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Otto Kretschmer

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Otto Kretschmer

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German admiral and U-boat commander during World War II

Person · Open Library

Works
1

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  • Handbuch der Seemannschaft, Zweiter Theil

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Type
Person

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Key facts

Nickname
Otto der Schweiger (Silent Otto)
Born
( 1912-05-01 ) 1 May 1912, Heidau, Neisse , German Empire , (now Hajduki Nyskie , Poland)
Died
5 August 1998 (1998-08-05) (aged 86), Straubing , Germany
Allegiance
Weimar Republic (to 1933), Nazi Germany (to 1945), West Germany
Branch
Reichsmarine , Kriegsmarine , German Navy
Service years
1930–1945, 1955–1970
Rank
Reichsmarine (1930–1935): Leutnant zur See Kriegsmarine (1935–1945): Fregattenkapitän Bundesmarine (1955–1970): Konteradmiral
Unit
2nd U-boat Flotilla , 1st U-boat Flotilla , 7th U-boat Flotilla
Commands
U-35 , 31 July 1937 – 15 August 1937, U-23 , 1 October 1937 – 1 April 1940, U-99 , 18 April 1940 – 17 March 1941
Awards
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

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Wikidata facts

Image
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-L22207, Kapitänleutnant Otto Kretschmer.jpg
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Commons category
Otto Kretschmer
date of birth
1912-05-01
date of death
1998-08-05
nickname
Otto le silencieux
start of work period
1930-00-00
name in native language
Otto Kretschmer
end of work period
1970-00-00
Sources (9)

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Article

Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 – 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War.

From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 47 ships, including one warship, for a record total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. He earned the nickname "Silent Otto", both for his successful use of the "silent running" capability of U-boats and for his reluctance to transmit radio messages during patrols. After the war, he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of rearadmiral.

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