Gunter Jahn

Gunter Jahn (27 September 1910 – 12 April 1992) was German U-boat commander during World War II. He was born in Hamburg, Germany and began his naval career in April 1931 as a Seekadett. He first served on the light cruiser Nürnberg for more than two years, including nine patrols in the first year of the war.

Gunter Jahn
Born27 September 1910
Hamburg
Died12 April 1992(1992-04-12) (aged 81)
Krailling
Allegiance Weimar Republic
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch Reichsmarine
 Kriegsmarine
Years of service1931–45
RankKorvettenkapitän
Commands heldU-596 13 November 1941–27 July 1943
29th U-boat Flotilla
AwardsU-boat War Badge
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

In March 1941 Jahn joined the U-boat force and his first patrol were on board U-98 in September 1941. Later in November he commissioned U-596. On his second patrol he broke through the Strait of Gibraltar and went on to become one of the most successful U-boat commanders in the Mediterranean Sea. In July 1943 he left the boat and became the commander of the 29th U-boat Flotilla. In September 1944 he fell into French captivity, where he spent nearly two years.

Summary of career

Awards

Ships attacked
Date Name Nationality Convoy Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate
16 August 1942Suecia SwedenSC-954,966Sunk
20 September 1942Empire Hartebeeste United KingdomSC-1005,676Sunk
7 February 1943HMS LCI (L) 162 Royal Navy246Sunk
9 March 1943Empire Standard United KingdomKMS-107,047Damaged
30 March 1943Fort Norman United KingdomKMS-107,133Damaged
30 March 1943Fort a la Corne United KingdomET-167,133Sunk
30 March 1943Hallanger NorwayET-169,551Sunk

References

Citations
  1. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 349.
  2. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 350.
  3. Scherzer 2007, p. 416.

Bibliography
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Gunter Jahn". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
Military offices
Preceded by
Korvettenkapitän Fritz Frauenheim		 Commander of the 29th U-boat Flotilla
August 1943 – September 1944		 Succeeded by
disbanded


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