Herbert Schultze

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Herbert Schultze bigraphy, stories - German World War II U-boat commander

Herbert Schultze : biography

24 July 1909 – 3 June 1987

Captain Herbert Schultze (24 July 1909 – 3 June 1987), was a German U-boat commander of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded for eight patrols during the early part of the war, sinking and earning him eighth place on the Aces of the Deep list. Due to several incidents of openly broadcasting his sinkings to alert the Allies of the plight of the crews, he became quite a celebrity even on the allied side. 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 Herbert Schultze.

Notes

Awards

  • Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936)Busch & Röll 2003, p.21.
  • Olympic Games Decoration (20 April 1937)
  • Iron Cross (1939)
    • 2nd Class (25 September 1939)Busch & Röll 2003, p.22.
    • 1st Class (27 October 1939)
  • Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
    • Knight’s Cross on 1 March 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-48Scherzer 2007, p. 690.
    • 15th Oak Leaves on 12 June 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-48
  • Croce di Guerra with Swords (14 October 1941)
  • U-boat War Badge (1939) (25 October 1939)
    • with Diamonds (15 July 1941)
  • Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht (26 February 1940, 2 April 1941 and 12 June 1941)

References in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording Direct English translation
Monday, 26 February 1940 de|Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung des Kapitänleutnants Herbert Schultze hat, von der Feindfahrt zurückgekehrt, die Versenkung von 34 130 BRT gemeldet. Damit hat dieses Unterseeboot insgesamt 16 Schiffe mit 114 510 BRT versenkt.}}Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 82. A submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Herbert Schultze, returned from the war patrol, and reported the sinking of 34 130 GRT. So that this submarine ships has sunk a total of 16 114 510 GRT.
Wednesday, 2 April 1941 de| Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung des Kapitänleutnants Herbert Schultze versenkte im Nordatlantik, zum größten Teil aus Geleitzügen heraus, fünf feindliche Schiffe mit zusammen 35 300 BRT. Mit der Vernichtung eines weiteren torpedierten Dampfers ist zu rechnen. }}Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 461. A submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Herbert Schultze sank in the North Atlantic, mainly from convoys, five enemy ships with a total of 35 300 GRT. The destruction of another torpedoed steamer is to be expected.
Thursday, 12 June 1941 de|Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze hat als sechster Unterseebootkommandant über 200 000 BRT versenkt.}}Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, p. 557.

Captain Lieutenant Herbert Schultze, as sixth submarine captain, has sunk more than 200 000 tons.

Achievements

  • 26 ships sunk for
  • 1 ship damaged for

Biography

Schultze was born in Kiel and joined the Reichsmarine in April 1930. On 9 October 1930 he became a Seekadett. Serving aboard the cruisers and with other future U-boat aces, including Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock.

In May 1937, with a rank of Oberleutnant zur See, Schultze transferred to the U-boat force, taking command of the Type IIA U-boat on 31 January 1938. The U-2 was assigned to the U-Bootschulflottille (U-boat school flotilla), and Schultze spent the next year and a half training with the sub.