Friedrich Guggenberger
| Friedrich Guggenberger | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
6 March 1915 Munich |
| Died | 13 May 1988 (aged 73) Erlenbach am Main |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany West Germany
|
| Service/branch |
 Kriegsmarine German Navy
|
| Years of service | 1934–43 (Kriegsmarine) 1956–72 (Bundesmarine) |
| Rank | Konteradmiral |
| Unit |
24th U-boat Flotilla 1st U-boat Flotilla 29th U-boat Flotilla 4th U-boat Flotilla 10th U-boat Flotilla |
| Commands held |
U-28 U-81 U-847 U-513 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Friedrich Guggenberger (6 March 1915 – 13 May 1988) was a German admiral and U-boat commander in the Second World War. From November 1940 until his capture in July 1943, he was credited in Nazi propaganda with sinking 17 ships for a total of 66,848 gross register tons (GRT) and damaging another for 6,003 GRT. He was responsible for sinking the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in November 1941. For these achievements he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, among other commendations. After the war he became the Deputy Chief of Staff in the NATO command AFNORTH.
Guggenberger was born in Munich on 6 March 1915. He had entered the navy by 1934, transferring to the U-boat arm in October 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. After the usual training pattern he was assigned to U-28, where he served under the command of Knight's Cross holder Günther Kuhnke. Guggenberger then briefly took over from Kuhnke and commanded U-28 for a few months whilst she was part of a school flotilla. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 23 March 1940.
Guggenberger then received command of U-81, commissioning her on 26 April 1941. He carried out three patrols in the Atlantic, encountering moderate success and sinking two ships. He was awarded the U-boat War Badge 1939 on 8 July and promoted to Kapitänleutnant on 1 September. He was then ordered to take U-81 into the Mediterranean to join 29th U-boat Flotilla. His first attempt failed when, attempting to force the Straits of Gibraltar, U-81 was spotted by RAF planes and attacked, causing heavy damage. U-81 retreated to Brest where she was repaired, and Guggenberger was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class on 9 September. U-81 sailed again to attempt to enter the Mediterranean in November 1941. Whilst transiting the Straits on 13 November, he met the ships of Force H, returning to Gibraltar. He was able to attack the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, hitting her amidships with a single torpedo. He then escaped the depth charge attacks of the escorting destroyers. Despite attempts to salvage Ark Royal had to be abandoned, and she sank the next day. Guggenberger was awarded the Knight's Cross on 10 December.
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