Heinrich Liebe

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Heinrich Liebe bigraphy, stories - German World War II U-boat commander

Heinrich Liebe : biography

29 January 1908 – 27 July 1997

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