U 47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien

U 47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien U 47 – Lieutenant Commander Prien
Directed by	Harald Reinl
Produced by	Gero Wecker
Written by	Joachim Bartsch and Udo Wolter
Starring	Dieter Eppler Dieter Borsche Joachim Fuchsberger Richard Häussler Harald Juhnke Olga Chekhova Horst Naumann Peter Carsten
Music by	Norbert Schultze
Cinematography	Ernst W. Kalinke
Edited by	Hein Haber
Production company	Arca-Filmproduktion GmbH
Release date	25 September 1958
Running time	87 min.
Country	West Germany
Language	German

U 47 – Kapitänleutnant Prien (English: U 47 – Lieutenant Commander Prien) is a 1958 black-and-white German war film portraying the combat career of Kriegsmarine World War II U-boat captain Günther Prien, commander of German submarine U-47. It stars Dieter Eppler and Sabine Sesselmann and was directed by Harald Reinl.

The film begins shortly after the outbreak of World War II when Günther Prien reports to the Befehlshaber der U-Boote (BdU—supreme commander of the U-boat Arm) Karl Dönitz. Dönitz orders Prien as commander of U-47 to penetrate the Royal Navy's primary base at Scapa Flow to inflict as much damage as possible. Prien accomplishes his mission and receives a hero's welcome on his return.

Following these events, pastor Kille, a former schoolmate of Prien, approaches Prien in the need for help. Kille offers refuge to victims of Nazi oppression. Prien initially declines, stating he is a soldier and not involved in politics. The attempt by Kille's sister Alwine, who is engaged to Prien's first officer Thomas Birkeneck, also fails to convince Prien.

With the ever increasing intensity of war Prien is plagued by his bad conscience, asking himself if his attitude is correct. A very dramatic incident occurs following the sinking of a freighter. U-47 rescues two shipwrecked. These turn out to be German refugees who are trying to escape from Nazi Germany. The two chose to remain at sea over the prospect of returning to Germany.

Prien finally believes, that as a figure of public interest, that he could influence and change something for the better. He goes to visit the imprisoned pastor Kille. Prien promises him help, not realizing that their conversation is overheard. Thus Prien himself gets into the focus of the Gestapo, the Secret State Police.