Werner Hartmann

Werner Hartmann
Born	11 December 1902 Silstedt, Harz
Died	26 April 1963 (aged 60) Usseln, Waldeck
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933)  Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Reichsmarine  Kriegsmarine  German Navy
Years of service	1921–45, 1956–62
Rank	Kapitän zur See
Unit	SSS Niobe Hannover Berlin cruiser Emden cruiser Karlsruhe 2nd U-boat Flotilla 6th U-boat Flotilla 12th U-boat Flotilla 27th U-boat Flotilla
Commands held	torpedo boat Seeadler torpedo boat Jaguar U-26 May 1936 – 30 September 1938 U-37 25 September 1939 – 6 May 1940 U-198 3 November 1942 – 15 January 1944
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of the Atlantic
Awards	U-boat War Badge Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves

Werner Friedrich Adolf Hartmann (11 December 1902 – 26 April 1963) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. He sank 26 ships, amounting to over 115,000 gross register tons (GRT) sunk, making him the 25th most successful U-boat commander of the war. He was also a 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 to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Early life and career

Hartmann was born on 11 December 1902 in Silstedt near Wernigerode in the Province of Saxony, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia in the German Empire. He was the third child of Albert Hartmann, an evangelic pastor in Wernigerode, and Helene Hartmann, née Wernicke. Hartmann had one older brother, Rudolf, and an older sister, Edith. From 1909 to 1914, he attended the Volksschule, a primary school, in Silstedt and later the Gymnasium, a secondary school, in the district of Magdeburg.^[1]

On 1 April 1914, Hartmann joined the Königlich Preußischen Kadettenkorps (Royal Prussian Cadet Corps) in Oranienstein near Diez. He initially served in the Vorkorps (pre corps) before he transferred to the Hauptkadettenanstalt (Main Military Academy) in Berlin-Lichterfelde on 1 April 1917. There he graduated with his Abitur (diploma) in 1921. Following his graduation he began his naval career with the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic on 1 April 1921 as a member of "Crew 21" (the incoming class of 1921).^[1]

Until 30 September 1925, he underwent a number of military and naval training courses.^[2] It began with basic military training (1 April – 30 September 1921) in Stralsund at the Baltic Sea and weapons courses at the Naval Academy at Mürwik. Hartmann was then transferred to the Hannover (1 October 1921 – April 1922) for onboard training and then to the training ship Niobe (April – 30 June 1922).^[3] During this timeframe, he advanced in rank to Fähnrich zur See (officer cadet) on 1 April 1923 and to Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign) on 4 April 1925.^[2]

He went on to serve as commander of the torpedo boats Seeadler and Albatros, before transferring to the U-boat arm in 1935.

Spanish Civil War

As commander of U-26 he patrolled Spanish waters during the Civil War in 1937–38 with Günther Prien as his first watch officer.

World War II

From January–May 1940 Hartmann was commander of both U-37 and 2nd U-boat Flotilla, but directing U-boats while at sea proved inefficient, and the Befehlshaber der U-Boote ("U-boat High Command") decided henceforth to direct the U-boats from land. After three patrols, and sinking 19 ships totalling 78,559 GRT, Hartmann received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.^[4] His senior officers on his four patrols on U-37 were future Knight's Cross winners, first watch officer Oberleutnant zur See Ernst Bauer (two patrols) and later Oberleutnant zur See Nicolai Clausen (two patrols), second watch officer Leutnant zur See Gustav Poel and chief engineer Oberleutnant (Ing.) Gerd Suhren.^[5]

First patrol

Hartmann's first patrol (19 August 1939 – 15 September 1939) on U-37 left Wilhelmshaven almost two weeks before the outbreak of World War II on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.^[2] Commander of U-37 on this patrol was Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Schuch.

Ashore

Hartmann then moved to the BdU as a staff officer, and in November 1940 became commander of the 2nd ULD (U-boat Training Division). A year later he took command of the 27th U-boat Flotilla in Gotenhafen. In November 1942 he took command of the large Type IXD U-198 for a patrol to the Indian Ocean lasting 200 days, the third longest patrol ever undertaken, and sank 7 ships totalling 36,778 GRT. Chief engineer was Johann-Friedrich Wessels who received the Knight's Cross for his services on this patrol. In 1944 Hartmann became Führer der Unterseeboote Mittelmeer ("Commander of U-boats in the Mediterranean") and in this post received the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.^[4]

Bundesmarine and later life

After the war he joined the Bundesmarine on 1 July 1956, commanding the 1. Schiffsstammregiment (1st Naval training regiment) in Glückstadt, retiring on 1 April 1962.^[6] He died on 26 April 1963 in Usseln/Waldeck of pulmonary embolism. He was buried in a family grave in Glückstadt.^[7]

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As a U-boat commander of U-37 and U-198 Werner Hartmann is credited with the sinking of 26 ships for a total of 115,337 gross register tons (GRT).

Date	U-boat	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
8 September 1939	U-37	Vistula	Sweden	1,018	Sunk at grid AF 7774, about 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) north of Muckle Flugga, Shetland[8]
12 October 1939	U-37	Artis	Greece	4,810	Sunk at 53°28′N 14°30′W / 53.467°N 14.500°W[8]
15 October 1939	U-37	Vermont	France	5,186	Sunk
17 October 1939	U-37	Yorkshire	United Kingdom	10,183	Sunk
24 October 1939	U-37	Ledbury	United Kingdom	3,528	Sunk
24 October 1939	U-37	Menin Ridge	United Kingdom	2,474	Sunk
24 October 1939	U-37	Tafna	United Kingdom	4,413	Sunk
30 October 1939	U-37	Thrasyvoulos	Greece	3,693	Sunk
4 February 1940	U-37	Hop	Norway	1,365	Sunk
4 February 1940	U-37	Leo Dawson	United Kingdom	4,330	Sunk
10 February 1940	U-37	Silja	Norway	1,259	Sunk
11 February 1940	U-37	Togimo	United Kingdom	290	Sunk
15 February 1940	U-37	Aase	Denmark	1,206	Sunk
17 February 1940	U-37	Pyrrhus	United Kingdom	7,418	Sunk
18 February 1940	U-37	Elin	Greece	4,917	Sunk
18 February 1940	U-37	P.L.M. 15	France	3,754	Sunk
10 April 1940	U-37	Sveaborg	Sweden	9,076	Sunk
10 April 1940	U-37	Tosca	Norway	5,128	Sunk
12 April 1940	U-37	Stancliffe	United Kingdom	4,511	Sunk
17 May 1943	U-198	Northmoor	United Kingdom	4,392	Sunk
29 May 1943	U-198	Hopetarn	United Kingdom	5,231	Sunk
5 June 1943	U-198	Dumra	United Kingdom	2,304	Sunk
6 June 1943	U-198	William King	United States	7,176	Sunk
6 July 1943	U-198	Hydraios	Greece	4,476	Sunk
7 July 1943	U-198	Leana	United Kingdom	4,742	Sunk
1 August 1943	U-198	Mangkalihat	Netherlands	8,457	Sunk

Awards

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936)^[6]
• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 2nd Class (1 April 1939)^[6]
• Spanish Naval Merit Cross in White 2nd Class (Cruz blanca del merito naval) (21 August 1939)^[9]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (8 November 1939)^[6][10]
  • 1st Class (8 November 1939)^[6][10]
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (7 December 1939)^[6]
  • with Diamonds (November 1944)^[11]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 9 May 1940 as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-37^[12][13]
  • 645th Oak Leaves on 5 November 1944 as Kapitän zur See and leader of the U-Boote in the Mediterranean Sea,^[12] before commander of U-198^[14]
• Mentioned twice in the Wehrmachtbericht on 1 March 1940 and 19 April 1940

Wehrmachtbericht references

Date	Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording	Direct English translation
Friday, 1 March 1940	Wie durch Sondermeldung bereits bekanntgegeben, hat ein von Fernfahrt zurückgekehrtes, unter dem Kommando von Korvettenkapitän Werner Hartmann stehendes Unterseeboot die Versenkung von 45 000 BRT gemeldet. Das Unterseeboot hat damit in zwei Unternehmungen die Gesamt-Versenkungsziffer von 80 000 BRT erreicht.[15]	As already announced by special bulletin, a submarine returning from war patrol under the command of Lieutenant Commander Werner Hartmann, reported the sinking of 45,000 GRT. The submarine has reached in two undertakings, the total of 80,000 GRT sunk.
Friday, 19 April 1940	Zu der schon bekanntgegebenen Torpedierung eines Kreuzers der "GLASGOW"-Klasse nördlich der Shetland Inseln meldet der von Feindfahrt zurückgekehrte Unterseeboot-Kommandant, daß der von feindlichen Zerstörern stark gesicherte Kreuzer durch eine unmittelbar nach dem Torpedotreffer ausgelösten innere Detonation vernichtet wurde. Die von diesem Unterseeboot-Kommandanten, Korvettenkapitän Hartmann, versenkte Tonnage beläuft sich nach der letzten Fernfahrt auf insgesamt rund 107 000 BRT.[16]	In addition to the already announced torpedoing of a cruiser of the "GLASGOW" class north of the Shetland Islands reports from the patrol returning submarine commander, that the by enemy destroyers heavily protected cruiser was destroyed by an internal detonation, triggered immediately after the torpedo hit.[Note 1] The total tonnage sunk after the last war patrol of this submarine commander, Captain Hartmann, amounts to some 107,000 GRT.

Promotions

1 April 1924:	Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[2]
4 April 1925:	Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[2]
1 October 1925:	Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[2]
1 July 1927:	Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[2]
1 October 1933:	Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[6]
1 July 1937:	Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain)[6]
1 April 1941:	Fregattenkapitän (Frigatte Captain)[6]
1 April 1943:	Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea)[6]

Notes

1. Hartmann had launched an attack on HMS Glasgow or HMS Sheffield on 13 April 1940 failing to sink either.^[17]

References

Citations

1. Röll 2010, p. 11.
2. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 29.
3. Röll 2010, p. 150.
4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
5. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 31.
6. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 30.
7. Röll 2010, p. 149.
8. Röll 2010, pp. 154–155.
9. Röll 2010, p. 152.
10. Thomas 1997, p. 251.
11. Williamson & Pavlovic 1995, p. 48.
12. Scherzer 2007, p. 369.
13. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 215.
14. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 92.
15. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 1, pp. 82–83.
16. Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 1, p. 117.
17. Rohwer 2005, p. 19.

Bibliography

• 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.
• 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.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War II. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
• Röll, Hans-Joachim (2010). Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann—Vom Lehrmeister Priens zum Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub [Captain at Sea Werner Hartmann—From Prien's Teacher to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves] (in German). Würzburg Germany: Flechsig. ISBN 978-3-8035-0013-7.
• 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 (1997). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.
• Williamson, Gordon; Pavlovic, Darko (1995). U-Boat Crews 1914–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-545-6.
• 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

• Werner Hartmann in the German National Library catalogue
• Helgason, Guðmundur. "Werner Hartmann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.