Herbert Schultze

Infobox Military Person
name=Herbert Schultze
born=birth date|1909|7|24|df=y
died=dda|1987|6|3|1909|7|24|df=y
placeofbirth=Kiel
placeofdeath=London


caption=Herbert Schultze
nickname="Vaddi" (Daddy)
allegiance=flagicon|Germany Weimar Republic (to 1933)
flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (to 1945)
flagicon|West Germany West Germany
branch=navy|Weimar Republic
navy|Nazi Germany
navy|West Germany
serviceyears=1930-1945 — 1956-1968
rank=Korvettenkapitän
commands=U-2,1938-01-31 – 1939-03-16 (Training)
"U-48", 1939-04-22 – 1940-05-20 (5 patrols)
"U-48", 1940-12-17 – 1941-07-27 (3 patrols)
3. Unterseebootsflottille
Department II, Marineschule Mürwick
unit=U-Bootschulflottille
7. Unterseebootsflottille
battles=Second Battle of the Atlantic
awards=Iron Cross 1st Class
U-boat War Badge with Diamonds
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
laterwork=Served in the Bundesmarine
Lieutenant Commander Herbert Schultze (July 24 1909 – June 3 1987), was a German U-boat commander of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded "U-48" for eight patrols during the early part of the war, sinking 169.709 GRT 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.

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 Leipzig and Karlsruhe 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 U-2 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.

On 22 April 1939 Schultze commissioned U-48, a Type VIIB U-boat. U-48 was later to become the most successful submarine of the war. U-48 was assigned to 7. Unterseebootsflottille, and spent the next four months in training. On 1 June 1939 Schultze was promoted to Kapitänleutnant.

World War II

Soon after the war started on 1 September 1939 Schultze took U-48 out on its first patrol. On 11 September 1939 he sunk the British freighter "Firby". After the sinking he sent the plain language radio message "cq - cq- cq - transmit to Mr. Churchill. I have sunk the British steamer "Firby". Posit 59.40 North and 13.50 West. Save the crew, if you please. German submarine." This message, addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill directly, made Schultze famous, both in Germany and Great Britain. He sank two more ships for GRT|14,777|metric|first=yes during the first patrol.

After returning to base Schultze gave an interview to an American reporter on 29 September 1939. During the interview it was established that Schultze had sunk another British ship, the "Royal Sceptre" and similarly as the "Firby" had arranged for the crew to be rescued by another allied ship. The interview was recorded and broadcast both in the United States and Great Britain.

Now something of a media celebrity, Schultze left for four more successful patrols. On 1 March 1940 he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his successes. On 20 May 1940 Schultze handed command of the U-48 over to Hans Rudolf Rösing due to illness stemming from a stomach and kidney disorder. Schultze spent five months in hospital recuperating. From October 1940 Schultze took up duties as Second in Command of the "7. Unterseebootsflottille", now based in St Nazaire, France.

On 17 December 1940 Schultze resumed command of the U-48, relieving Heinrich Bleichrodt. He led U-48 on three more patrols, and continued sinking enemy shipping at a great rate. Thus Schultze was awarded the "Oak Leaves" to his Knight's Cross on 12 June 1941.

On 27 July 1941 Schultze left the U-48 to take command of 3. Unterseebootsflottille operating from La Rochelle. He served in this capacity until March 1942, when he was assigned to the staff of "Marinegruppe Nord" as Admiral Staff Officer for U-boats. In December 1942 he was assigned to Admiral Karl Dönitz staff. On 1 April 1943 he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän. In March 1944 he was assigned as commander of Department II, Marineschule Mürwik, where he served to the end of the war.

After the war

In 1956 Schultze joined the Bundesmarine of West Germany and served in a string of staff positions, including another two years at Marineschule Mürwick. He retired in September 1968. Schultze died in June 1987 in London, and amongst others, former U-boat ace Otto Kretschmer spoke at his funeral, saying "Deeply respected by friend and foe, revered by his crew, Herbert Schultze was an exemplary naval officer in the best tradition."

Awards

* Eisernes Kreuz 2. and 1. Klasse
* Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub
** Ritterkreuz (1 March 1940)
** 15. Eichenlaub (12 June 1941)
* U-boat War Badge with Diamonds (15 July 1941)
* Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht

Achievements

*26 ships sunk for 169.GRT|709|metric
*1 ship damaged for 9.GRT|456|metric

References

*Franz Kurowski (1995), "Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service". Schiffer Military.
*cite web | title= Uboat.net| work= The Men – Herbert Schultze| url=http://uboat.net/men/schultze.htm| accessdate=26 February| accessyear=2007