|
Korvettenkapitän Günther Prien (January 16, 1908 - March 7, 1941) was one of the three outstanding U-boat aces of the first part of the Second World War, and the first U-boat commander to win the Knight's Cross. Under Prien's command, the submarine U-47 sank over 30 Allied ships totalling about 200,000 tons. By far his most famous exploit, however, was the sinking of the British battleship HMS Royal Oak at anchor in Scapa Flow.
Born in Thuringia, Prien went to sea as a young man before joining the Reichsmarine in January 1931. He initially served on the light cruiser Königsberg before transferring to the U-boat service in October 1935. Prien progressed steadily in rank, from Fähnrich zur See in 1933, to Oberfähnrich zur See in 1935, Leutnant zur See (also in 1935), then Oberleutnant zur See in 1937. He was appointed to the command of the new Type VIIB U-47 on her commissioning (December 17, 1938) while still an Oberleutnant, and was promoted to Kapitänleutnant on February 1, 1939.
On October 14, 1939, Prien risked shallow water, unknown shoals and detection by defenders to penetrate the Royal Navy's primary base, Scapa Flow. Although most of the Home Fleet was at sea, Prien sunk the battleship Royal Oak and returned home to instant fame.
He was killed later in the war when the U-47 was sunk.
|
