Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 – 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War.
From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 47 ships, including one warship, for a record total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. He earned the nickname "Silent Otto", both for his successful use of the "silent running" capability of U-boats and for his reluctance to transmit radio messages during patrols. After the war, he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of rearadmiral.
Early life and career Kretschmer was born in Heidau near Neisse, then in the German Empire on 1 May 1912 to Friedrich Wilhelm Otto and Alice (née Herbig) Kretschmer. His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. He then moved to a Realgymnasium (secondary school). In the aftermath of World War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the Weimar era. Kretschmer indulged in sporting pastimes and scientific interests. Kretschmer achieved good results in mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur (school-leaving certificate) at 17. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. He wants to be a naval officer." Kretschmer was too young to enlist at 17 and his father sent him to England to broaden his horizons. He enrolled at Exeter University (then University College of the South West of England) and studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp (b. 1871), a German–born naturalised Briton. He mastered the English language and came to respect British education: its practical focus complemented his scientific and theoretical–based German background. His time in England shaped his view of them during the war. He was quick to believe in rumours of new British inventions during the war at sea. He returned home when his mother died of tetanus because of medical malpractice. He did not return to England, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy.
Reichsmarine
Kretschmer entered the Reichsmarine (Weimar Navy) on 1 April 1930 as See Offizier Anwärter (naval officer cadet). Kretschmer formed part of "Crew 30" (the incoming class of 1930), 78–strong intake of officer candidates. 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).2nd department —II. Abteilungstanding ship division —Schiffsstammdivision Kretschmer was transferred to the training ship Niobe (1 July 1930 – 9 October 1930), attaining the rank of Seekadett (cadet) on 9 October 1930 before embarking on a 14-month stay on board the cruiser Emden (10 October 1930 – 4 January 1932), which took him to the Far East through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal. The Emden made stops in Ceylon, the Philippines, China and Japan; then Guam, South Africa, Angola and Spain on the return journey. A month after the Emden'''s return to Wilhelmshaven on 2 December 1931, Kretschmer and his crew mates were promoted to the rank of Fähnrich zur See (midshipman) on 1 January 1932.
Following his journey on Emden, Kretschmer attended a naval infantry course for cadets at Stralsund (5 January–31 March 1932),infantry course for cadets—Infanterielehrgang für Fähnriche before starting with the main cadet course at the Naval Academy Mürwik on 1 April 1932.main cadet course—Hauptlehrgang für Fähnriche This course was interrupted by two brief assignments on the survey vessel Meteor (22–25 June 1932 and 10–15 October 1932) for navigation training. His training included a pathfinder course for cadets at Kiel (28 March −22 April 1933),pathfinder course for cadets—Sperrlehrgang für Fähnriche an artillery course for cadets at Kiel-Wik (23 April – 28 June 1933),artillery course for cadets—Artillerielehrgang für Fähnriche a torpedo course in Mürwik (29 June – 18 August 1933),torpedo course for cadets—Torpedolehrgang für Fähnriche an anti-aircraft artillery course at Wilhelmshaven (19–31 August 1933),anti-aircraft artillery course for cadets—Fla-Waffenlehrgang für Fähnriche a communication course for cadets at Mürwik again (1–3 September 1933),communication course for cadets—Nachrichtenlehrgang für Fähnriche and his first U-boat course at Mürwik (25 September – 1 October 1933).
On 2 October 1933, Kretschmer was transferred to the pocket battleship as a gunnery officer during a trip to Denmark. This stay was interrupted for an aerial defense training course at Warnemünde (5–10 March 1934).aerial defense training course for cadets—Luftschutzlehrgang für Fähnriche On 19 March 1934, his stay on Deutschland ended and he was transferred to the light cruiser (20 March – 26 September 1934). Kretschmer was present for gunnery exercises in the North and Baltic Sea. At Eckernförde on the 25/26 July 1934 Hitler boarded the ship to observe the exercise. During this assignment, Kretschmer was promoted to Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign) on 1 April 1934. During another torpedo training course at Flensburg-Mürwik (27 September – 21 December 1934), Kretschmer received his commission as Leutnant zur See on 1 October 1934. On 22 December 1934, Kretschmer was again on Köln serving as the ship's second torpedo officer.
Kriegsmarine In 1933 Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power. The establishment of the Wehrmacht (Nazi German Armed Forces) in 1935 divided the major branches of the armed forces. The Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine, a Nazi creation. The OKM was established as the supreme command of the navy responsible for all facets of naval warfare. The renaming of the navy was a symbolic gesture, to erase the unpleasant memories of the 1920s and symbolise a new era. According to one historian, Kretschmer was a patriot and loyal to the government, but later "eschewed Nazi efforts to glorify his success through propaganda."
During Kretschmer's stay on Köln, he attended an aircraft catapult course at Travemünde.aircraft catapult course —Katapultlehrgang 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. Kretschmer joined the U-boat service in January 1936. After the completion of his submariner training he was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See (senior-sub lieutenant/Lieutenant Junior Grade) on 1 June 1936. Kretschmer's first operational experience on a submarine was as a lieutenant on the in 1937 as first watch officer under the command of Klaus Ewerth and then Hans-Rudolf Rösing. Rösing brought his own watch officer, and Kretschmer was demoted to second watch officer. While Kretschmer was discharging his responsibilities for the operational readiness of the deck gun, Rösing dived the ship, leaving Kretschmer stranded in the freezing water. He clung to the periscope in the hope of being seen through the optics. Kretschmer was soon missed and the U-boat surfaced to find him before he succumbed to the cold.
He was given interim command of U-35 in August 1937, and this appointment coincided with Germany's involvement in the Spanish Civil War. The boat was ordered to patrol the Bay of Biscay off the Spanish-French border. The crew were permitted ashore at the resort town of San Sebastián. Rösing's successor, Hermann Michahelles, was killed in a car accident and Kretschmer assumed command for two weeks. U-35 returned to Germany after an uneventful patrol during which no ships were sunk. On 1 October 1937, Kretschmer took command of . Through the remaining Interwar period, Kretschmer developed his own approach to combat, which can be summarized by the phrase "one torpedo, one ship". He dispensed with the standard practice of firing salvoes of torpedoes from long distances. Kretschmer also favoured surfaced attacks as opposed to the recommended submerged engagement, listing 11 Points of Submarine Warfare:
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 Fire at close range Once an attack is launched, do not submerge except in circumstances of dire necessity. Remember that on the surface it is easier for you to spot the enemy than for the enemy to spot you Dive only for two hours before dawn each day, to rest the crew, sweep with sound detection equipment, etc.; otherwise, remain on the surface
The 'one torpedo, one ship' tactics implemented by Kretschmer resulted in a very effective usage of torpedoes, as each attack was designed to maximize the chances of a hit. In fact, out of 116 torpedoes fired in action, Kretschmer scored 74 hits (equivalent to a 69.8% success rate). The vast majority of Kretschmer's attacks - at least 83 - were launched on the surface.
Kretschmer was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (captain lieutenant/lieutenant) on 1 June 1939.
World War II U-23: Patrols 1–8 The German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 began the war in Europe. Karl Dönitz, Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU), ordered attacks on Allied shipping at sea, beginning the Battle of the Atlantic. The short range of the Type II submarine allowed for operations in the North Sea, but no further.
Kretschmer and U-23 had departed from Wilhelmshaven on 25 August, one week before the start of World War II. 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. The boat returned to Wilhelmshaven on 4 September. Further patrols took U-23 around the British coast. The main area of operations were the seas and estuaries off East of England and Scotland, with mine-laying operations in the Baltic, to counter the Royal Navy Submarine Service at the end of 1939. A second patrol (9–21 September) yielded no success either. Kretschmer departed from Kiel for the third war patrol on 1 October. On 4 October 1939 he sank the coastal ship Glen Farg (). The small freighter was carrying pulp and ferrochrome. Kretschmer waited for the crew to take to the lifeboats before destroying the ship with a torpedo. He returned to Kiel, rather than Wilhelmshaven, on 16 October. The next day, Kretschmer was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class ().