1st U-boat Flotilla

1935–1944 submarine unit of the German Navy February 2023 1st U-boat flotilla 1 Flottille emblem.svg Nazi Germany U-boat flotilla Kriegsmarine Raised 1935, Dissolved 1944 Kiel, Brest Base Weddigen flotilla Fregattenkapitän Karl Dönitz The 1st U-boat flotilla (German 1. Unterseebootsflottille) 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,1. Unterseebootsflottille https://web.archive.org/web/20060716083228/http://uboatnet.de/Archiv/Flottillen/1.U_Flottille_Brest.htm 16 July 2006 . Uboatnet.de. Retrieved 21 July 2006. 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 Germany 2 was rammed by the British battleship Dreadnought 1906 6 in the North Sea.1st Flotilla. Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 July 2006. Another notable person from the flotilla was Otto Kretschmer, a young commander made infamous due to his high-scoring U-Boat skipper score.First U-Boat Flotilla Book Review The flotilla at first only consisted of U-9 1935 2, a Type IIB boat commissioned on 21 August 1935. Later, boats U-1 1935 2 to U-12 1935 2 were included in the flotilla, but U-1 to U-6 1935 2 were only used as training boats and were attached to the U-boat training school in Neustadt.Gordon Williamson. Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-Boat in World War II, Osprey Publishing, 2005. 1-84176-872-3 The flotilla paved the path for Germany’s first “Happy Time”, a period of success for the Germans, before the death/capture of 3 of the main captains, two of which belonged to the first flotilla (Kretschmer U-99, and Joachim Schepke U-100) in March 1941.First U-Boat Flotilla Book Review Originally based in Kiel from September 1935 – May 1941, it was moved to Brest, France in June 1941. In that time, they were a part of missions to take over Norway, Denmark, and contributed to the fall of France as well. In September 1944, the flotilla was disbanded and its remaining boats were distributed to other flotillas. thumb|Weddigen flotilla on naval visit to Helsinki in 1937 Flotilla commanders DurationCommander September 1935 – October 1936 Kpt. z. S. Karl Dönitz October 1936 – September 1937 Kpt. z. S. Otto Loycke October 1937 – September 1939 Kptlt. Hans-Güther Looff September 1939 – December 1939 Kptlt. Hans Eckermann m.d.F.b. January 1940 – October 1940 K.Kapt. Hans Eckermann November 1940 – February 1942 K.Kapt. Hans Cohausz February 1942 – July 1942 Kptlt. Heinz Buchholz i.V. July 1942 – September 1944 K.Kapt. Werner Winter U-boats assigned to the flotilla thumb|U-boat pens at Brest U-7 1935 2 U-8 1935 2 U-9 1935 2 U-10 1935 2 U-11 1935 2 U-12 1935 2 U-13 1935 2 U-14 1936 2 U-15 1936 2 U-16 1936 2 U-17 1935 2 U-18 1936 2 U-19 1936 2 U-20 1936 2 U-21 1936 2 U-22 1936 2 U-23 1936 2 U-24 1936 2 U-56 1938 2 U-57 1938 2 U-58 1939 2 U-59 1938 2 U-60 1939 2 U-61 1939 2 U-62 1939 2 U-63 1939 2 U-79 1941 2 U-80 1941 2 U-81 1941 2 U-83 1941 2 U-84 1941 2 U-86 1941 2 U-116 1941 2 U-117 1941 2 U-137 1940 2 U-138 1940 2 U-139 1940 2 U-140 1940 2 U-141 1940 2 U-142 1940 2 U-143 1940 2 U-144 1940 2 U-145 1940 2 U-146 1940 2 U-147 1940 2 U-149 1940 2 U-150 1940 2 U-201 2 U-202 2 U-203 2 U-204 2 U-208 2 U-209 2 U-213 2 U-225 2 U-238 2 U-243 2 U-247 2 U-263 2 U-268 2 U-271 2 U-276 2 U-292 2 U-301 2 U-304 2 U-305 2 U-306 2 U-311 2 U-331 2 U-336 2 U-353 2 U-354 2 U-371 2 U-372 2 U-374 2 U-379 2 U-392 2 U-394 2 U-396 2 U-401 2 U-405 2 U-413 2 U-415 2 U-418 2 U-422 2 U-424 2 U-426 2 U-435 2 U-439 2 U-440 2 U-441 2 U-456 2 U-471 2 U-556 2 U-557 2 U-558 2 U-559 2 U-561 2 U-562 2 U-563 2 U-564 2 U-565 2 U-566 2 U-574 2 U-582 2 U-584 2 U-597 2 U-599 2 U-603 2 U-625 2 U-628 2 U-629 2 U-632 2 U-637 2 U-643 2 U-651 2 U-653 2 U-654 2 U-656 2 U-665 2 U-669 2 U-722 2 U-731 2 U-732 2 U-736 2 U-740 2 U-741 2 U-743 2 U-754 2 U-767 2 U-773 2 U-821 2 U-925 2 U-956 2 U-963 2 U-987 2 U-1007 2 U-1199 2 Notes and references External links uboat.net – comprehensive website dedicated to U-boat history. 01 Category:Military units and formations of the Kriegsmarine Category:Military units and formations established in 1935 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945