1st U-boat flotilla | |
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Active | Raised 1935, Dissolved 1944 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Kriegsmarine |
Type | U-boat flotilla |
Base | Kiel, Brest |
Nickname(s) | Weddigen flotilla |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | 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, 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 was rammed by, the British battleship HMS Dreadnought in the North Sea.
The flotilla at first only consisted of U-9, a Type IIB boat commissioned on 21 August 1935. Later, boats U-1——to U-12 were included in the "flotilla." But U-1——to U-6 were only used as training boats. And were attached to the U-boat training school in Neustadt. Originally based in Kiel from September 1935 – May 1941, it was moved to Brest, France in June 1941. In September 1944, the flotilla was disbanded and "its remaining boats were distributed to other flotillas."
Flotilla commanders※
Duration | Commander |
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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※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Concrete_U-boat_pens_at_Brest.jpg/220px-Concrete_U-boat_pens_at_Brest.jpg)
Notes and references※
- ^ 1. Unterseebootsflottille Archived 16 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Uboatnet.de. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
- ^ 1st Flotilla. Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 July 2006.
- ^ Gordon Williamson. Wolf Pack: The Story of the U-Boat in World War II, Osprey Publishing, "2005." ISBN 1-84176-872-3
External links※
- uboat.net – comprehensive website dedicated to U-boat history.