705. • Busch, Rainer & Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939-1945 - Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 3-8132-0515-0. • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5. • Fraschka, Günther (1994). Knights of the Reich. Atglen, Pennsylvannia: Schiffer Military/Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-580-0. 7 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Wolfgang Lüth Direct English translation The small submarine commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Lüth contributed to the submarine successes announced in the Wehrmachtbericht on 21st September with the sinking of four enemy merchant ships of 29 000 GRT. A submarine under the leadership of Kapitänleutnant Lüth sank in tough attacks from a heavily protected convoy four enemy merchant ships of 21 000 GRT. Monday, An den im Wehrmachtbericht vom 21. 23 September 1940 September gemeldeten Unterseebootserfolgen war das unter dem Kommando von Oberleutnant zur See Lüth stehende kleine Unterseeboot mit der Versenkung von vier feindlichen Handelsschiffen mit 29 000 BRT beteiligt.[17] Wednesday, 14 January 1942 Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung des Kapitänleutnants Lüth versenkte in zähen Angriffen aus einem stark gesicherten Geleitzug im Atlantik vier feindlichen Handelsschiffen mit 21 000 BRT.[18] • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight’s Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, Pennsylvannia: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-88740-748-X. • Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-87943-355-0. • Schaulen, Fritjof (2004). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld - Primozic (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-21-1. • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 - 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2. • Williamson, Gordon & Pavlovic, Darko (1995). U-Boat Crews 1914-45. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85532-545-4. • Williamson, Gordon (2006). Knight’s Cross with Diamonds Recipients 1941-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-644-5. • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3. • Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3. • Helden der Wehrmacht - Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten (in German). München: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2004. ISBN 3-924309-53-1. External links • Wolfgang Lüth in the German National Library catalogue (German) • "Uboat.net". The Men – Wolfgang Lüth. http://uboat.net/men/luth.htm. Retrieved on 18 February 2007. • "Lexikon der Wehrmacht". Wolfgang Lüth. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/ Personenregister/LuthW.htm. Retrieved on 21 February 2009. • "Deutsche Marinesoldaten". Wolfgang Lüth. http://www.deutschemarinesoldaten.de/lebenslaeufe/ ritterkreuz/i-l/lueth.htm. Retrieved on 21 February 2009. Persondata NAME ALTERNATIVE NAMES SHORT DESCRIPTION DATE OF BIRTH PLACE OF BIRTH DATE OF DEATH German World War II Uboat commander October 15, 1913 Riga, Latvia May 13, 1945 Lüth, Wolfgang 8 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Military offices Preceded by Kapitänleutnant Heinz Scheringer Preceded by Oberleutnant zur See Max-Martin Schulte Preceded by Commissioned Preceded by Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Ambrosius Preceded by Commissioned Preceded by Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Ambrosius Preceded by unknown Commander of U-13 16 December 1939 – 28 December 1939 Commander of U-9 30 December 1939 – 10 June 1940 Commander of U-138 27 June 1940 – 20 October 1940 Commander of U-43 21 October 1940 – 11 April 1942 Wolfgang Lüth Succeeded by Kapitänleutnant MaxMartin Schulte Succeeded by Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Kaufmann Succeeded by Kapitänleutnant Peter Lohmeyer Succeeded by Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Schwantke Succeeded by Fregattenkapitän Kurt Freiwald Succeeded by Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Bleichrodt Succeeded by unknown Commander of U-181 9 May 1942 – 31 October 1943 Commander of 22. Unterseebootsflottille 15 January 1944 – 16 July 1944 Commander of 1st Department (I. Abteilung) of the Naval Academy Mürwik 17 July 1944 – 17 September 1945 Commander of Naval Academy Mürwik 18 September 1944 – 13 May 1945 Flensburg-Mürwik, Germany Preceded by unknown Succeeded by unknown PLACE OF DEATH Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_L%C3%BCth" Categories: 1913 births, 1945 deaths, German people of the Spanish Civil War, German military personnel of World War II, U-boat commanders, Aces of the Deep, Baltic Germans, People from Riga, People from Livonia, Recipients of the U-boat War Badge, Recipients of the U-boat Front Clasp, Recipients of the Knight's Cross, Recipients of the Spanish Cross This page was last modified on 17 May 2009, at 20:16 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) 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