1st submarine flotilla

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Coat of arms of the 1st U-Flotilla

The first Unterseebootflottille shortly 1st U-boat Flotilla was an association of the German Navy of World War II and was among the Frontflottillen the submarine weapon. It emerged through reclassifications from the first U-Flotilla established after the First World War , the U-Flotilla "Weddigen" .

The German submarine fleet was divided into flotillas . There were school, training and frontline flotillas. The total number of units used in submarine warfare was 30 flotillas.

history

On Friday, September 25, 1935, the 1st U-Flotilla was set up. This flotilla was named after a submarine commander of the First World War, Otto Weddigen .

Underground support ship Saar with U 10 , U 11 , U 8 and U 9

Flotilla "Weddigen"

The flotilla chief, Frigate Captain Karl Dönitz , explained the reasons for the designation as follows: “We men of the Weddigen submarine flotilla have the legacy of upholding the heroic man who pioneered - a leader of the new weapon - through boldness and Can inflict the first serious wounds on the enemy. ” The commissioning of the flotilla marked the beginning of the rearmament of the navy with submarines. Initially, the flotilla consisted of six submarines: U 7 , U 8 , U 9 , U 10 , U 11 and U 12 , as well as a torpedo boat and the Saar fleet tender . At the beginning of the Second World War , the Weddigen flotilla was stationed in Kiel . In June 1941, Brest became the base on the French Atlantic coast.

U-boats of the 1st submarine flotilla until 1940

In January 1940, the flotillas were reorganized and reorganized. The existing six front flotillas were combined into three flotillas. The 1st U-Flotilla (previously U-Flotilla "Weddigen"), two more flotillas joined: The previous 3rd U-Flotilla (U-Flotilla "Lohs") and the previous 5th U-Flotilla (U-Flotilla " Emsmann ").

Submarine Part of the flotilla Remarks Submarine Part of the flotilla Remarks
U 7 until June 1940 mainly school boat U 8 until 1940 mainly school boat
U 9 until June 1940 in autumn 1939 as a school boat U 10 until 1937 mainly School and reserve boat
U 11 until October 1940 school boat only U 12 until 1939 Front & reserve boat, also Flotilla Lohs
U 13 November 1935 to May 1940 front boot throughout U 14 until 1939 at the same time with Flotilla Lohs
U 15 March 1936 to January 1940 front boot throughout U 16 until 1939 at the same time with Flotilla Lohs
U 17 December 1935 to October 1939 then U-training flotilla U 18 January to November 1936 then a. D., later Flotilla Lohs
U 19 January 1936 to April 1940 then U-training flotilla U 20 February 1936 to April 1940 Until 1939 at the same time with Flotilla Lohs
U 21 August 1936 to June 1940 meanwhile flotilla Lohs U 22 August 1936 to March 1940 Until 1939 at the same time with Flotilla Lohs
U 23 September 1936 to June 1940 until 1939 also reserve boat U 24 October 1936 to April 1940 until 1939 also at Lohs
U 56 January to October 1940 previously Flotilla Emsmann U 57 January to September 1940 sunk, later 22nd flotilla
U 58 January to December 1940 previously Flotilla Emsmann U 59 January to December 1940 previously with Flotilla Emsmann
U 60 January to November 1940 previously with Flotilla Emsmann U 61 January to November 1940 previously with Flotilla Emsmann
U 62 February to September 1940 previously Flotilla Emsmann U 63 January to February 1940 training boat in January
U 137 June to December 1940 then school boat 22nd U-Flotilla U 138 June to December 1940 then school boat 22nd U-Flotilla
U 139 July to October 1940 training boat only U 140 August to December 1940 then school boat 22nd U-Flotilla
U 141 August to October 1940 Training boat U 142 September to October 1940 Training boat
U 143 September to November 1940 Training boat U 144 October to December 1940 Training boat, then 22nd submarine flotilla
U 145 October to December 1940 Training boat U 146 October to December 1940 Training boat
U 147 December 1940 Training boat U 149 November to December 1940 Training boat, then 22nd submarine flotilla
U 150 February to December 1940 then 22nd U-Flotilla

More about the boats in the list of German submarines .

German submarine bunker in Brest (August 1944)

Relocation to Brest

The annexation of large parts of French national territory gave the Navy access to the French ports. The current commander of the submarines (BdU) Dönitz had a train with torpedoes, spare parts, personnel and other equipment assembled and ready in Wilhelmshaven before the negotiations began . He himself arrived on the Atlantic coast of northern France just five days after the armistice was signed. Although Grand Admiral Erich Raeder , the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, had spoken out in favor of Brest as the main base of the fleet, Dönitz opted for Lorient , which, according to his inspection, was less destroyed , and which, in the opinion of Naval Commander-in-Chief Bretagne, Lothar Arnauld de la Perière, was more suitable. Initially, Brest was expanded as a base for surface forces, but from June 1941 into a submarine base and at the same time the home port of the 1st U-Flotilla, whose staff moved to the former French naval school in the naval port. In November 1940 Fritz Todt , head of the Todt Organization, visited the French Atlantic ports and, in consultation with a delegation from the Navy, determined the locations of the submarine bunkers to be built. First the construction of the submarine repair yard in Brest , then the construction of a submarine bunker on the western coast of the port on the site of a former sea pilot station.

U-boats of the 1st U-Flotilla in 1941 and 1942

Submarine Part of the flotilla Remarks Submarine Part of the flotilla Remarks
U 79 March to September 1941 then 23rd U-Flotilla U 80 April 1941 then 26th U-Flotilla
U 81 April to November 1941 training boat until June U 83 February to December 1941 training boat until May
U 84 April 1941 to August 1943 until August 1941 training boat U 86 September 1941 to November 1943 before that 5th U-Flotilla
U 116 February to October 1942 until April training boat U 117 February to October 1942 then 11th U-Flotilla
U 201 January 1941 to February 1943 until April 1941 training boat U 202 March 1941 to June 1943 until June 1941 training boat
U 203 February 1941 to April 1943 until May 1941 training boat U 204 March 1941 to October 1941 training boat until May
U 208 September to December 1941 previously 5th U-Flotilla U 213 January to April 1942 then 9th U-Flotilla
U 263 November 1942 to January 1944 before that 8th U-Flotilla U 301 October to December 1942 then front boat 29th U-Flotilla
U 331 March to October 1941 until July as a training boat U 336 December 1942 to October 1943 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla
U 353 October 1942 sunk on transfer trip U 354 October 1942 not stationed in Brest
U 371 March to October 1941 training boat until June U 372 April to December 1941 training boat until July
U 374 September to December 1941 then 29th U-Flotilla U 379 July to August 1942 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla
U 401 April to August 1941 until July as a training boat U 405 March to June 1942 then 11th U-Flotilla
U 413 November 1942 to August 1944 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla U 435 January 1942 to July 1943 July 1942 to January 1943 11th U-Flotilla
U 439 November 1942 to May 1943 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla U 440 September 1942 to May 1943 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla
U 441 October 1942 to June 1944 Summer 1943 as an anti-aircraft submarine U 456 January 1942 to May 1943 July to November 1942 11th U-Flotilla
U 556 February to June 1941 until April as a training boat U 557 February to December 1941 then 29th U-Flotilla
U 558 February 1941 to May 1943 until May 1941 training boat U 559 February to October 1941 then 23rd U-Flotilla
U 561 March 1941 to January 1942 then 23rd U-Flotilla U 562 March to December 1941 then 29th U-Flotilla
U 563 March 1941 to May 1943 until June 1941 training boat U 564 April 1941 to June 1943 until June 1941 training boat
U 565 April to December 1941 then 29th U-Flotilla U 566 April 1941 to October 1943 until August 1941 training boat
U 574 June to December 1941 training boat until November U 582 January to October 1942 previously 5th U-Flotilla
U 597 July to October 1942 before 8th U-Flotilla U 599 September to October 1942 before 8th U-Flotilla
U 651 February to June 1941 training boat until June U 653 May 1942 to March 1944 front boat since December 1942
U 654 November 1941 to August 1942 before that 5th U-Flotilla U 656 January to April 1942 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla
U 754 December 1941 to July 1942 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla

In the Atlantic 1942

According to estimates by the British Admiralty, around 250 German submarines were operating in the Atlantic at the beginning of 1942. In fact, there were far fewer. In total, the Navy had 91 submarines, one in five of which sailed in the Mediterranean , around half a dozen off Gibraltar and a few more - initially four, then twelve in the summer - off Scandinavia . Ultimately, the front flotillas stationed in France had only 55 submarines available for the submarine war in the Atlantic. Of these, 33 submarines were in the shipyard in January 1942 and eleven more were on their way to the operational area or on their way back. The Navy was only able to ensure that eleven boats were ready for use in the operational area.

U-boats of the 1st U-Flotilla until 1944

Submarine Part of the flotilla Remarks Submarine Part of the flotilla Remarks
U 225 Jan 1943 - Feb 1943 before that 5th U-Flotilla U 209 March 1943 - May 1943 before 6th and 11th U-Flotilla
U 238 Aug 1943 - Feb 1944 before that 5th U-Flotilla U 243 June 1944 - July 1944 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla
U 247 June 1944 - September 1944 before that 5th U-Flotilla U 268 Feb. 1943 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla
U 271 June 1943 - January 1944 before that 8th U-Flotilla U 276 March 1944 - July 1944 afterwards workshop boat & mobile power station
U 292 May 1944 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla U 304 Apr. 1943 - May 1943 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla
U 305 March 1943 - January 1944 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla U 306 March 1943 - October 1943 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla
U 311 Dec. 1943 - Apr. 1944 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla U 392 Dec. 1943 - March 1944 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla
U 394 Apr. 1944 - Sept. 1944 then 11th U-Flotilla U 396 June 1944 - September 1944 then 11th U-Flotilla
U 415 April 1043 - July 1944 ran into mine in port U 418 May 1943 - June 1943 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla
U 422 Aug 1943 - Oct 1943 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla U 424 Oct. 1943 - Feb. 1944 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla
U 426 Nov. 1943 - Jan. 1944 before that 11th U-Flotilla U 471 Nov. 1943 - Apr. 1944 then 29th U-Flotilla
U 584 Jan. 1941 - Oct. 1943 before that 5th U-Flotilla U 603 Dec. 1942 - Apr. 1944 before that 5th U-Flotilla training boat
U 625 Nov 1943 - March 1944 before that 13th submarine front boat U 628 Dec. 1942 - July 1943 before that 5th U-Flotilla training boat
U 628 Dec. 1942 - July 1943 before that 5th U-Flotilla training boat U 629 Nov 1943 - June 1944 in front of that front and mine boat 11th U-Flotilla
U 632 Jan. 1943 - April 1943 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla U 637 June / July 1944 no bets
U 643 July 1943 - October 1943 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla U 665 Feb. 1943 - March 1943 Before that, training boat 5th U-Flotilla
U 669 June 1943 - Sep. 1943 before that training boat 5th U-Flotilla U 722 August 1944 - Sep. 1944 remained without commitment
U 743 July 1944 - Sep. 1944 before that, training boat 8th U-Flotilla

More about the boats in the list of German submarines .

Attacks

In 1943 the Allies began air strikes against the bases of the underground flotillas. The base of the 1st U-Flotilla in Brest was the target of an Allied air raid five times.

  • January 23, 1943
  • February 27, 1943
  • March 6, 1943
  • April 16, 1943

All of these attacks were carried out by the USAAF . The following year the Royal Air Force continued the attacks.

  • August 1944

End of the 1st U-Flotilla

Towards the end of the summer of 1944 the FdU West , sea captain Hans-Rudolf Rösing , moved his base to Bergen . At this point Brest, the base of the 1st U-Flotilla and the 9th U-Flotilla, was already besieged, declared a "fortress" and defended by the soldiers of the Navy under the orders of Flotilla Chief Winter. The headquarters of the 1st U-Flotilla, the Naval School, served as the command post. The 9th U-Flotilla was disbanded in August, and its flotilla chief Lehmann-Willenbrock left for Norway with the poorly repaired U 256 . Lothar-Günther Buchheim describes the siege of Brest and its escape on U 730, the penultimate submarine that left Brest fortress before it fell, in his novel Die fortress . In September, the 1st flotilla was finally disbanded and the boats still operational were relocated from Brest to Bergen in Norway.

The last boats in the flotilla were U 247 , U 396 , U 413 , U 722 , U 736 , U 741 , U 743 , U 773 , U 925 , U 963 and U 1199 , some of them still stationed in Brest on August 1, 1944 , partly already in Bergen.

Flotilla Chiefs

Weddigen submarine flotilla

  • September 22, 1935 to October 12, 1936 - Sea captain Karl Dönitz
  • October 13, 1936 to September 1937 - Sea captain Otto Loycke
  • October 1937 to September 1939 - Lieutenant Captain Hans-Günther Looff
  • September to December 1939 - Lieutenant Captain Hans Eckermann

1st submarine flotilla

  • January 1 to October 31, 1940 - Corvette Captain Hans Eckermann
  • November 1, 1940 to February 14, 1941 - Corvette Captain Hans Cohausz
  • February 14, 1941 to June 14, 1942 - Corvette Captain Heinz Buchholz
  • June 15, 1942 to September 1944 - Corvette Captain Werner Winter

Organizational involvement

The 1st U-Flotilla was subordinate to the Führer der Unterseeboote West (FdU West), who had his headquarters first in Paris , then from spring 1943 in Angers . The FdU West was also responsible for:

Notes and individual references

  1. ↑ Karl Dönitz: Ten Years and Twenty Days. Memoirs 1935–1945. 9th edition. Bernard and Graefe, Munich 1985, ISBN 3-7637-5186-6 , p. 109.
  2. ↑ Lars Hellwinkel: Hitler's Gate to the Atlantic. The German naval bases in France 1940–1945. 1st edition. Verlag Ch. Links, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-86153-672-7 , p. 54

literature

  • R. Busch, H.-J. Roll: Der U-Boot-Krieg, Der U-Bootbau on German shipyards , ES Mittler and Son, Hamburg 1997, ISBN 3-8132-0509-6 .
  • C. Blair: The Submarine War , Volume Two: The Hunted . Heyne, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-453-16059-2 .
  • HA Werner: The iron coffins , Heyne, Munich 1984, ISBN 3-453-00515-5 .
  • J. Rohwer, G. Hümmelchen: Chronicle of the Naval War 1939-1945 , Stalling, Hamburg, ISBN 3-88199-009-7 .
  • F. Brustal-Naval: Ali Cremer: U 333 , Ullstein, Berlin 1986, ISBN 3-548-33074-6
  • Wilhelm Schulz: Over the wet abyss , p. 114 ff., Ullstein, Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-548-25724-0