Wolfgang Lüth

Wolfgang Lüth
Wolfgang Lüth
Born	(1913-10-15)15 October 1913
Died	14 May 1945(1945-05-14) (aged 31)
Place of birth	Riga, Latvia
Place of death	Flensburg-Mürwik, Germany
Buried at	Cemetery Adelby in Flensburg
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1933–1945
Rank	Kapitän zur See (Captain)
Unit	1st U-boat Flotilla 6th U-boat Flotilla 12th U-boat Flotilla 22nd U-boat Flotilla
Commands held	U-13, U-9, U-138, U-43, U-181 22nd U-boat Flotilla Marineschule Mürwik
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)
Awards	Spanish Cross Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds Croce di Guerra (Italy)

Kapitän zur See (Captain) Wolfgang August Eugen Lüth (15 October 1913 – 14 May 1945), was the second most successful German U-boat ace of World War II. His career record of 46 merchant ships plus the French submarine Doris sunk during 15 war patrols, with a total displacement of 230,781 gross register tons (GRT), was second only to that of Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander) Otto Kretschmer, whose 47 sinkings totaled 272,958 GRT.

Lüth joined the Reichsmarine in 1933. After a period of training on surface vessels, he transferred to the U-boat service in 1936. In December 1939 he received command of U-9, which he took on six war-patrols. In June 1940 he took command of U-138 for two patrols. In October 1940 he transferred again, this time to the ocean-going submarine U-43 for five war-patrols. After two patrols on U-181, the second being his longest of the war, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten). He was the first of two U-boat commanders to be so honored during World War II, the other recipient being Albrecht Brandi.

Lüth's last service position was commander of the naval academy at Mürwik (Flensburg). He was accidentally shot and killed by a German sentry on the night of 13/14 May 1945. Lüth was given the last state funeral in the Third Reich, the only U-boat commander to be so commemorated.

Early life and career

Lüth was a Baltic German born in Riga in the Russian Empire. He went to the Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium there and after he had received his Abitur (school leaving certificate), he studied Law for three semesters at the Herder-Institut. With his parents approval he joined the Reichsmarine on 1 April 1933 as an Offiziersanwärter (Officer Candidate). After he underwent basic military training in the 2nd department (II. Abteilung) of the standing ship division (Schiffsstammdivision) of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund (1 April 1933 – 29 June 1933), he was transferred to the training ship Gorch Fock (30 June 1933 – 23 September 1933) attaining the rank of Seekadett (Naval Cadet) on 23 September 1933. He initially served with the surface fleet, going on a nine-month training tour around the world in the light cruiser Karlsruhe from 24 September 1933 to 27 June 1934. He advanced in rank to Fähnrich zur See (Midshipman) on 1 July 1934 and served for a year aboard the light cruiser Königsberg (22 March 1936 – 31 January 1937), attaining the rank of Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior midshipman) on 1 April 1936 and Leutnant zur See (Ensign) on 1 October 1936.

In February 1937 he transferred to the U-boat arm and was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See (Lieutenant [junior grade]) on 1 June 1938. In July he was appointed 2nd Watch Officer of U-27 (3 July 1938 – 23 October 1938). He sailed on a patrol in Spanish waters during the civil war in that country on the U-boat tender Erwin Wassner (13 April 1939 – 18 May 1939). In October he was appointed the 1st Watch Officer of U-38 under the command of Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) Heinrich Liebe, who during the course of World War II would earn the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). Lüth was on patrol with U-38 from 19 August 1939 until 18 September, (the war started on 1 September).

Boats under his command

U-9

On 30 December 1939 Lüth took command of U-9, a Type IIB U-boat. He went on six patrols with this boat, achieving steady success. His first victim, following the premature ignition of a smoke float, was the Swedish merchantman Flandria, which he sank in January 1940. This surface attack was carried out while U-9's bridge was filled with onlooking crew members. Other sinkings included the surfaced French submarine Doris on 9 May 1940 and seven merchant ships with a total of 16,669 gross register tons (GRT). Two of Lüth's officers on U-9 would be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. His Leitender Ingenieur (chief engineer) Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Wiebe was decorated in 1944 when he was chief engineer of U-178. Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schonder, 1st Watch Officer on U-9 between January and April 1940, received the award in 1942 by which time he had become commander of U-77.

U-138

On 27 June 1940 Lüth took command of U-138, a Type IID, with which he sank four ships on his first patrol, totalling 34,644 GRT. In October, after having returned from his second patrol, on which he fired a torpedo at (but missed) the Norwegian merchant steamer SS Dagrun (4,562 GRT), sank the British merchant steamer SS Bonheur (5,327 GRT) and damaged the British motor tanker British Glory (6,993 GRT). Lüth was mentioned for the first time in the Wehrmachtbericht, (the daily report by the High Command of the German Armed Forces regarding the military situation on all fronts), on 23 September 1940 and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) for his achievements on 24 October 1940.

U-43

On 21 October 1940 Lüth took command of U-43, a long range Type IX U-boat. He carried out five patrols with this boat, totaling 204 days at sea, sinking 12 ships adding up to 64,852 GRT. On 1 January 1941 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant. Lüth, because of his experience — like many other top commanders — was tasked with training future U-boat commanders. These trainees often came along on single war-patrols, which would be their last exercise before they received their own command. Kapitänleutnant Erich Würdemann was one such trainee and sailed onboard U-43 from April to July 1941. Würdemann would be awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as commander of U-506 in 1943 before he was killed in action on 14 July 1943.

The sinking of U-43

U-43 was due to depart Lorient on a war patrol to an area off Freetown, west Africa, but early on 4 February 1941, she sank while tied to the Ysere, (an old sailing ship which was used as a floating pier). Valves and vents had been tampered-with the previous day, but no one had noticed the slow, but steady ingress of water into the bilges. To make matters worse and contrary to a BdU directive, (BdU was the Command Headquarters of the U-boat arm), a hatch had been left open, allowing water to pour into the after torpedo room. Two petty officers were found to be most at fault; but Lüth, as captain was ultimately responsible. However, no record of punishment seems to have survived and Lüth's career does not appear to have been affected.

U-181

File:Merten, Lüth, Guggenberger & Töniges.JPG

Karl-Friedrich Merten, Wolfgang Lüth, Friedrich Guggenberger, Werner Töniges receiving the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross from Adolf Hitler; Karl-Jesco von Puttkamer and Karl Dönitz look on

On 9 May 1942 Lüth was given command of a long-range Type IXD-2 U-boat, U-181. He left on his first patrol in September 1942, departing from Kiel for the Indian Ocean and waters off South Africa. In October he reached the sea lanes outside Cape Town and spent a month patrolling the area, sinking 12 ships for 58,381 GRT before returning to Bordeaux in France, in January 1943. On 13 November 1942 he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub).

In March 1943 Lüth set out for a second patrol off South Africa and in the Indian Ocean, in particular the waters around Mauritius. This patrol lasted 205 days (23 March 1943 – 14 October 1943) making it the second longest of the war. (The longest combat patrol of World War II was 225 days in length, this was achieved by Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat as commander of the U-196.) Lüth sank 10 ships totaling 45,331 GRT on this patrol, which turned out to be his last. While at sea he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän on 1 April 1943, and on 15 April received news that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern).

U-181 rendezvoused with the supply ship Charlotte Schliemann east of Mauritius to refuel on 21 June. Also present were U-177 under the command of Robert Gysae, U-178 Wilhelm Dommes), U-196 (Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat), U-197 (Robert Bartels) and U-198 (Werner Hartmann). The commanders exchanged experiences and discussed the problem of torpedo failures. On 9 August of the same year and while still on patrol, Lüth was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten). On 15 July 1943, Lüth sunk the British collier Empire Lake and noted in his logbook. "Five men have been left floating on a piece of wreckage. Due to the high sea and 180-mile distance from land they will probably not be saved."

Lüth nominated two crew members of U-181 for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after this patrol. The chief engineer Kapitänleutnant Carl-August Landfermann and 2nd Watch Officer Johannes Limbach both received the Knight's Cross for their achievements.

Ashore

After five years of operational U-boat service, including 15 war-patrols and over 600 days at sea, Lüth took command of 22nd U-boat Flotilla stationed at Gotenhafen in January 1944. This was a training unit for U-boat commanders. In July 1944 he took command of the 1st Department of the Marineschule Mürwik (Mürwik Naval Academy) in Flensburg. He was promoted to Fregattenkapitän (Commander) on 1 August 1944 and became the commander of the entire Marineschule in September. He was promoted to Kapitän zur See (Commander) on 1 September 1944.

Death

File:Lüth funeral.JPG

Wolfgang Lüth's state funeral, Großadmiral (Grand Admiral) Karl Dönitz is on the far right delivering the eulogy

British Forces had occupied Flensburg on 5 May 1945; initially nothing changed in the daily routine at the Mürwik Naval Academy. On the night of 13/14 May 1945 Lüth was shot in the head by 18 year-old Matrose (seaman) Mathias Gottlob, a German guard, when the officer failed to respond to the sentry's challenge. The password of the day was "Tannenberg". Whether he deliberately failed to answer the sentry's challenges or the guard simply did not hear his response, is unknown. The officer in charge immediately informed Großadmiral (Grand Admiral) Karl Dönitz, whose adjudant, Fregattenkapitän Walter Lüdde-Neurath, who had accepted the call, initially thought that it was a bad joke. Lüdde-Neurath then informed Lüth's brother, Joachim Lüth, as the two siblings were staying together. It was he who informed Lüth's wife and their four children that Lüth had died.

File:Gedenkstein Lüth.jpg

Wolfgang Lüth memorial at the Mürwik Naval Academy

Dönitz contacted the British city commander of Flensburg, Colonel Roberts, asking him for permission to conduct a formal state funeral, which Roberts approved. That funeral, (the last such) of the Third Reich, was held for Lüth on 16 May 1945 with Adolf Hitler's successor as Head of State, Reichspräsident and Großadmiral Karl Dönitz, delivering the eulogy. Six U-boat commanders, all of them recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, formed the honor guard.

Dönitz ordered a board of inquiry and court martial to clarify the circumstances of the shooting. Four officers under the command of a Navy Judge conducted the court martial. Mathias Gottlob stated that, in accordance with his orders, he had asked for the password three times without response from the person, whom he could not visually identify in the darkness. Without aiming he had fired his rifle from the hip. The chain of events was confirmed by Maschinenmaat Karl Franz, who was leading the watch at the time. The court ruled that Gottlob was not guilty and he was cleared of any fault.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

During his career Lüth sank 46 commercial ships for 225,204 GRT, one warship of 552 GRT, and damaged two ships for 17,343 GRT. His last patrol saw U-181 at sea for 206 days, patrolling the waters between Cape Town and Madagascar, making it the second-longest patrol of the war.

Date	U-boat	Name of Ship	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
18 January 1940	U-9	Flandria	Swedish	1,179	sunk at 54°00′N 03°40′E
19 January 1940	U-9	Patria	Swedish	1,188	sunk at 54°00′N 03°30′E
11 February 1940	U-9	Linda	Estonian	1,213	sunk at 58°51′N 01°54′E
20 April 1940	U-9	destroyer	—	—	torpedoed
4 May 1940	U-9	San Tiburcio	British	5,995	sunk at 57°46′N 03°45′E by mine laid on 10 February 1941
9 May 1940	U-9	French submarine Doris	French	552	sunk at 53°40′N 04°00′E
11 May 1940	U-9	Tringa	British	1,930	sunk at 51°29′N 02°25′E
11 May 1940	U-9	Viiu	Estonian	1,908	sunk at 51°22′N 02°26′E
23 May 1940	U-9	Sigurd Faulbaum	Belgian	3,256	sunk at 51°29′N 02°38′E
20 September 1940	U-138	New Sevilla	British	13,801	sunk at 55°48′N 07°22′W
20 September 1940	U-138	Boka	Panama	5,560	sunk at 55°54′N 07°24′W
20 September 1940	U-138	City of Simla	British	10,138	sunk at 55°55′N 08°20′W
21 September 1940	U-138	Empire Adventure	British	5,145	sunk at 55°48′N 07°22′W
13 October 1940	U-138	Dagrun	Norwegian	4,562	torpedo missed, detonating 30–50 meters to the side of the ship
15 October 1940	U-138	Bonheur	British	5,327	sunk at 57°10′N 08°36′W
15 October 1940	U-138	British Glory	British	6,993	damaged at 57°10′N 08°36′W
2 December 1940	U-43	Pacific President	British	7,113	sunk at 56°04′N 18°45′W
2 December 1940	U-43	Victor Ross	British	12,247	sunk at 56°04′N 18°30′W
6 December 1940	U-43	Skrim	Norwegian	1,902	sunk at 53°N 21°W / 53; -21 (Skrim (ship))
13 December 1940	U-43	Orari	British	10,350	damaged at 49°50′N 20°55′W
15 May 1941	U-43	Notre Dame du Châtelet	French	488	sunk at 48°N 14°W / 48; -14 (Notre Dame du Châtelet (ship))
6 June 1941	U-43	Yselhaven	Netherlands	4,802	sunk at 49°25′N 40°54′W
17 June 1941	U-43	Cathrine	British	2,727	sunk at 49°30′N 16°00′W
29 November 1941	U-43	Thornliebank	British	5,569	sunk at 41°50′N 29°28′W
30 November 1941	U-43	Ashby	British	4,868	sunk at 36°54′N 29°51′W
2 December 1941	U-43	Astral	American	7,542	sunk at 35°40′N 24°00′W
12 January 1942	U-43	Yngaren	Swedish	5,246	sunk at 57°00′N 26°00′W
14 January 1942	U-43	Chepo	Panama	5,707	sunk at 58°30′N 19°40′W
14 January 1942	U-43	Empire Surf	British	6,641	sunk at 58°42′N 19°18′W
3 November 1942	U-181	East Indian	American	8,159	sunk at 37°23′S 13°34′E
8 November 1942	U-181	Plaudit	Panama	5,060	sunk at 36°00′S 26°32′E
10 November 1942	U-181	K.G. Meldahl	Norwegian	3,799	sunk at 34°59′S 29°45′E
13 November 1942	U-181	Excello	American	4,969	sunk at 32°23′S 30°07′E
19 November 1942	U-181	Gunda	Norwegian	2,241	sunk at 25°40′S 35°53′E
20 November 1942	U-181	Corinthiakos	Greek	3,562	sunk at 25°42′S 33°27′E
22 November 1942	U-181	Alcoa Pathfinder	American	6,797	sunk at 26°59′S 33°10′E
24 November 1942	U-181	Dorington Court	British	5,281	sunk at 27°00′S 34°45′E
24 November 1942	U-181	Mount Helmos	Greek	6,481	sunk at 26°38′S 34°59′E
28 November 1942	U-181	Evanthia	Greek	3,551	sunk at 25°13′S 34°00′E
30 November 1942	U-181	Cleanthis	Greek	4,153	sunk at 24°29′S 35°44′E
2 December 1942	U-181	Amarylis	Panama	4,328	sunk at 28°14′S 33°24′E
11 April 1943	U-181	Empire Whimbrel	British	5,983	sunk at 02°31′N 19°18′W
11 May 1943	U-181	Tinhow	British	5,232	sunk at 25°15′S 33°30′E
27 May 1943	U-181	Sicilia	Swedish	1,633	sunk at 24°31′S 35°12′E
7 June 1943	U-181	Harrier	South African	193	sunk at 29°00′S 34°00′E
2 July 1943	U-181	Hoihow	British	2,798	sunk at 19°30′S 55°30′E
15 July 1943	U-181	Empire Lake	British	2,852	sunk at 21°27′S 51°47′E
16 July 1943	U-181	Port Franklin	British	7,135	sunk at 22°36′S 51°22′E
4 August 1943	U-181	Dalfram	British	4,558	sunk at 20°53′S 56°43′E
7 August 1943	U-181	Umvuma	British	4,419	sunk at 20°18′S 57°14′E
12 August 1943	U-181	Clan Macarthur	British	10,528	sunk at 23°00′S 53°11′E

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Bronze (6 June 1939)
• The Return of Sudetenland Commemorative Medal of 1 October 1938 (16 September 1939)
• U-boat Front Clasp (12 October 1944)
• U-boat War Badge with Diamonds (26 January 1943)
• Croce di Guerra Italiana al valor militare (1 November 1941)
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (25 January 1940)
  • 1st Class (15 May 1940)
• Gauehrenabzeichen des Reichgaues Wartheland (24 October 1943)
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
  • Knight's Cross (24 October 1940) as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of U-138
  • 142nd Oak Leaves (13 November 1942) as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-181
  • 29th Swords (15 April 1943) as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-181
  • 7th Diamonds (9 August 1943) as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-181
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht

Promotions

23 September 1933:	Seekadett (Midshipman)
1 July 1934:	Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)
1 April 1936:	Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)
1 October 1936:	Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)
1 June 1938:	Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)
1 January 1941:	Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)
1 April 1943:	Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain)
1 August 1944:	Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain)
1 September 1944:	Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea)

References in the Wehrmachtbericht

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Monday, 23 September 1940	An den im Wehrmachtbericht vom 21. September gemeldeten Unterseebootserfolgen war das unter dem Kommando von Oberleutnant zur See Lüth stehende kleine Unterseeboot mit der Versenkung von vier feindlichen Handelsschiffen mit 29 000 BRT beteiligt.	The small submarine commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Lüth contributed to the submarine successes announced in the Wehrmachtbericht on 21 September with the sinking of four enemy merchant ships of 29 000 GRT.
Wednesday, 14 January 1942	Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung des Kapitänleutnants Lüth versenkte in zähen Angriffen aus einem stark gesicherten Geleitzug im Atlantik vier feindlichen Handelsschiffen mit 21 000 BRT.	A submarine under the leadership of Kapitänleutnant Lüth sank in tough attacks from a heavily protected convoy four enemy merchant ships of 21 000 GRT.

References

• Alman, Karl (1988) (in German). Wolfgang Lüth – Der erfolgreichste U-Boot-Kommandant des Zweiten Weltkriegs – Mit vier Booten 609 Tage in See. Utting, Germany: Dörfler im Nebel Verlag. ISBN 3-89555-854-0. http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=isbn%3A3895558540. 
• Berger, Florian (2000) (in German). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Wien, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5. http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=isbn%3A3950130705. 
• Busch, Rainer & Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 – Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 3-8132-0515-0.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
• Fraschka, Günther (1994). Knights of the Reich. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military/Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-580-0.
• Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-88740-748-X.
• Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-87943-355-0.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2004). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld – Primozic (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-21-1.
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Ritterkreuzträger 1939 – 1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Vause, Jordan (1992). U-Boat Ace, the story of Wolfgang Lüth. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-271-7.
• Williamson, Gordon & Pavlovic, Darko (1995). U-Boat Crews 1914–45. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85532-545-4.
• Williamson, Gordon (2006). Knight's Cross with Diamonds Recipients 1941–45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-644-5.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 2, 1. Januar 1942 bis 31. Dezember 1943 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
• Helden der Wehrmacht – Unsterbliche deutsche Soldaten (in German). München: FZ-Verlag GmbH, 2004. ISBN 3-924309-53-1.

External links

• Wolfgang Lüth in the German National Library catalogue
• "Uboat.net". The Men – Wolfgang Lüth. http://uboat.net/men/luth.htm. Retrieved 18 February 2007. 
• "Lexikon der Wehrmacht". Wolfgang Lüth. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/LuthW.htm. Retrieved 21 February 2009. 
• "Deutsche Marinesoldaten". Wolfgang Lüth. http://www.deutsche-marinesoldaten.de/lebenslaeufe/ritterkreuz/i-l/lueth.htm. Retrieved 21 February 2009.