Branch: Reichsmarine / Kriegsmarine
Born: 24 July 1909 in Kiel, Germany.
Died: 3 June 1987 in London, England.
Ranks:
Korvettenkapit�n 1
April 1943
Kapit�nleutnant 1
June 1939
Oberleutnant zur See
1 June 1936
Leutnant zur See 1
October 1934
F�hnrich zur See 1
January 1932
Decorations:
Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class 2 October 1936
Olympic Games Decoration 20 April 1937
Iron Cross 1939
2nd Class 25 September 1939
1st Class 27 October 1939
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross 1 March 1940
Oak Leaves 12 June 1941
Croce di Guerra with Swords 14 October 1941
U-boat War Badge 25 October 1939
with Diamonds 15 July 1941
Commands:
U-2
Takes command on 31 January 1938
Ends command on 16 March 1939
U-48
Takes command on 22 April 1939
Ends command on 20 May 1940
U-48
Takes command on 17 December 1940
Ends command on try 7 July 1941
Other: Personnel
Articles:
Herbert Schultze was a German U-boat commander of the Kriegsmarine
during World War II. Herbert Schultze commanded
U-48
for eight patrols during the early part of the war, sinking
169,709 gross register tons (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. Herbert Schultze 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.
Herbert Schultze was born in Kiel and joined the Reichsmarine
in April 1930. On 9 October 1930 Herbert Schultze became a
Seekadett. Serving aboard the cruisers German cruiser Leipzig
and Karlsruhe.
During May 1937, with a rank of Oberleutnant zur See, Herbert
Schultze transferred to the U-boat force, taking command of
the
IIA Type
U-boat
U-2
on 31 January 1938. The
U-2
was assigned to the U-Bootschulflottille, and Herbert Schultze
spent the next year and a half training with the U-boat.
On 22 April 1939 Herbert Schultze commissioned
U-48,
a
VIIB Type
U-boat.
U-48
was later to become the most successful submarine of the war.
U-48
was assigned to 7th U-boat Flotilla, and spent the next four
months in training. On 1 June 1939 Herbert Schultze was promoted
to Kapitänleutnant.
Soon after the war started on 1 September 1939 Herbert Schultze
took
U-48
out on its first patrol. On 11 September 1939 Herbert Schultze
sank the British freighter Firby. After the sinking Herbert
Schultze 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 U-boat. This message, addressed to the
First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill directly, made
Herbert Schultze famous, both in Germany and Great Britain.
Herbert Schultze sank two more ships for 14,777 GRT during
the first patrol.
After returning to base Herbert Schultze gave an interview
to William L. Shirer, an American reporter, in 29 September
1939. During the interview it was established that Herbert
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 of the Iron Cross for his successes. During
20 May 1940 Herbert Schultze handed command of the
U-48
over to
Hans
Rudolf Rösing due to illness stemming from a stomach
and kidney disorder. Herbert Schultze spent five months in
hospital recuperating. During October 1940 Herbert Schultze
took up duties as Second in Command of the 7th U-boat Flotilla,
now based in St Nazaire, France.
In 17 December 1940 Herbert Schultze resumed command of the
U-48,
relieving
Heinrich
Bleichrodt. Herbert Schultze 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 Herbert Schultze left the
U-48
to take command of 3rd U-boat Flotilla operating from La Rochelle.
Herbert Schultze 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 Herbert
Schultze was assigned to Admiral
Karl
Dönitz staff. On 1 April 1943 Herbert Schultze was
promoted to Korvettenkapitän. In March 1944 Herbert Schultze
was assigned as commander of Department II, Marineschule Mürwik,
where Herbert Schultze served to the end of the war.
During 1956 Herbert Schultze joined the Bundesmarine of West
Germany and served in a string of staff positions, including
another two years at Marineschule Mürwick. Herbert Schultze
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.
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