Herbert Schultze
On September 11, 1939, a German U-boat sent a radio communication to Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty. The telegram told him of the sinking of the British merchant ship Firby, provided the ship's last position, and begged that survivors be picked up in the ship's boats. A few days later, Herbert Schultze's U-boat intercepted another British warship. He allowed the ship to continue on its trip as long as it rescued the survivors from Firby and did not radio his ship's whereabouts. It was an unrivaled display of chivalry in a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare.
From September 1939 through July 1941, Schultze led U-48 on eight combat patrols. Following his spectacular victories at sea, he moved into staff positions, eventually leading the Murwik Naval School. He stayed with that assignment till the war was over. In 1956, he returned to active duty in the West German Navy, retiring in 1968. During his brief active service as a U-boat commander, he had one of the best success rates of the war.
He also gained notoriety within the German high command for his complaints about manufacturing flaws that resulted in numerous failures in German torpedoes. Schultze was also afflicted by health problems. For whatever reason, one of Germany's best U-boat commanders remained ashore from July 1941 until the end of the war, providing an immeasurable benefit to the Allies.
- Date/place of birth: July 24, 1909, Kiel, Germany
- Date of death: June 3, 1987, London, United Kingdom
- Award: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Sink more than 183,482 tons (28 ships)
