Reinhold Saltzwedel
Encyclopedia
Oberleutnant zur See Reinhold Saltzwedel (November 23, 1889 - December 2, 1917) was a successful and highly decorated German
U-boat
commander
in the Kaiserliche Marine
during World War I
.
Saltzwedel sank a total of 111 merchant vessels for . On September 1, 1936, his name was given to 2nd U-boat Flotilla of the Kriegsmarine
in Wilhelmshaven
to honour him.
broke out and Adjutant
on the . He was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See on September 19, 1914.
In May 1915 he went to the U-boat school. Shortly afterwards joined the active units and served as commander of several U-boats. On August 20, 1917 he was awarded the Pour le Mérite
for his achievements.
On September 18, 1917 he became commanding officer
of the , in which he died on December 2 after UB-81 ran into a mine
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
in the Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Saltzwedel sank a total of 111 merchant vessels for . On September 1, 1936, his name was given to 2nd U-boat Flotilla of the Kriegsmarine
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 It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine.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...
in Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
to honour him.
World War I
Saltzwedel was a Leutnant zur See when the World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out and Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
on the . He was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See on September 19, 1914.
In May 1915 he went to the U-boat school. Shortly afterwards joined the active units and served as commander of several U-boats. On August 20, 1917 he was awarded the Pour le Mérite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
for his achievements.
On September 18, 1917 he became commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the , in which he died on December 2 after UB-81 ran into a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
.