Walther Schwieger
Walther Schwieger | |
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![]() Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger (1917) | |
Born | 7 April 1885 Berlin, German Empire |
Died | 5 September 1917 North Sea | (aged 32)
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1903–17 |
Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
Commands held | U-14, 1 August – 15 December 1914 U-20, 16 December 1914 – 5 November 1916 U-88, 23 July 1916 – 5 September 1917 |
Battles/wars | U-boat Campaign (World War I) |
Awards | Pour le Mérite |
Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger (7 April 1885 – 5 September 1917) was a U-boat commander in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during First World War. In 1915, he sank the passenger liner RMS Lusitania with the loss of 1,198 lives.
Military career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Schwieger_gruppe_1906.jpg/220px-Schwieger_gruppe_1906.jpg)
In 1903 he joined the Imperial German Navy and from 1911 onwards he served with the U-boat Service. In 1912 he took over the command of the U-14. After the outbreak of World War I in 1914 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and given command of the U-20.
On 7 May 1915, Schwieger was responsible for U-20's sinking passenger liner RMS Lusitania leading to the deaths of 1,198 people, an event that played a role in the United States' later entry into World War I. He also torpedoed SS Hesperian on 4 September and SS Cymric on 8 May 1916. On 31 May 1917, his U-boat U-88 sank the Miyazaki Maru during that ship's voyage from Yokohama to London, causing the loss of eight lives.
Schwieger was killed in action on 5 September 1917. His U-boat U-88 hit a British mine while being chased by HMS Stonecrop. It sank north of Terschelling at 53°57′N 4°55′E / 53.950°N 4.917°E with a loss of all hands.
During his wartime career, Schwieger captained three different submarines, on a total of 34 missions. He sank 49 ships, weighing 183,883 gross register tons (GRT). He was the sixth most successful submarine commander of World War I.
References
External links
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2016) |
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walther Schwieger". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- Maritimequest U-20 Photo Gallery
- 1885 births
- 1917 deaths
- People from Berlin
- People from the Province of Brandenburg
- U-boat commanders (Imperial Navy)
- RMS Lusitania
- Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class
- Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class)
- German military personnel killed in World War I
- People who died at sea
- German Navy personnel stubs