Günther Hessler
Encyclopedia
Günther Hessler was a Fregattenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine
during World War II
. He commanded the Type IXB U-boat
, sinking twenty-one ships on three patrols, for a total of tons of Allied shipping, of which was sunk on one patrol alone. He stands 21st on the list of highest scoring U-Boat aces of World War II.
. In 1937 he married Karl Dönitz
's daughter, Ursula. In April 1940 he transferred to the U-boat arm, and six months later commissioned the , unusually without having served as either a 1.WO (1st watch officer) or a Kommandantenschüler ("Commander-in-Training"). On his first patrol Hessler sank four ships for a total of , but he became famous with his second patrol - the most successful patrol of the entire war - sinking 14 ships for a total of . Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Witte
was his first watch officer on these two patrols. His third patrol accounted for another three ships, totalling 13,641 tons, giving Hessler career total of 21 ships totalling , including two Royal Navy ocean boarding vessel
s HMS Crispin and . Hessler then transferred to the BdU
to serve on the staff.
on behalf of the Ubootwaffe and his father-in-law
, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz. In 1947 Hessler was commissioned by the British Royal Navy to write The U-Boat War in the Atlantic, a definitive account of the German U-boat offensive. Assisted by Alfred Hoschatt, the former commander of U-378 and also a staff officer of the BdU, he completed the three volume work in 1951. Hessler died in 1968 aged 58.
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He commanded the Type IXB U-boat
German Type IX submarine
The Type IX U-boat was designed by Germany in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. Type IX boats were briefly used for patrols off the eastern United States in an attempt to disrupt the stream of troops and supplies bound for...
, sinking twenty-one ships on three patrols, for a total of tons of Allied shipping, of which was sunk on one patrol alone. He stands 21st on the list of highest scoring U-Boat aces of World War II.
Career
Hessler joined the Reichsmarine in April 1927, serving on torpedo boats and the battleshipBattleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. In 1937 he married Karl Dönitz
Karl Dönitz
Karl Dönitz was a German naval commander during World War II. He started his career in the German Navy during World War I. In 1918, while he was in command of , the submarine was sunk by British forces and Dönitz was taken prisoner...
's daughter, Ursula. In April 1940 he transferred to the U-boat arm, and six months later commissioned the , unusually without having served as either a 1.WO (1st watch officer) or a Kommandantenschüler ("Commander-in-Training"). On his first patrol Hessler sank four ships for a total of , but he became famous with his second patrol - the most successful patrol of the entire war - sinking 14 ships for a total of . Oberleutnant zur See Helmut Witte
Helmut Witte
Helmut Witte was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. As commander of the Type IXC U-boat , he sank twenty-three ships on four patrols, for a total of 119,554 tons of Allied shipping, to become the 20th highest scoring U-Boat ace of World War II. He was also a recipient of...
was his first watch officer on these two patrols. His third patrol accounted for another three ships, totalling 13,641 tons, giving Hessler career total of 21 ships totalling , including two Royal Navy ocean boarding vessel
Ocean boarding vessel
Ocean boarding vessels were merchant ships taken over by the Royal Navy for the purpose of enforcing wartime blockades by intercepting and boarding foreign vessels.-Ships:-References:...
s HMS Crispin and . Hessler then transferred to the BdU
Befehlshaber der U-Boote
Befehlshaber der U-Boote was the title of the supreme commander of the Kriegsmarines U-boat Arm during World War II. The term also referred to the Command HQ of the U-boat arm itself....
to serve on the staff.
Post-war
After the war Hessler spent over a year in Allied captivity, and testified at the Nuremberg TrialsNuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
on behalf of the Ubootwaffe and his father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
, Großadmiral Karl Dönitz. In 1947 Hessler was commissioned by the British Royal Navy to write The U-Boat War in the Atlantic, a definitive account of the German U-boat offensive. Assisted by Alfred Hoschatt, the former commander of U-378 and also a staff officer of the BdU, he completed the three volume work in 1951. Hessler died in 1968 aged 58.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (18 November 1939)
- 1st Class (1 March 1941)
- U-boat War BadgeU-boat War BadgeThe U-Boat War Badge was a German war badge that was awarded to U-boat crew members during World War I and World War II.-History:The U-boat War Badge was originally instituted during the First World War on February 1, 1918. It was awarded to recognize U-boat crews who had completed three war patrols...
(1939) (3 July 1941) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
on 24 June 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-107 - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold on 9 November 1944 as Korvettenkapitän with the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote - Mentioned twice in the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
on 1 May 1941 and 8 June 1941