Johannes Lohs | |
---|---|
Born | 24 June 1889 Bad Einsiedel, Saxony |
Died |
14 August 1918 (aged 29) North Sea |
Allegiance | German Empire |
Service/branch | Kaiserliche Marine |
Years of service | 1909–18 |
Rank | Oberleutnant zur See |
Commands held |
SM UC-75, 17 March 1917 – 30 January 1918 SM UB-57, 2 January – 14 August 1918 |
Battles/wars | U-boat Campaign (World War I) |
Awards | Pour le Mérite |
Johannes Lohs (24 June 1889 – 14 August 1918) was a successful and highly decorated German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I.
In his time as commander of SM UC-75 and SM UB-57 he succeeded in sinking several ships for a total tonnage of approximately 165.000 gross register tons (GRT).
Lohs was born on 24 June 1889 at Bad Einsiedel, Saxony. He was the son of plant owner Oswald Lohs. He first went to school in his home village and later to a grammar school in Chemnitz.
Lohs entered on 1 April 1909 as midshipman the Imperial Navy, completed his basic training at the Großer Kreuzer SMS Victoria Louise and then came for further training to the naval Academy, where he was appointed on April 12, 1910 to Fähnrich zur See. On November 3, 1911 he was transferred to the light cruiser SMS Berlin and promoted on 19 September 1912 to Leutnant zur See. From 23 December 1912 Lohs acted as a signal officer on the light cruiser SMS Strassburg.
On 2 May 1915 Lohs was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See. For one month Lohs was second radio officer on the battlecruiser Seydlitz, then he moved to U-Bootschule for two months. Afterwards he became a monitoring officher at the torpedo boat division. On 6 December he became commander of SM UC-75, on which he did 9 patrols along the British coast. On 2 January 1918 he became Commanding officer of UB-57, taking over the command of this boat from another legendary U-boat commander, Otto Steinbrinck. Lohs had also some very good ideas on U-boat warfare and new tactics and on 24 April 1918 he received postum the Pour le Mérite.