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7th U-boat Flotilla | |
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Active | Raised 1938, Dissolved 1944 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Kriegsmarine |
Type | U-boat flotilla |
Garrison/HQ | Kiel, St. Nazaire |
Nickname(s) | Wegener Flotilla |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Korvettenkapitän Hans-Rudolf Rösing Korvettenkapitän Adolf Piening |
The 7th U-boat Flotilla (German 7. Unterseebootsflottille), also referred to as the Wegener Flotilla, was a combat unit within the Kriegsmarine , the naval warfare branch of Nazi Germany. It was the seventh operational flotilla focused on U-boat activities.
Founded on 25 June 1938 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Werner Sobe, it was named in honour of Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener. Wegener, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on 19 August 1915 after his submarine U-27 was sunk by British Q-ship HMS Baralong, which was itself a much disputed battle with the Royal Navy accused of war crimes by the German Navy.
According to historical records, the "Wegener Flotilla" was established in Kiel, Germany in June 1938. In September 1940, the flotilla relocated from Kiel to St. Nazaire in France and was subsequently renamed the "7th U-boat Flotilla".
During World War II, the "snorting bull" emblem, which was based on a picture from a comic book and was first used by U-47 gained notoriety as one of the most well-known emblems. The emblem was later adopted by the flotilla when it was stationed in St. Nazaire. U-47 was famous for sinking the British HMS Royal Oak in October 1939.
Duration | Commander |
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June 1938 – December 1939 | Korvkpt. Ernst Sobe |
January 1940 – May 1940 | Korvkpt. Hans-Rudolf Rösing |
May 1940 – September 1940 | Kptlt. Herbert Sohler (in deputize) |
September 1940 – February 1942 | Korvkpt. Herbert Sohler |
March 1944 – May 1945 | Korvkpt. Adolf Piening |
Type | Number assigned |
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Type VIIB | 19 |
Type VIIC | 89 |
Type VIIC/41 | 1 |
UA (Foreign Boat) | 1 |
The St Nazaire Raid or Operation Chariot was a British amphibious attack on the heavily defended Normandie dry dock at St Nazaire in German-occupied France during the Second World War. The operation was undertaken by the Royal Navy (RN) and British Commandos under the auspices of Combined Operations Headquarters on 28 March 1942. St Nazaire was targeted because the loss of its dry dock would force any large German warship in need of repairs, such as Tirpitz, sister ship of Bismarck, to return to home waters by running the gauntlet of the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy and other British forces, via the English Channel or the North Sea.
USS Buchanan (DD-131), named for Franklin Buchanan, was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy.
German submarine U-47 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 25 February 1937 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 582 and went into service on 17 December 1938 under the command of Günther Prien.
HMS Campbeltown was a Town-class destroyer of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was originally US destroyer USS Buchanan, and was one of 50 obsolescent U.S. Navy destroyers transferred to the Royal Navy in 1940 as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement. Campbeltown became one of the most famous of these ships when she was used in the St Nazaire Raid in 1942.
Erich Topp was a German U-boat commander of World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. He sank 35 ships for a total of 197,460 gross register tons (GRT). After the war, he served with the Federal German Navy, reaching the rank of Konteradmiral. He later served in NATO.
The 1st U-boat flotilla also known as the Weddigen flotilla, was the first operational U-boat unit in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine (navy). Founded on 27 September 1935 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Karl Dönitz, it was named in honor of Kapitänleutnant Otto Weddigen. Weddigen, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on 18 March 1915 after his submarine U-29 was rammed by the British battleship HMS Dreadnought in the North Sea.
The 2nd U-boat Flotilla, also known as the Saltzwedel Flotilla, was the second operational U-boat unit in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Founded on 1 September 1936 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Werner Scheer, it was named in honour of Oberleutnant zur See Reinhold Saltzwedel. Saltzwedel, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on 2 December 1917, when his submarine UB-81 was sunk by a mine in the English Channel.
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The 3rd U-boat Flotilla, also known as Lohs Flotilla, was the third operational U-boat unit in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Founded on 4 October 1937 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Eckermann, it was named in honour of Oberleutnant zur See Johannes Lohs. Lohs, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on 14 August 1918 after his submarine UB-57 was sunk by a mine.
The 9th U-boat Flotilla was formed in October 1941 in Brest. It became operational in April 1942, after the first combat ready U-boat, U-213, reached the Brest base on 20 March 1942. The flotilla operated mostly various marks of the Type VII U-boat and it concentrated its efforts mainly in the North Atlantic, against convoys to and from Great Britain. The flotilla served from Brest until the base was threatened with being captured by American forces. The last of the flotilla's U-boats, the U-256 left Brest on 4 September 1944 for Bergen, Norway, and this marked the end of the 9th Flotilla. All its surviving boats were reassigned to the 11th U-boat Flotilla in Bergen.
The 6th U-boat Flotilla, also known as Hundius Flotilla, was a front-line unit of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine before and during World War II.
German submarine U-46 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She had a highly successful career during the war.
Helmut Rosenbaum was a Korvettenkapitän in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II who commanded U-boat U-2, U-73 and the 30th U-boat Flotilla. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He is credited with the sinking of six ships for a total of 35,171 gross register tons (GRT) and three warships.
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German submarine U-206 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 17 June 1940 by the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 635, launched on 4 April 1941 and commissioned on 17 May under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Herbert Opitz.
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