Ahoy Shipmates

Welcome to instalment nine of our brief mini-series of weekly instalments focussed on the Aces of the Deep- the Top Ten U-boat Commanders of World War 2.

The subject of this week’s instalment is Wolfgang Lüth



Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Wolfgang Lüth was a Baltic German born in Riga in the Russian Empire on the 15th of October 1913. He studied law for three semesters before joining the Kriegsmarine in April 1933. He gained attaining the rank of Seekadett on the 23rd of September 1933. In 1933 he spent three months on the sailing school ship Gorch Fock. Lüth then did a 9-month training tour taking in such destinations as India, Indonesia, Australia, North & South America on board the light cruiser Karlsruhe. He then spent a year serving on the Light Cruiser Königsberg prior to transferring to the U-Boat service in February 1937.



Image courtesy of u-boat-reich.

In July 1937 Lüth became the Second Watch Officer of U-27, upon which he completed a patrol in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War. In October 1937 he was appointed the First Watch Officer of U-38 under Kptlt. Heinrich Liebe, and it with on this boat that he found himself on patrol when the war started on the 1st of September 1939.



Image courtesy of u-boat.net

After a brief period on a school training boat on the 30th of December 1939 he took command of U-9, a Type IIB U-boat, and with this boat he went on six war patrols, achieving many successes, most notably was the sinking of the French submarine Doris on the 9th of May 1940.



Image of Wolfgang Lüth on patrol (one of my all time personal favourites)
Image courtesy of u-boat.net

On the 27th of June 1940 he commissioned U-138, a Type IID U-Boat, with which he sunk four ships on his very first patrol. In October, after having returned from his second patrol, he was awarded with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his successes. He was the only commander of a small U-Boat type to win the decoration.

On the 21st of October 1940 Lüth took command of U-43, a long range Type IX U-boat. With this boat he made five patrols sinking a total of twelve ships.

On the 9th of May 1942 he commissioned a Type IXD-2 U-Boat, U-181. He left Kiel on his first patrol in September 1942. The target area 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 and sinking a further twelve ships before returning to Bordeaux, France, in January 1943.

In March 1943 Lüth set out for a second patrol in South African waters. This patrol lasted an incredible 205 days, during which he sank ten ships. He was awarded with the Crossed Swords his Knight's Cross during this patrol.



This is an image of Wolfgang Lüth after his 205 days patrol with the FdU West Kapitän z. S. Rösing (left) and the commander of the 12th flotilla Fregkpt. Klaus Scholtz (right).
Image courtesy of u-boat.net

After five years of continuous operational u-boat service Lüth took command of 22. Unterseebootsflottille 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-Mürwick. He was promoted to Fregattenkapitän on the 1st of August 1944 and became the commander of the entire Marineschule in September. He became the youngest commander of the German Marineschule in history.



This is an image of Wolfgang Lüth in January 1945
Image courtesy of u-boat.net

On the night of the 13th of May 1945 just a few days after the war ended Lüth was shot by a German sentry at the Flensburg-Mürwik Naval Academy when he failed to respond to a challenge. The lucky shot, fired by the sentry at a target he barely could have seen in the dark, struck Lüth in the head, killing him instantly.

There has been much speculation as to why he did not respond to the sentry's challenge. Some have suggested it was deliberate suicide, others that Lüth responded but the sentry failed to hear him. The most likely explanation is that he was drunk, exhausted, or otherwise distracted as he made his way across the grounds of the Marineschule shortly after midnight on the fourth day after Germany's surrender.

It appears that the real reason may never be known.

Lüth was buried on the 15th of May 1945, receiving the very last state funeral of the Third Reich. Hitler's successor as Head of State, Reichspräsident and Großadmiral Karl Dönitz, delivered the last words. Six u-boat officers decorated with the Knights Cross formed the honour guard.

Wolfgang Lüth had a remarkable career not only was he the second most successful German U-boat ace of World War II, he also was the youngest German naval officer ever appointed captain, and the youngest to ever command the Naval Academy Mürwik. Lüth was one of the only two German Navy officers, both U-boat captains, who received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

Ranks attained

1 April, 1933 Offiziersanwärter
23 September, 1933 Seekadett
1 July, 1934 Fähnrich zur See
1 April, 1936 Oberfähnrich zur See
1 October, 1936 Leutnant zur See
1 June, 1938 Oberleutnant zur See
1 January, 1941 Kapitänleutnant
1 April, 1943 Korvettenkapitän
1 August, 1944 Fregattenkapitän
1 September, 1944 Kapitän zur See

Statistics courtesy of u-boat.net

Decorations received

6 June, 1939 Spanish Cross in Bronze without Swords
25 January, 1940 Iron Cross 2nd Class
18 February, 1940 U-boat War Badge 1939
15 May, 1940 Iron Cross 1st Class
24 October, 1940 Knights Cross
1 November, 1941 Italienisches Kriegskreuz mit Schwertern "Croce di Guerra Italiana al valor militar”
13 November, 1942 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
26 January, 1943 U-boat War Badge with Diamonds
15 April, 1943 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Crossed Swords
9 August, 1943 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Crossed Swords and Diamonds
24 October, 1943 Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste im Volkstumskampf
12 October, 1944 U-boat Front Clasp

Statistics courtesy of u-boat.net

Patrol summary

A total of 15 patrols and 642 days at sea

U-boat U-9 Departed on the 16th of January, 1940 from Kiel and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on the 22nd of January, 1940. A total patrol of 7 days.

U-boat U-9 Departed on the 5th of February, 1940 from Wilhelmshaven and returned to Wilhelmshaven on the 17th of February, 1940. A total patrol of 13 days.

U-boat U-9 Departed on the 14 March, 1940 from Wilhelmshaven and returned to Wilhelmshaven on the 20th of March, 1940. A total patrol of 7 days.

U-boat U-9 Departed on the 4th of April, 1940 from Wilhelmshaven and arrived at Kiel on the 24th of April, 1940. A total patrol of 21 days.

U-boat U-9 Departed on the 5th of May, 1940 from Kiel and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on the 15th of May, 1940. A total patrol of 11 days.

U-boat U-9 Departed on the 16th of May, 1940 from Wilhelmshaven and arrived at Kiel on the 30th of May, 1940. A total patrol of 15 days.

U-boat U-138 Departed on the 10th of September, 1940 from Kiel and arrived at Lorient on the 26th of September, 1940. A total patrol of 17 days.

U-boat U-138 Departed on the 8th of October, 1940 from Lorient and returned to Lorient on the 19th of October, 1940. A total patrol of 12 days.

U-boat U-43 Departed on the 10th of November, 1940 from Lorient and returned to Lorient on the 17th of December, 1940. A total patrol of 38 days.

U-boat U-43 Departed on the 11th of May, 1941 from Lorient and returned to on the 1st of July, 1941. A total patrol of 52 days.

U-boat U-43 Departed on the 2nd of August, 1941 from Lorient and returned to Lorient on the 23rd of September, 1941. A total patrol of 53 days.

U-boat U-43 Departed on the 10 November, 1941 from Lorient and returned to Lorient on the 16th of December, 1941. A total patrol of 37 days.

U-boat U-43 Departed on the 30th of December, 1941 from Lorient and arrived at Kiel on the 22nd of January, 1942. A total patrol of 24 days.

U-boat U-181 Departed on the 12th of September, 1942 from Kiel and arrived at Bordeaux on the 18th of January, 1943. A total patrol of 129 days.

U-boat U- 181 Departed on the 23rd of March, 1943 from Bordeaux and returned to Bordeaux on the 14th of October, 1943. A total patrol of 206 days.

Statistics courtesy of u-boat.net

Vessels hit by Wolfgang Lüth

18 January, 1940 Flandria
19 January, 1940 Patria
11 February, 1940 Linda
4 May, 1940 San Tiburcio (Mine)
9 May, 1940 Doris (Q 135)
11 May, 1940 Tringa
11 May, 1940 Viiu
23 May, 1940 Sigurd Faulbaum
20 September, 1940 Boka
20 September, 1940 City of Simla
20 September, 1940 New Sevilla
21 September, 1940 Empire Adventure
15 October, 1940 Bonheur
15 Oct, ober1940 British Glory (damaged)
2 December, 1940 Pacific President
2 December, 1940 Victor Ross
6 December, 1940 Skrim
13 December, 1940 Orari (damaged)
15 May, 1941 Notre Dame du Châtelet
6 June, 1941 Yselhaven
17 June, 1941 Cathrine
29 November, 1941 Thornliebank
30 November, 1941 Ashby
2 December, 1941 Astral
12 January, 1942 Yngaren
14 January, 1942 Chepo
14 January, 1942 Empire Surf
3 November, 1942 East Indian
8 November, 1942 Plaudit
10 November, 1942 K.G. Meldahl
13 November, 1942 Excello
19 November, 1942 Gunda
20 November, 1942 Corinthiakos
22 November, 1942 Alcoa Pathfinder
24 November, 1942 Dorington Court
24 November, 1942 Mount Helmos
28 November, 1942 Evanthia
30 November, 1942 Cleanthis
2 December, 1942 Amarylis
11 April, 1943 Empire Whimbrel
11 May, 1943 Tinhow
27 May, 1943 Sicilia
7 June, 1943 Harrier
2 July, 1943 Hoihow
15 July, 1943 Empire Lake
16 July, 1943 Fort Franklin
4 August, 1943 Dalfram
7 August, 1943 Umvuma
12 August, 1943 Clan Macarthur

Statistics courtesy of u-boat.net

Look out for next instalment as we focus on the number one Ace of the Deep.

Cheers

Sean

Footnote

In compiling each instalment I make reference to a number of established reputable sources both web and reference books.

It is acknowledged that a part or portion of the above information may have been sourced from the following sources and credit is duly acknowledged:

Bibliography – websites

Wikipedia
www.u-boat.net/
U-Boats at War
U-Boats in Action Squadron/Signal
www.u-boataces.com
www.historylearningsite.co.uk
www.uboatarchive.net/
www.u-boat-reich.co.uk
www.U552.com
www.german-navy.de/kriegsmarine/ships/uboats/
www.ubootwaffe.net/
www.sharkhunters.com



Bibliography - books

U-Boats Destroyed: German Submarine Losses in the World Wars by Paul Kemp
Dönitz and the Wolf Packs by Bernard Edwards
Wolf, U-Boat Commanders in World War II by Jordan Vause
German U-Boat Crews 1914-45 by Gordon Williamson and illustrated by Darko Pavlovic
Neither Sharks nor Wolves - The Men of Nazi Germany's U-Boat Arm 1939-1945 by Timothy P Mulligan
U-boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary of U-564 by Lawrence Paterson
KRIEGSMARINE U-BOATS: 1939 - 1945 by Chris Bishop
U-Boat Ace: The Story of Wolfgang Luth (Bluejacket Books) by Jordan Vause
U122: The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Karl Von Schenk and Etienne
Iron Coffins: A Personal Account of the German U-Boat Battles of World War II by Herbert A. Werner
Shooting the War: The Memoir and Photographs of a U-Boat Officer in World War II by Otto Giese and James E. Wise
U-Boats: The Illustrated History of the Raiders of the Deep by David Miller
To the Last Salute: Memories of an Austrian U-Boat Commander by Georg von Trapp and Elizabeth M. Campbell
Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-Boat in World War II (General Military) by Gordon Williamson
The Longest Patrol: A U-Boat Gunner's War by Gregory L. Owen
The U-Boat: The Evolution and Technical History of German Submarines by Eberhard Rossler
Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters, 1939-1942 (Modern Library War) by Clay Blair
Wolf: U-Boat Commanders in World War II by Jordan Vause
Silent Hunters: German U-Boat Commanders of World War II (Bluejacket Paperback Series) by Theodore P. Savas
The U Boat Commanders Handbook by The High Command of the German Navy, High Command of the German Army, Kriegsmarine, and Wehrmacht
Knights of the Wehrmacht: Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service (Knights of the Wehrmacht) by Franz Kurowski