Joachim Schepke

Joachim Schepke
Nickname(s)	Ihrer Majestät bestaussehender Offizier ("Her Majesty's best-looking officer")
Born	8 March 1912 Flensburg
Died	17 March 1941 (aged 29) south-east of Iceland 61°N 12°W / 61°N 12°W
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Reichsmarine  Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1930–41
Rank	Kapitänleutnant
Unit	SSS Niobe cruiser Emden Meteor Cruiser Deutschland
Commands held	U-3 U-19 U-100
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Joachim Schepke (8 March 1912 – 17 March 1941) was a German U-boat commander during World War II. He was the seventh recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded by the Third Reich to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Joachim Schepke.^{[Note 1]}

Career

Schepke was the son of a naval officer, and he joined the Reichsmarine in 1930. In 1934 he was assigned to the newly created U-boat arm, and in 1938 he commanded U-3. At the outbreak of World War II he took U3 to war against Allied shipping. After a short stint commanding U-19 and serving in a staff position Schepke received the command of U-100, a Type VIIb boat. After 5 patrols in U-100 she was heavily damaged on 17 March 1941 by depth charges from HMS Walker andVanoc while executing an attack on Convoy HX-112. U-100 was forced to surface and was detected on radar and consequently rammed by Vanoc. Schepke and 37 crew members perished in the ocean; six crew members were rescued. Schepke was last reported on the bridge of U-100. When Vanoc rammed his boat, he was crushed into his own periscope standards, and he went down with his boat.^[2]

Schepke claimed to have sunk 37 ships, for a total of 213,310 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged 4 more. If true, this would have made him the third skipper to have sunk over 200,000 tons. While he did positively sink 34 ships, he was known to Admiral Dönitz and throughout the fleet to exaggerate his tonnage claims; fellow U-boat men came to use the expression "Schepke tonnage" to reference them. Nonetheless, with 34 ships Schepke ranked first in number of ships sunk, and was recommended by Dönitz for Knight's cross with Oak Leaves for this achievement.^[3]

Schepke, Günther Prien and Otto Kretschmer were friendly rivals in the U-boat service, and were the most famous U-boat commanders in the early years of the war, where all except Kretschmer eventually met their ends. Schepke was the favourite of these three, because in contrast to Kretschmer he was a convinced Nazi. He wrote and illustrated the book "U-Boot Fahrer von Heute" (U-Boat Men of today) in 1940 (Berlin, Deutscher Verlag 1940). In February 1941 he made a speech in the Berlin Sportpalast for thousands of Berlin schoolchildren about the U-boat war. Before and after his death the German propaganda ministry held him as an example for German youth to follow.^[4]

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As a U-boat commander of U-3, U-19 and U-100, Schepke is credited with the sinking of 36 ships for a total of 153,677 gross register tons (GRT), further damaging four ships of 17,229 GRT and additionally damaging one more ship so heavily that it was a total loss of 2,205 GRT.

Date	U-boat	Ship	Nationality	Tonnage GRT	Fate[5][6][7]
30 September 1939	U-3	Vendia	Denmark	1,150	Sunk
30 September 1939	U-3	Gun	Sweden	1,198	Sunk
9 January 1940	U-19	Manx	Norway	1,343	Sunk
23 January 1940	U-19	Battanglia	United Kingdom	1,523	Sunk
23 January 1940	U-19	Pluto	Denmark	1,598	Sunk
25 January 1940	U-19	Everene	Denmark	4,434	Sunk
25 January 1940	U-19	Gudveig	Denmark	1,300	Sunk
19 March 1940	U-19	Charkow	Denmark	1,026	Sunk
19 March 1940	U-19	Minsk	Denmark	1,229	Sunk
20 March 1940	U-19	Bothal	Denmark	2,109	Sunk
20 March 1940	U-19	Viking	Denmark	1,153	Sunk
16 August 1940	U-100	Empire Merchant	United Kingdom	4,864	Sunk
25 August 1940	U-100	Jamaica Pioneer	United Kingdom	5,471	Sunk
29 August 1940	U-100	Dalblair	United Kingdom	4,608	Sunk
29 August 1940	U-100	Hartismere	United Kingdom	5,498	Damaged
29 August 1940	U-100	Astra II	United Kingdom	2,393	Sunk
29 August 1940	U-100	Alida Gorthon	Sweden	2,373	Sunk
29 August 1940	U-100	Empire Moose	United Kingdom	6,103	Sunk
21 September 1940	U-100	Canonesa	United Kingdom	8,286	Sunk
21 September 1940	U-100	Torinia	United Kingdom	10,364	Sunk
21 September 1940	U-100	Dalcairn	United Kingdom	4,608	Sunk
22 September 1940	U-100	Empire Airman	United Kingdom	6,586	Sunk
22 September 1940	U-100	Scholar	United Kingdom	3,940	Sunk
22 September 1940	U-100	Frederick S. Fales	United Kingdom	10,525	Sunk
22 September 1940	U-100	Simla	Norway	6,031	Sunk
18 October 1940	U-100	Shekatika	United Kingdom	5,458	Damaged
18 October 1940	U-100	Boekelo	Netherlands	2,118	Damaged
19 October 1940	U-100	Blairspey	United Kingdom	4,155	Damaged
20 October 1940	U-100	Caprella	United Kingdom	8,230	Sunk
20 October 1940	U-100	Sitala	United Kingdom	6,218	Sunk
20 October 1940	U-100	Loch Lomond	United Kingdom	5,452	Sunk
23 November 1940	U-100	Justitia	United Kingdom	4,562	Sunk
23 November 1940	U-100	Bradfyne	United Kingdom	4,740	Sunk
23 November 1940	U-100	Ootmarsum	Netherlands	3,628	Sunk
23 November 1940	U-100	Bruse	Norway	2,205	Total Loss
23 November 1940	U-100	Salonica	Norway	2,694	Sunk
23 November 1940	U-100	Leise Maersk	United Kingdom	3,136	Sunk
23 November 1940	U-100	Bussum	Netherlands	3,636	Sunk
14 December 1940	U-100	Kyleglen	United Kingdom	3,670	Sunk
14 December 1940	U-100	Euphorbia	United Kingdom	3,380	Sunk
18 December 1940	U-100	Napier Star	United Kingdom	10,116	Sunk

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (1 June 1939)^[8]
  • 1st Class (27 February 1940)^[8][9]
• U-Boat War Badge (1939) (3 January 1940 – 30 April 1940)^[8]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 24 September 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-100^[10][11][12]
  • 7th Oak Leaves on 1 December 1940 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-100^[10][13][14]
• Mentioned six times in the Wehrmachtbericht

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Thursday, 29 April 1940	Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Schepke versenkte sieben bewaffnete feindliche Handelsschiffe mit 43 000 BRT, davon fünf aus einem stark gesicherten Geleitzug.[15]	A submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Schepke sank seven armed enemy merchant ships, with 43,000 GRT, including five from a heavily secured convoy.
Sunday, 22 September 1940	Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Schepke hat acht feindliche Handelsschiffe von zusammen 61 300 BRT versenkt.[16]	A submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Schepke has sunk eight enemy merchant ships totaling 61,300 GRT.
Monday, 21 October 1940	Durch die Beteiligung ihrer Unterseeboote an der Vernichtung der beiden britischen Geleitzüge hat Kapitänleutnant Bleichrodt die Erfolge seiner jetzigen Fahrt gegen den Feind auf 53 300 BRT, Kapitänleutnant Schepke auf 40 565 BRT gesteigert.[17]	The contribution of their submarines in the destruction of two British convoys has increased the success of Captain Lieutenant Bleichrodt current patrol against the enemy to 53,300 GRT, Captain Lieutenant Schepke to 40,565 GRT.
Tuesday, 26 November 1940	Ein Unterseeboot unter Führung von Kapitänleutnant Schepke versenkte 41 400 BRT feindlichen Handelsschiffraum.[18]	A submarine under the command of Captain Lieutenant Schepke sank 41,400 GRT enemy merchant shipping.
Friday, 20 December 1940	Ein Unterseeboot meldet die Versenkung seines 40. Feindlichen Handelsschiffes. Damit hat der Kommandant dieses Bootes, Kapitänleutnant Schepke, eine Gesamtversenkungsziffer von 208 975 BRT erreicht und somit als dritter Kommandant die 200 000-Tonnen-Grenze überschritten.[19]	A submarine reported the sinking of its 40th enemy merchant ship. Thus, the commander of this boat, Captain Lieutenant Schepke, has a total sinking-figure of 208,975 GRT and exceeded so as the third commander the 200 000-ton limit.
Friday, 25 April 1941	Die von Korvettenkapitän Kretschmer und Kapitänleutnant Schepke geführten Unterseeboote sind von Feindfahrt nicht zurückgekehrt. Beide Boote waren kürzlich unter schwierigsten Bedingungen durchgeführten Vernichtungen von feindlichen Geleitzügen maßgeblich beteiligt und haben hierbei ihre Gesamterfolge beträchtlich erhöht. Korvettenkapitän Kretschmer hat nunmehr neben der Vernichtung von drei feindlichen Zerstörern – davon zwei während seiner letzten Unternehmung – insgesamt 313 611 BRT, darunter die Hilfskreuzer "Laurentic", "Patroklus" und "Forfar", Kapitänleutnant Schepke 233 971 BRT feindlichen Schiffraums versenkt. Die beiden Kommandanten, in Anerkennung ihrer hervorragenden Dienste im Freiheitskampf des deutschen Volkes mit dem Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ausgezeichnet, haben mit ihren tapferen Besatzungen unvergänglichen Lorbeer errungen. Ein Teil der Besatzung, unter ihnen Korvettenkapitän Kretschmer, geriet in Gefangenschaft.[20]	The submarines under the command of Lieutenant Commander Kretschmer and Lieutenant Schepke have not returned from patrol. Both boats were recently instrumental in destroying enemy convoys under the toughest conditions and have increased their overall successes considerably. Lieutenant Commander Kretschmer now has in addition to the destruction of three enemy destroyers - including two on his last undertaking - sunk a total of 313,611 GRT, including the auxiliary cruiser "Laurentic", "Patroclus" and "Forfar". Lieutenant Schepke sunk 233,971 GRT of enemy shipping. The two commanders, awarded with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in recognition of their outstanding services in the freedom struggle of the German people, have won imperishable laurels with their brave crews. Part of the crew, among them Lieutenant Commander Kretschmer, was taken prisoner.

Promotions

9 October 1930:	Seekadett (Midshipman)[21]
1 January 1932:	Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[21]
1 April 1934:	Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[21]
1 October 1934:	Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[21]
1 June 1936:	Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[8]
1 June 1939:	Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[8]

Notes

1. In 1940, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves was second only to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), which was awarded only to senior commanders for winning a major battle or campaign, in the military order of the Third Reich. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves as highest military order was surpassed on 28 September 1941 by the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern).^[1]

References

Citations

1. Williamson & Bujeiro 2004, pp. 3, 7.
2. Macintyre, Donald U-boat Killer, (Avon Publications, 1956)
3. Blair 1996, p. 218.
4. Hadley 1995, pp. 81, 84, 112.
5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-3". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-19". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-100". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
8. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 71.
9. Thomas 1998, p. 252.
10. Scherzer 2007, p. 659.
11. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 376.
12. Von Seemen 1976, p. 298.
13. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 53.
14. Von Seemen 1976, p. 25.
15. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 290.
16. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 308.
17. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 337.
18. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 368.
19. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 384.
20. The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, pp. 505–506.
21. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 70.

Bibliography

• Blair, Clay (1996). Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters 1939-1942. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-58839-8.
• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
• Fuhren, Franz (1943). Kapitänleutnant Schepke erzählt. Mit einem Geleitwort von Großadmiral Dönitz. Minden: Köhler Verlag.
• Hadley, Michael L. (1995). Count Not the Dead: The Popular Image of the German Submarine. Montreal, Quebec: McGill-Queen's Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-6526-5.
• Huß, Jürgen; Viohl, Armin (2003). Die Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes der preußischen Provinz Schleswig-Holstein und der Freien und Hansestadt Lübeck 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Bearers of the Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein and the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck 1939–1945] (in German). Zweibrücken, Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 978-3-925480-79-9.
• Kurowski, Franz (1995). Knight's Cross Holders of the U-Boat Service. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 978-0-88740-748-2.
• Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Navy]. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-355-1.
• Schaulen, Fritjof (2005). Eichenlaubträger 1940 – 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe III Radusch - Zwernemann [Oak Leaves Bearers 1940 – 1945 Contemporary History in Color III Radusch – Zwernemann] (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 978-3-932381-22-5.
• Schepke, Joachim (1940). U-Boot-Fahrer von heute. Erzählt und gezeichnet von einem U-Boot-Kommandanten. Berlin, Deutscher Verlag 1940
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.
• Von Seemen, Gerhard (1976). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 : die Ritterkreuzträger sämtlicher Wehrmachtteile, Brillanten-, Schwerter- und Eichenlaubträger in der Reihenfolge der Verleihung : Anhang mit Verleihungsbestimmungen und weiteren Angaben [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 : The Knight's Cross Bearers of All the Armed Services, Diamonds, Swords and Oak Leaves Bearers in the Order of Presentation: Appendix with Further Information and Presentation Requirements] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7909-0051-4.
• Williamson, Gordon; Bujeiro, Ramiro (2004). Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves Recipients 1939–40. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-641-6.
• Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941 [The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941] (in German). München, Germany: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 1985. ISBN 978-3-423-05944-2.

External links

• Joachim Schepke in the German National Library catalogue
• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Joachim Schepke". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
• Canonesa, Convoy HX72 & U-100 (U-boat attack) at www.canonesa.co.uk