Wolfgang Lüth

Wolfgang Lüth
15 October 1913(1913-10-15) – 14 May 1945(1945-05-14) (aged 31)
The head and shoulders of a young man, shown in semi-profile. He wears a peaked cap and black naval coat, a white shirt with an Iron Cross displayed at the front of his shirt collar. His facial expression is a determined and confident smile; his eyes gaze into the distance to the right of the camera.
Wolfgang Lüth
Place of birth Riga, Latvia
Place of death Flensburg-Mürwik, Germany
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kriegsmarine
Years of service 1933 – 1945
Rank Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea)
Unit 1. Unterseebootsflottille
6. Unterseebootsflottille
12. Unterseebootsflottille
22. Unterseebootsflottille
Commands held U-13, U-9, U-138, U-43, U-181
22. Unterseebootsflottille
Marineschule Mürwik
Battles/wars

Spanish Civil War
World War II
Awards Spanish Cross
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds

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.[Notes 1][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 war-patrols 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 Brillanten). 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 U-boat commander to be so honored.[2]

Contents

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 Reichsmarine[Notes 2] 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.[6]

In February 1937 he transferred to the U-boat 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.[7]

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-9 between January and April 1940, earned the award in 1942 as commander of U-77.[7]

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.[7]

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 U-boat 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.[8]

U-181

Karl-Friedrich Merten, Wolfgang Lüth, Friedrich Guggenberger, Werner Töniges receiving the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross from Adolf Hitler, Karl-Jesco von Puttkamer and Karl Dönitz

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).[9]

In March 1943 Lüth set out for a second patrol off South Africa into the Indian Ocean 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 Eitel-Friedrich 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 Brillanten).[1][10]

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.[11]

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]

Death

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.[12]

Wolfgang Lüth memorial at the Naval Academy Mürwik

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.[13] Six U-boat commanders, all of them recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, formed the honour guard.[14]

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 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.[15]

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.[16] His last patrol saw U-181 at sea for 206 days, patrolling the waters beween Cape Town and Madagascar, making it the second-longest patrol of the war.[2]

Date U-boat Name of Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate
18 January 1940 U-9 Flandria Sweden Swedish 1,179 sunk at
19 January 1940 U-9 Patria Sweden Swedish 1,188 sunk at
11 February 1940 U-9 Linda Estonia Estonian 1,213 sunk at
20 April 1940 U-9 destroyer — — torpedoed [Notes 3]
4 May 1940 U-9 San Tiburcio United Kingdom British 5,995 sunk at by mine laid on 10 February 1941
9 May 1940 U-9 Doris (Q 135) France French 552 sunk at
11 May 1940 U-9 Tringa United Kingdom British 1,930 sunk at
11 May 1940 U-9 Viiu Estonia Estonian 1,908 sunk at
23 May 1940 U-9 Sigurd Faulbaum Belgium Belgian 3,256 sunk at
20 September 1940 U-138 New Sevilla United Kingdom British 13,801 sunk at
20 September 1940 U-138 Boka Panama Panama 5,560 sunk at
20 September 1940 U-138 City of Simla United Kingdom British 10,138 sunk at
21 September 1940 U-138 Empire Adventure United Kingdom British 5,145 sunk at
13 October 1940 U-138 Dagrun Norway Norwegian 4,562 torpedo missed, detonating 30-50 meters to the side of the ship
15 October 1940 U-138 Bonheur United Kingdom British 5,327 sunk at
15 October 1940 U-138 British Glory United Kingdom British 6,993 damaged at
2 December 1940 U-43 Pacific President United Kingdom British 7,113 sunk at
2 December 1940 U-43 Victor Ross United Kingdom British 12,247 sunk at
6 December 1940 U-43 Skrim Norway Norwegian 1,902 sunk at
13 December 1940 U-43 Orari United Kingdom British 10,350 damaged at
15 May 1941 U-43 Notre Dame du Châtelet France French 488 sunk at
6 June 1941 U-43 Yselhaven Netherlands Netherlands 4,802 sunk at
17 June 1941 U-43 Cathrine United Kingdom British 2,727 sunk at
29 November 1941 U-43 Thornliebank United Kingdom British 5,569 sunk at
30 November 1941 U-43 Ashby United Kingdom British 4,868 sunk at
2 December 1941 U-43 Astral United States American 7,542 sunk at
12 January 1942 U-43 Yngaren Sweden Swedish 5,246 sunk at
14 January 1942 U-43 Chepo Panama Panama 5,707 sunk at
14 January 1942 U-43 Empire Surf United Kingdom British 6,641 sunk at
3 November 1942 U-181 East Indian United States American 8,159 sunk at
8 November 1942 U-181 Plaudit Panama Panama 5,060 sunk at
10 November 1942 U-181 K.G. Meldahl Norway Norwegian 3,799 sunk at
13 November 1942 U-181 Excello United States American 4,969 sunk at
19 November 1942 U-181 Gunda Norway Norwegian 2,241 sunk at
20 November 1942 U-181 Corinthiakos Greece Greek 3,562 sunk at
22 November 1942 U-181 Alcoa Pathfinder United States American 6,797 sunk at
24 November 1942 U-181 Dorington Court United Kingdom British 5,281 sunk at
24 November 1942 U-181 Mount Helmos Greece Greek 6,481 sunk at
28 November 1942 U-181 Evanthia Greece Greek 3,551 sunk at
30 November 1942 U-181 Cleanthis Greece Greek 4,153 sunk at
2 December 1942 U-181 Amarylis Panama Panama 4,328 sunk at
11 April 1943 U-181 Empire Whimbrel United Kingdom British 5,983 sunk at
11 May 1943 U-181 Tinhow United Kingdom British 5,232 sunk at
27 May 1943 U-181 Sicilia Sweden Swedish 1,633 sunk at
7 June 1943 U-181 Harrier South Africa South African 193 sunk at
2 July 1943 U-181 Hoihow United Kingdom British 2,798 sunk at
15 July 1943 U-181 Empire Lake United Kingdom British 2,852 sunk at
16 July 1943 U-181 Port Franklin United Kingdom British 7,135 sunk at
4 August 1943 U-181 Dalfram United Kingdom British 4,558 sunk at
7 August 1943 U-181 Umvuma United Kingdom British 4,419 sunk at
12 August 1943 U-181 Clan Macarthur United Kingdom British 10,528 sunk at

Awards

References in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Monday, 23 September 1940 An den im Wehrmachtbericht vom 21. 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.[20] The small submarine commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Lüth contributed to the submarine successes announced in the Wehrmachtbericht on 21 September with the sinking of four enemy merchant ships of 29 000 GRT.
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.[21] 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.

Notes

Footnotes

  1. ↑ a Sources are inconclusive regarding the total amount of Allied shipping sunk. Sources vary between 221,981 GRT and 230,781 GRT.[1][2][3][4] Sometime sources also speak of 17 war-patrols. Lüth aborted two patrols on U-43 prematurely after leaving harbour because of oil leakage.[5]
  2. ↑ The German Reichsmarine was renamed to Kriegsmarine on 1 June 1935.
  3. ↑ No allied destroyer lost this day-although HMS Rutlandshire-an ASW Trawler-was sunk by Luftwaffe aircraft off Namos, Norway and the Norweigen torpedo boat HNoMS Stegg was sunk by the Kriegsmarine at Hardangerfjord

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Williamson 2006, p. 19.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kurowski 1995, p. 153.
  3. ↑ Alman 1988, p. 281.
  4. ↑ Berger 1999, p. 191.
  5. ↑ Alman 1988, p. 75–76.
  6. ↑ Alman 1988, p. 8.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Berger 1999, p. 190.
  8. ↑ Range 1974, p. 182.
  9. ↑ Williamson 2006, p. 18.
  10. ↑ Alman 1988, pp. 159–161.
  11. ↑ Kurowski 1995, pp. 131, 149.
  12. ↑ Alman 1988, pp. 13–14.
  13. ↑ Berger 1999, p. 192.
  14. ↑ Alman 1988, p. 15.
  15. ↑ Alman 1988, p. 16.
  16. ↑ Alman 1988, pp. 282–283.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Busch & Röhn 2003, p. 87.
  18. ↑ Busch & Röhn 2003, p. 88.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Scherzer 2007, p. 518.
  20. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 1, p. 310.
  21. ↑ Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 2, p. 9.

References

  • Alman, Karl (1988) (in German). Wolfgang Lüth - Der erfolgreichste U-Boot-Kommandant 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. 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, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military/Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-580-0.
  • Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, Pennsylvania: 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

Military offices
Preceded by
Kapitänleutnant Heinz Scheringer		 Commander of U-13
16 December 1939 – 28 December 1939		 Succeeded by
Kapitänleutnant Max-Martin Schulte
Preceded by
Oberleutnant zur See Max-Martin Schulte		 Commander of U-9
30 December 1939 – 10 June 1940		 Succeeded by
Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Kaufmann
Preceded by
Commissioned		 Commander of U-138
27 June 1940 – 20 October 1940		 Succeeded by
Kapitänleutnant Peter Lohmeyer
Preceded by
Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Ambrosius		 Commander of U-43
21 October 1940 – 11 April 1942		 Succeeded by
Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Joachim Schwantke
Preceded by
Commissioned		 Commander of U-181
9 May 1942 – 31 October 1943		 Succeeded by
Fregattenkapitän Kurt Freiwald
Preceded by
Korvettenkapitän Wilhelm Ambrosius		 Commander of 22. Unterseebootsflottille
15 January 1944 – 16 July 1944		 Succeeded by
Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Bleichrodt
Preceded by
unknown		 Commander of 1st Department (I. Abteilung) of the Naval Academy Mürwik
17 July 1944 – 17 September 1945		 Succeeded by
unknown
Preceded by
unknown		 Commander of Naval Academy Mürwik
18 September 1944 – 13 May 1945		 Succeeded by
unknown