Herbert Schultze

Herbert Emil Schultze (24 July 1909 – 3 June 1987), was a German submarine commander during World War II.

He joined the Reichsmarine on 1 April 1930.

Schultze underwent a number of officer training courses at the Naval Academy at Mürwik before transferring to the German cruiser Leipzig (2 October 1933 – 7 October 1934).

During this assignment, he was promoted to Oberfähnrich zur See (senior midshipman) on 1 April 1934 and to Leutnant zur See (acting sub-lieutenant) on 1 October 1934.

In May 1937, now an Oberleutnant zur See, Schultze transferred to the U-boat force, taking command of the Type IIA U-boat GS U-2 (1935) on 31 January 1938.

U-2 was assigned to the U-Bootschulflottille (U-boat school flotilla); he spent the next year and a half training with the sub.

He commanded the GS U-48 (1939) for eight patrols during the early part of the war, sinking of shipping.

Schultze was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Schultze was born in Kiel.

On 22 April 1939 Schultze commissioned GS U-48 (1939), a Type VIIB U-boat.

U-48 was later to become the most successful submarine of the war.

She was assigned to the 7th U-boat Flotilla, and spent the next four months in training.

On 1 June 1939 Schultze was promoted to Kapitänleutnant.

On 19 August 1939, on the eve of World War II, Schultze took U-48 out on her first patrol.

He was at sea when the war started on 1 September 1939.

On 11 September 1939 he sank the British freighter Firby.

After the sinking he sent the plain language radio message "cq - cq- cq - transmit to Mr. Churchill. I have sunk the British steamer "Firby". Posit 59.40 North and 13.50 West. Save the crew, if you please. German submarine." This message, addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill directly.

Schultze and his crew had already sunk Royal Sceptre on 5 September and Winkleigh three days later for a combined total of.

Schultze intercepted the freighter Browning some time later and ordered to pick up survivors from Royal Sceptre.

Schultze's cease-fire action was on the provision that the British crew did not use their radios to report him.

After returning to base, Schultze gave an interview to William L. Shirer, an American reporter, on 29 September 1939.

The patrol yielded of shipping.

The second patrol began on 4 October and ended 21 days later.

During the sortie he sank in 22 days.

From 12–17 October 1939, Schultze sank five ships.

Tanker Emile Miguet, Heronspool Louisiane , Sneaton and Clan Chisholm.

Schultze abided by prize law in all but the sinking of Clan Chisholm which sailed in convoy HG 3.

Nine men were killed aboard Schultze's first eight victims.

During the attack he ordered the stern torpedo fired at a destroyer—probably HMS Escort—with no result.

A number of the ships were photographed during their sinking by the German crew.

Schultze's third patrol lasted from 20 November to 20 December.

The boat sank.

Over 8 and 9 December Schultze intercepted Brandon and San Alberto and the Germaine for on 15 December.

The patrol lasted only seven days.

Upon Schultze's departure from the Atlantic Ocean on 19 December there were no U-boats in the sea for five days.

In January 1940 B-Dienst intercepted British naval signals suggesting Ark Royal was en route through the English Channel.

Schultze was ordered to take up position at the Western end with two other boats—U-26 and U-37—and sink her.

They were ordered to take up their stations on 12 February.

On this patrol, which took U-48 to the North Atlantic, southwest of Ireland and to the Rockall Bank before returning to Kiel on 17 September, Leutnant zur See Reinhard Suhren served as 1st watch officer.

U-48's 2nd watch officer on this patrol was Leutnant zur See Otto Ites.