Heinrich Liebe : biography
Commander Heinrich Liebe (29 January 1908 – 27 July 1997) was a highly decorated German naval officer who served as a U-boat commander during World War II until transferred to Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine (German Navy High Command). He sank 34 ships for a total of , placing him fourth on the Aces of the Deep list. He was also a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (). The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. It was Germany’s highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Heinrich Liebe.
Summary of career
Ships attacked
As a u-boat commander of U-38 Liebe was credited with the sinking of 34 commercial ships for , and damaged another of .
url=http://www.uboat.net/boats/successes/u38.html|title=Ships hit by U-38|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|work=WWII U-boat successes|publisher=Uboat.net|accessdate=1 April 2010}} | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate and location |
---|---|---|---|---|
6 September 1939 | Manaar | United Kingdom|civil}} | 7,242 | sunk at |
11 September 1939 | Ireland}}While the Inverliffey was a British vessel, she was flying the flag of Ireland the day that she was sunk. | United Kingdom|civil}} | 9,456 | sunk at |
7 December 1939 | Thomas Walton | United Kingdom|civil}} | 4,460 | sunk at |
11 December 1939 | Garoufalia | Greece|royal}} | 4,708 | sunk at |
13 December 1939 | Deptford | United Kingdom|civil}} | 4,101 | sunk at |
9 March 1940 | Leukos | Ireland}} | 216 | sunk at |
17 March 1940 | Argentina | Denmark}} | 5,375 | sunk at |
21 March 1940 | Algier | Denmark}} | 1,654 | sunk at |
21 March 1940 | Christiansborg | Denmark}} | 3,270 | sunk at |
26 March 1940 | Cometa | Norway}} | 3,794 | sunk at |
2 April 1940 | Signe | Finland}} | 1,540 | sunk at |
14 June 1940 | Mount Myrto | Greece|royal}} | 5,403 | sunk at |
15 June 1940 | Erik Boye | Canada|1868}} | 2,238 | sunk at |
15 June 1940 | Italia | Norway}} | 9,973 | sunk at |
20 June 1940 | Tilia Gorthon | Sweden}} | 1,776 | sunk at |
21 June 1940 | Luxembourg | Belgium}} | 5,809 | sunk at |
22 June 1940 | Neion | Greece|royal}} | 5,154 | sunk at |
7 August 1940 | Mohamed Ali El-Kebir | United Kingdom|civil}} | 7,529 | sunk at |
11 August 1940 | Llanfair | United Kingdom|civil}} | 4,966 | sunk at |
31 August 1940 | Har Zion | United Kingdom|civil}} | 2,508 | sunk at |
1 October 1940 | Highland Patriot | United Kingdom|civil}} | 14,172 | sunk at |
17 October 1940 | Aenos | Greece|royal}} | 3,554 | sunk at |
18 October 1940 | Carsbreck | United Kingdom|civil}} | 3,670 | damaged at |
19 October 1940 | Bilderdijk | Netherlands}} | 6,856 | sunk at |
19 October 1940 | Matheran | United Kingdom|civil}} | 7,653 | sunk at |
27 December 1940 | Waiotira | United Kingdom|civil}} | 12,823 | sunk at |
31 December 1940 | Valparaiso | Sweden}} | 3,760 | sunk at |
4 May 1941 | Japan | Sweden}} | 5,230 | sunk at |
5 May 1940 | Queen Maud | United Kingdom|civil}} | 4,976 | sunk at |
23 May 1940 | Berhala | Netherlands}} | 6,622 | sunk at |
24 May 1941 | Vulcain | United Kingdom|civil}} | 4,362 | sunk at |
29 May 1941 | Tabaristan | United Kingdom|civil}} | 6,251 | sunk at |
30 May 1941 | Empire Protector | United Kingdom|civil}} | 6,181 | sunk at |
31 May 1941 | Rinda | Norway}} | 6,029 | sunk at |
8 June 1941 | Kingston Hill | United Kingdom|civil}} | 7,628 | sunk at |