Heinrich Liebe
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| Heinrich Liebe | |
|---|---|
| 29 January 1908 - 27 July 1997 | |
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| Place of birth | Gotha |
| Place of death | Eisenach, Germany |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Years of service | 1927-1945 |
| Rank | Fregattenkapitän |
| Unit | U-bootschulflottille |
| Commands | U-2, 1936-10-01 – 1938-01-31 U-38, 1938-10-24 – 1941-07-22 |
| Battles/wars | Second Battle of the Atlantic |
| Awards | Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub |
Fregattenkapitän Heinrich Liebe (29 January 1908 - 27 July 1997) was a highly decorated German naval officer who served as a U-boat commander during World War II until transferred to Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine (German Navy High Command). He sank 34 ships for a total of 187.267 GRT, placing him fourth on the Aces of the Deep list.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Gotha, Liebe began his Kriegsmarine career in 1927. Promoted to Oberfähnrich zur See on 1 June 1931, Liebe served on the World War I battleship Schleswig-Holstein for four years. In September 1935 Liebe transferred to the U-boat arm.
On 1 October 1936 Liebe was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and assigned commander of U-2, a Type II U-boat attached to the U-bootschulflottille. On 24 October 1938 Liebe commissioned U-38, a Type IX U-boat assigned to 6. Unterseebootsflottille.
[edit] World War II
U-38 embarked on her first war time patrol on 19 August 1939 from Wilhelmshafen. Operating off Lisbon, Portugal on the outbreak of war, Liebe managed to sink two British freighers before returning to port on 18 September. On 2 November Liebe set sail for Norwegian water on his second patrol.
Liebes fourth patrol, on 8 April 1940 was also set in Norwegian waters, to support Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway. During this patrol Liebe shared the same negative experience of failed torpedoes as many other u-boat captains operating in the area. In mid April 1940, Liebe fired on the British heavy cruiser HMS Effingham, but all the torpedoes fired failed to detonate.
U-38 left on her fifth patrol on 6 June 1940, tasked with patrolling the Western Approaches off southern Ireland. Liebe managed to sink six ships during this patrol, and also succeeded in landing a German agent in Ireland on 12 June. During his sixth patrol, Liebe sank three ships, and were ordered to the new 6. Unterseebootsflottille base in Lorient, France. During this patrol, on 14 August Liebe received the Knight's Cross.
On 9 April 1941 Liebe set sail for operations off Freetown, Africa. This was Liebes ninth and last patrol with U-38, during which he sank 8 ships for a total of 47,279 GRT. For these successes Liebe received the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross on 10 June 1941. On 29 June U-38 returned to Lorient. On 22 July Liebe transferred off the U-38, which was put under the command of Heinrich Schuch.
Following his departure from U-38, Liebe was assigned to the staff of Oberkommando der Marine. In August 1944 he was further transferred to the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of Submarines (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote or BdU), Hans-Georg von Friedeburg, during which tenure he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän 1 October 1944.
[edit] After the war
After the war Liebe returned to his hometown in the Soviet sector to live with his parents. Since he refused to train Soviet submariners, he felt that was to blame for his being held to menial occupations. He died in July 1997 and is buried in Eisenach, Germany.
[edit] Achievements
- 34 ships sunk for a total of 187.267 GRT
- 1 ship damaged for a total of 3.670 GRT
- Awarded the Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
