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{{Short description|German U-boat commander}}
{{about||the German physicist|Werner Hartmann (physicist)|other uses}}
{{about||the German physicist|Werner Hartmann (physicist)|other uses}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
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|birth_place=[[Wernigerode|Silstedt]], [[Harz]]
|birth_place=[[Wernigerode|Silstedt]], [[Harz]]
|death_place=Usseln, [[Waldeck-Frankenberg|Waldeck]]
|death_place=Usseln, [[Waldeck-Frankenberg|Waldeck]]
|image=Werner.hartmann.jpg
|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=
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|rank=''[[Kapitän zur See]]''
|rank=''[[Kapitän zur See]]''
|branch={{navy|Weimar Republic}}<br/>{{navy|Nazi Germany}}<br/>{{navy|GER}}
|branch={{navy|Weimar Republic}}<br/>{{navy|Nazi Germany}}<br/>{{navy|GER}}
|commands={{GS|U-26|1936|2}} <br/>{{GS|U-37|1938|2}} <br/>{{GS|U-198||2}}
|commands={{ship|German torpedo boat|Seeadler||2}}, {{ship|German torpedo boat|Albatros||2}}<br />{{GS|U-26|1936|2}}, {{GS|U-37|1938|2}}, {{GS|U-198||2}}
|unit=
|unit=[[Niobe (schooner)|SSS ''Niobe'']]<br />{{SMS|Hannover||2}}<br />{{SMS|Berlin||2}}<br />[[German cruiser Emden|cruiser ''Emden'']]<br />[[German cruiser Karlsruhe|cruiser ''Karlsruhe'']]<br />[[2nd U-boat Flotilla]]<br/>[[6th U-boat Flotilla]]<br/>[[12th U-boat Flotilla]]<br/>[[27th U-boat Flotilla]]
|battles=[[Spanish Civil War]]
|battles=[[Spanish Civil War]]
----
----
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}}
}}


'''Werner Hartmann''' (11 December 1902 – 26 April 1963) was a German [[U-boat]] commander in [[World War II]]. He sank 26 ships, amounting to over {{GRT|115,000|disp=long}} sunk, making him the 25th most successful U-boat commander of the war. He was a recipient of the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] of [[Nazi Germany]].
'''Werner Hartmann''' (11 December 1902 – 26 April 1963) was a German [[U-boat]] commander in [[World War II]]. He was credited with sinking 26 ships, amounting to over {{GRT|115,000|disp=long}} sunk. He was a recipient of the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]] of [[Nazi Germany]].


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
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On 1 April 1914, Hartmann joined the ''Königlich Preußischen Kadettenkorps'' (Royal Prussian Cadet Corps) in Oranienstein near [[Diez, Germany|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).{{sfn|Röll|2010|p=11}}
On 1 April 1914, Hartmann joined the ''Königlich Preußischen Kadettenkorps'' (Royal Prussian Cadet Corps) in Oranienstein near [[Diez, Germany|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).{{sfn|Röll|2010|p=11}}


Until 30 September 1925, he underwent a number of military and naval training courses.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}} 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 {{SMS|Hannover||2}} (1 October 1921 – April 1922) for onboard training and then to the [[training ship]] [[Niobe (schooner)|''Niobe'']] (April – 30 June 1922).{{sfn|Röll|2010|p=150}} 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.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}}
Until 30 September 1925, he underwent a number of military and naval training courses.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}} 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 {{SMS|Hannover||2}} (1 October 1921 – April 1922) for onboard training and then to the [[training ship]] [[Niobe (schooner)|''Niobe'']] (April – 30 June 1922).{{sfn|Röll|2010|p=150}} 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.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}}


He went on to serve as commander of the [[torpedo boat]]s ''Seeadler'' and ''Albatros'', before transferring to the U-boat arm in 1935. During the [[Spanish civil war]], he commanded {{GS|U-26|1936|2}} that patrolled Spanish waters during the [[Spanish Civil War|Civil War]] in 1937–38 with [[Günther Prien]] as his first [[watch officer]].
He went on to serve as commander of the [[torpedo boat]]s {{ship|German torpedo boat|Seeadler||2}} and {{ship|German torpedo boat|Albatros||2}}, before transferring to the [[U-boat arm]] in 1935. During the [[Spanish Civil War]], he commanded {{GS|U-26|1936|2}} that patrolled Spanish waters during the [[Spanish Civil War|Civil War]] in 1937–38 with [[Günther Prien]] as his first [[watch officer]].


==World War II==
==World War II==
From January–May 1940 Hartmann was commander of both {{GS|U-37|1938|2}} 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 {{GRT|78559|link=off}}, Hartmann received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].<ref name="hartmann">{{cite web
From January–May 1940 Hartmann was commander of both {{GS|U-37|1938|2}} 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 {{GRT|78559|link=off}}, Hartmann received the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].{{sfn|''Kapitän zur See'' Werner Hartmann}} His senior officers on his four patrols on '' U-37'' were future Knight's Cross winners, first watch officer ''Oberleutnant zur See'' [[Ernst Bauer (Kapitän 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]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=31}}
|url= http://www.uboat.net/men/hartmann.htm
|title=''Kapitän zur See'' Werner Hartmann
|last=Helgason
|first=Guðmundur
|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
|accessdate=19 April 2010
}}</ref> His senior officers on his four patrols on '' U-37'' were future Knight's Cross winners, first watch officer ''Oberleutnant zur See'' [[Ernst Bauer (Kapitän 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]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=31}}


===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 [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}} Commander of ''U-37'' on this patrol was ''Kapitänleutnant'' Heinrich Schuch.
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 [[Invasion of Poland|invaded Poland]].{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}} Commander of ''U-37'' on this patrol was ''Kapitänleutnant'' Heinrich Schuch.


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 [[Gdynia|Gotenhafen]]. In November 1942 he took command of the large [[German Type IX submarine|Type IXD]] {{GS|U-198||2}} for a patrol to the Indian Ocean lasting 200 days, the third longest patrol ever undertaken, and sank 7 ships totalling {{GRT|36778|link=off}}. 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 of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves|Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves]].{{sfn|''Kapitän zur See'' Werner Hartmann}}
===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 [[Gdynia|Gotenhafen]]. In November 1942 he took command of the large [[German Type IX submarine|Type IXD]] {{GS|U-198||2}} for a patrol to the Indian Ocean lasting 200 days, the third longest patrol ever undertaken, and sank 7 ships totalling {{GRT|36778|link=off}}. 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 of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves|Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves]].<ref name="hartmann"/>


==Bundesmarine and later life==
==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.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}} He died on 26 April 1963 in Usseln/[[Waldeck, Hesse|Waldeck]] of [[pulmonary embolism]]. He was buried in a family grave in Glückstadt.{{sfn|Röll|2010|p=149}}
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.{{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}} He died on 26 April 1963 in Usseln/[[Waldeck, Hesse|Waldeck]] of [[pulmonary embolism]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2024|reason=Cause of death needs citation}} He was buried in a family grave in Glückstadt.{{sfn|Röll|2010|p=149}}


==Awards==
==Summary of career==

===Ships attacked===
As commander of {{GS|U-37|1938|2}} and {{GS|U-198||2}} Werner Hartmann is credited with the sinking of 26 ships for a total of {{GRT|115,337|disp=long}}.
<center>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!scope="col" | Date
!scope="col" | U-boat
!scope="col" | Name
!scope="col" | Nationality
!scope="col" | Tonnage<br/>(GRT)
!scope="col" width="300px" | Fate
|-
| 8&nbsp;September&nbsp;1939
| ''U-37''
| ''Vistula''
| {{flag|Sweden}}
| 1,018
| Sunk at grid AF 7774, about {{convert|45|nmi|abbr=on|sp=us}} north of [[Muckle Flugga]], [[Shetland]]{{sfn|Röll|2010|pp=154–155}}
|-
| 12 October 1939
| ''U-37''
| ''Artis''
| {{flag|Greece}}
| 4,810
| Sunk at {{coord|53|28|N|14|30|W|type:event|name=Vistula (ship)}}{{sfn|Röll|2010|pp=154–155}}
|-
| 15 October 1939 || ''U-37'' || ''Vermont'' || {{flag|France}} || 5,186 || Sunk
|-
| 17 October 1939 || ''U-37'' || ''Yorkshire'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 10,183 || Sunk
|-
| 24 October 1939 || ''U-37'' || ''Ledbury'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 3,528 || Sunk
|-
| 24 October 1939 || ''U-37'' || ''Menin Ridge'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 2,474 || Sunk
|-
| 24 October 1939 || ''U-37'' || ''Tafna'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 4,413 || Sunk
|-
| 30 October 1939 || ''U-37'' || ''Thrasyvoulos'' || {{flag|Greece}} || 3,693 || Sunk
|-
| 4 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Hop'' || {{flag|Norway}} || 1,365 || Sunk
|-
| 4 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Leo Dawson'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 4,330 || Sunk
|-
| 10 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Silja'' || {{flag|Norway}} || 1,259 || Sunk
|-
| 11 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Togimo'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 290 || Sunk
|-
| 15 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Aase'' || {{flag|Denmark}} || 1,206 || Sunk
|-
| 17 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Pyrrhus'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 7,418 || Sunk
|-
| 18 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Elin'' || {{flag|Greece}} || 4,917 || Sunk
|-
| 18 February 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''P.L.M. 15'' || {{flag|France}} || 3,754 || Sunk
|-
| 10 April 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Sveaborg'' || {{flag|Sweden}} || 9,076 || Sunk
|-
| 10 April 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Tosca'' || {{flag|Norway}} || 5,128 || Sunk
|-
| 12 April 1940 || ''U-37'' || ''Stancliffe'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 4,511 || Sunk
|-
| 17 May 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''Northmoor'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 4,392 || Sunk
|-
| 29 May 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''Hopetarn'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 5,231 || Sunk
|-
| 5 June 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''Dumra'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 2,304 || Sunk
|-
| 6 June 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''William King'' || {{flag|United States}} || 7,176 || Sunk
|-
| 6 July 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''Hydraios'' || {{flag|Greece}} || 4,476 || Sunk
|-
| 7 July 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''Leana'' || {{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} || 4,742 || Sunk
|-
| 1 August 1943 || ''U-198'' || ''Mangkalihat'' || {{flag|Netherlands}} || 8,457 || Sunk
|}
</center>

===Awards===
* [[Wehrmacht Long Service Award]] 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
* [[Wehrmacht Long Service Award]] 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
* Wehrmacht Long Service Award 2nd Class (1 April 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
* Wehrmacht Long Service Award 2nd Class (1 April 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
* Spanish [[Crosses of Naval Merit (Spain)|Naval Merit Cross]] in White 2nd Class (''Cruz blanca del merito naval'') (21 August 1939){{sfn|Röll|2010|p=152}}
* Spanish [[Crosses of Naval Merit (Spain)|Naval Merit Cross]] in White 2nd Class (''Cruz blanca del merito naval'') (21 August 1939){{sfn|Röll|2010|p=152}}
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939)
* [[Iron Cross]] (1939) 2nd Class & 1st Class (8 November 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
** 2nd Class (8 November 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}{{sfn|Thomas|1997|p=251}}
* [[U-boat War Badge]] (1939) (7 December 1939), with Diamonds (5 November 1944){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=535}}
** 1st Class (8 November 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}{{sfn|Thomas|1997|p=251}}
* [[U-boat War Badge]] (1939) (7 December 1939){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
** with Diamonds (5 November 1944){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=535}}
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
* [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
** Knight's Cross on 9 May 1940 as ''[[Korvettenkapitän]]'' and commander of ''U-37''{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=369}}
** Knight's Cross on 9 May 1940 as ''[[Korvettenkapitän]]'' and commander of ''U-37''{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=369}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=215}}
** 645th Oak Leaves on 5 November 1944 as ''[[Kapitän zur See]]'' and leader of the U-Boote in the Mediterranean Sea{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=369}}
** Oak Leaves on 5 November 1944 as ''[[Kapitän zur See]]'' and leader of the U-Boote in the Mediterranean Sea,{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=369}} before commander of ''U-198''{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=92}}
* Mentioned twice in the ''[[Wehrmachtbericht]]'' on 1 March 1940 and 19 April 1940, the latter announcing the purported sinking of {{HMS|Glasgow|C21|6}} by Hartmann. He had launched an attack on ''Glasgow'' or {{HMS|Sheffield|C24|6}} on 13 April 1940 failing to sink either.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|p=19}}

===Promotions===
{| style="background: transparent;"
|-
| 1 April 1924: || ''Fähnrich zur See'' (Officer Cadet){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}}
|-
| 4 April 1925: || ''Oberfähnrich zur See'' (Senior Ensign){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}}
|-
| 1 October 1925: || ''Leutnant zur See'' (Second Lieutenant){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}}
|-
| 1 July 1927: || ''Oberleutnant zur See'' (First Lieutenant){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=29}}
|-
| 1 October 1933: || ''Kapitänleutnant'' (Captain Lieutenant){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
|-
| 1 July 1937: || ''Korvettenkapitän'' (Corvette Captain){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
|-
| 1 April 1941: || ''Fregattenkapitän'' (Frigatte Captain){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
|-
| 1 April 1943: || ''Kapitän zur See'' (Captain at Sea){{sfn|Busch|Röll|2003|p=30}}
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 180: Line 70:
|year=2003
|year=2003
|title=Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|title=Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|trans_title=The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945
|trans-title=The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945
|language=German
|language=German
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany
|publisher=Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn
|publisher=Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn
|isbn=978-3-8132-0515-2
|isbn=978-3-8132-0515-2
}}
|ref=harv
* {{Cite book
|last=Fellgiebel
|first=Walther-Peer
|year=2000
|orig-date=1986
|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile
|trans-title=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
|language=German
|location=Friedberg, Germany
|publisher=Podzun-Pallas
|isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6
}}
* {{cite web
|url= http://www.uboat.net/men/hartmann.htm
|title=''Kapitän zur See'' Werner Hartmann
|last=Helgason
|first=Guðmundur
|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
|access-date=19 April 2010
|ref={{sfnRef|''Kapitän zur See'' Werner Hartmann}}
}}
* {{cite web
|url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u37.html
|title=Ships hit by U-37
|last=Helgason
|first=Guðmundur
|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
|access-date=17 February 2015
|ref={{sfnRef|Ships hit by U-37}}
}}
* {{cite web
|url=https://uboat.net/boats/successes/u198.html
|title=Ships hit by U-198
|last=Helgason
|first=Guðmundur
|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
|access-date=29 January 2019
|ref={{sfnRef|Ships hit by U-198}}
}}
}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
Line 191: Line 119:
|first=Jürgen
|first=Jürgen
|year=2005
|year=2005
|title=Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War II
|title=Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two
|location=Annapolis, Md.
|location=Annapolis, Md.
|publisher=Naval Institute Press
|publisher=Naval Institute Press
|isbn=1-59114-119-2
|isbn=1-59114-119-2
}}
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
|last=Röll
|last=Röll
Line 202: Line 129:
|year=2010
|year=2010
|title=Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann—Vom Lehrmeister Priens zum Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
|title=Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann—Vom Lehrmeister Priens zum Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
|trans_title=Captain at Sea Werner Hartmann—From Prien's Teacher to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
|trans-title=Captain at Sea Werner Hartmann—From Prien's Teacher to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
|language=German
|language=German
|location=Würzburg Germany
|location=Würzburg Germany
|publisher=Flechsig
|publisher=Flechsig
|isbn=978-3-8035-0013-7
|isbn=978-3-8035-0013-7
}}
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite book
* {{Cite book
|last=Scherzer
|last=Scherzer
Line 214: Line 140:
|year=2007
|year=2007
|title=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
|title=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
|trans_title=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
|trans-title=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
|language=German
|language=German
|location=Jena, Germany
|location=Jena, Germany
|publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag
|publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag
|isbn=978-3-938845-17-2
|isbn=978-3-938845-17-2
}}
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Thomas
|first=Franz
|year=1997
|title=Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K
|trans_title=The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K
|language=German
|location=Osnabrück, Germany
|publisher=Biblio-Verlag
|isbn=978-3-7648-2299-6
|ref=harv
}}
* {{Cite book
|year=1985
|title=Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Band 1, 1. September 1939 bis 31. Dezember 1941
|trans_title=The Wehrmacht Reports 1939–1945 Volume 1, 1 September 1939 to 31 December 1941
|language=German
|location=München, Germany
|publisher=Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG
|isbn=978-3-423-05944-2
|ref={{sfnRef|Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939–1945 Volume 1}}
}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


Line 266: Line 169:
}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}

{{KCwithOL}}
{{Knight's Cross recipients of the U-boat service}}
{{U-boat War Badge with Diamonds}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Subject bar
{{Subject bar
| portal1=Biography
| portal1=Biography
| portal2=Military of Germany
| portal3=Submarine
| portal4=World War II
| commons=y
| commons=y
| commons-search=Werner Hartmann (marine commander)
| commons-search=Werner Hartmann (marine commander)
Line 284: Line 180:
[[Category:1902 births]]
[[Category:1902 births]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Saxony]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the Province of Saxony]]
[[Category:Reichsmarine personnel]]
[[Category:Reichsmarine personnel]]
[[Category:U-boat commanders (Kriegsmarine)]]
[[Category:U-boat commanders (Kriegsmarine)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves]]
[[Category:Military personnel referenced in the Wehrmachtbericht]]
[[Category:German Navy personnel]]
[[Category:German Navy personnel]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Saxony-Anhalt]]
[[Category:People from Harz (district)]]
[[Category:German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War]]

Latest revision as of 04:54, 7 May 2024

For the German physicist, see Werner Hartmann (physicist). For other uses, see Werner Hartmann (disambiguation).
Werner Hartmann
Born(1902-12-11)11 December 1902
Silstedt, Harz
Died26 April 1963(1963-04-26) (aged 60)
Usseln, Waldeck
Allegiance Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service / branch Reichsmarine
 Kriegsmarine
 German Navy
Years of service1921–45, 1956–62
RankKapitän zur See
CommandsSeeadler, Albatros
U-26, U-37, U-198
Battles / warsSpanish Civil War

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross with Oak Leaves

Werner Hartmann (11 December 1902 – 26 April 1963) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. He was credited with sinking 26 ships, amounting to over 115,000 gross register tons (GRT) sunk. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.

Early life and career

[edit]

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. During the Spanish Civil War, he commanded U-26 that patrolled Spanish waters during the Civil War in 1937–38 with Günther Prien as his first watch officer.

World War II

[edit]

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]

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.

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

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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.[citation needed] He was buried in a family grave in Glückstadt.[7]

Awards

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Röll 2010, p. 11.
  2. ^ a b c Busch & Röll 2003, p. 29.
  3. ^ Röll 2010, p. 150.
  4. ^ a b Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann.
  5. ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 31.
  6. ^ a b c d Busch & Röll 2003, p. 30.
  7. ^ Röll 2010, p. 149.
  8. ^ Röll 2010, p. 152.
  9. ^ Busch & Röll 2003, p. 535.
  10. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 369.
  11. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 215.
  12. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 92.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-37". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-198". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two. 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 Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
Military offices
Preceded by
none
 Commander of 6th U-boat Flotilla
October, 1938 – December, 1939 		Succeeded by
Korvettenkapitän Georg-Wilhelm Schulz
Preceded by
Korvettenkapitän Hans Ibbeken
 Commander of 2nd U-boat Flotilla
January 1940 – May 1940 		Succeeded by
Korvettenkapitän Heinz Fischer
Preceded by
Korvettenkapitän Ernst Sobe
 Commander of 27th U-boat Flotilla
December 1941 – November 1942 		Succeeded by
Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp
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