Georg Lassen

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Georg Lassen
12 May 1915

Place of birth	Berlin-Steglitz
Allegiance	Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1935-1945
Rank	Korvettenkapitän
Unit	2. Unterseebootsflottille 24. Unterseebootsflottille 4. Unterseebootsflottille 10. Unterseebootsflottille
Commands	U-29, 1941-01-03 – 1941-09-14 (Training) U-160, 19431941-10-16 – 1943-06-14 (4 patrols) 1. U-Boot-Lehrdivision 1944-07 – 1945-05
Battles/wars	Battle of the Atlantic
Awards	Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Georg Lassen (12 May 1915) was a German U-boat captain during World War II. He was a Watchkeeping Officer on U-29 at the outbreak of the war and later the skipper of the U-160 and winner of the Iron Cross. He sank 26 ships for a total tonnage of 156,082 GRT during 4 patrols, leading to a remarkable average of 39,020 GRT per patrol. His total tonnage made him the 10th most successfull U-boat ace of the war.

[edit] Biography

Georg Lassen was born in Steglitz, a Berlin suburb. He joined the Kriegsmarine as Seekadett on 25 September 1935. When World War II started, Lassen was an Oberleutnant zur See and serving as I. Wacht Offizier (1st Watch Officer) on U-29 under Kapitänleutnant Otto Schuhart. While serving with U-29 Schuhart sank 13 ships, including the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous. On 3 January 1941 Lassen assumed command over the U-29, which served as a training boat in 24. Unterseebootsflottille by this time. He ended his command on 14 September.

On 16 October 1941 Lassen commissioned the Type IXC U-Uoat U-160. Lassen spent about 4 months training the crew and testing the boat with 4. Unterseebootsflotille, before U-160 became operational and was transferred to 10. Unterseebootsflotille on 1 March 1942.

U-160 left on her first patrol in early March 1942. During this patrol Lassen sank or damaged six ships for a total of 43,560 GRT. On 10 August 1942 he received the Ritterkreuz. On 1 September he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant. On his fourth and final patrol to South African waters in March 1943 he sank or damaged six ships in less than 5 hours for a total of 41,076 GRT during the night between 3 March and 4 March. On 9 March he received a radio message awarding him with the Eichenlaub (Oak Leaves) to his Ritterkreuz.

On 14 June 1943 Lassen was transferred away from U-160 to take up duties as a tactics instructor and commander of the "Offiziers-kompanie" in 1. U-Boot-Lehrdivision, a training unit for future U-boat commanders. On 1 April 1945 he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän.