Otto Schuhart

Otto Schuhart (1 April 1909 – 10 March 1990) was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Schuhart commanded the GS U-29 (1936), sinking twelve ships on nine patrols, for a total of of Allied merchant shipping. Schuhart is credited for the sinking of the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous (50) on 17 September 1939, the first British warship to be lost in the war.

Career
Schuhart began his naval career with the Reichsmarine on 1 April 1929 as a member "Crew 1929" (the incoming class of 1929).. After training on the sailing ship SEGELSCHULSCHIFF Niobe he entered the Naval Academy at Mürwik. He served on the light cruiser GERMAN CRUISER Emden, which served as a school ship and in the light cruiser GERMAN CRUISER Karlsruhe. In 1932 Schuhart was assigned to the old pre-dreadnought SMS Schleswig-Holstein. After service as a company commander in the II. Marine-Artillerieabteilung, Schuhart joined Unterseebootsflottille Weddingen as officer of the watch on board of GS U-25 (1936), based in Wilhelmshaven. In 1938 he became commander of GS U-8 (1935) in the U-Bootschule. In December 1938 he was given command of U-25.

In 1939 Schuhart was transferred to U-29. Oberleutnant zur See Georg Lassen was U-29's I. Wachoffizier (first watch officer) on all seven patrols under the command of Schuhart. Right after the outbreak World War II, on 17 September 1939, Schuhart encountered the British carrier HMS Courageous. After stalking her for two hours, Schuhart saw his opportunity when Courageous turned into the wind to launch her aircraft. This manoeuvre put the ship right across the bow of the U-29, which then fired three torpedoes. Two of the torpedoes struck the ship on her port side, and she capsized and sank in 15 minutes with the loss of 518 of her crew, including her captain. During the war Schuhart sank twelve ships on nine patrols, for a total of 67,277 tons of Allied merchant shipping. After transferring back to land, Schuhart became commander of ''1. U-Lehr Division ("1st U-boat Training Division") and later of 21st U-boat Flotilla'' in Pillau. From 1944-1945 he was commander of I./Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik. After the German capitulation he commanded a marine battalion until August 1945. Until December 1945 he served in the German mine clearing service.

In 1955 Schuhart entered the Bundeswehr where he served in various land based capacities. Upon his retirement on 30 September 1967, he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz I class.

Awards

 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (26 September 1939)
 * 1st Class (26 September 1939)
 * War Merit Cross
 * 2nd Class (30 January 1944)
 * 1st Class (1 September 1944)
 * U-boat War Badge (1939) (16 December 1939)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 16 May 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-29
 * Cross of Merit 1st class (30 September 1967)
 * Mentioned three times in the Wehrmachtbericht (19 September 1939, 14 March 1940 and 3 July 1940)