Werner Hartmann

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Werner Hartmann
December 11, 1902 - April 26, 1963
Place of birth	Silstedt, Harz
Place of death	Ussel, Waldeck
Allegiance	Germany
Service/branch	Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1923 - 1945
Rank	Kapitän zur See
Unit	2. Unterseebootsflottille 6. Unterseebootsflottille 12. Unterseebootsflottille 27. Unterseebootsflottille
Commands	U-26, May 1936 – Sep 30, 1938 U-37, Sep 25, 1939 – May 6, 1940 U-198, Nov 3, 1942 – Jan 15, 1944
Awards	Iron Cross First Class U-boat War Badge Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves

Werner Hartmann (December 11, 1902 - April 26, 1963) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. He sank 26 ships, amounting to over 115,000 tons sunk, ranking him as the 25th most successful commander in the war.

Hartmann began his naval career as commander of the torpedo boats Seeadler and Albatros in the first years. In 1935 he transferred to the U-boat arm and with his first U-boat, U-26, he patrolled in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War. First Watch Officer on board was the later famous Oberleutnant zur See Günther Prien.

During the first months of World War II Hartmann was commander of both of U-37 and of the 2. Unterseebootsflottille. In October 1939 Hartmann was attempted as leader of a wolf pack directed from a U-boat at sea. This strategy proved inefficient, and it was decided henceforth to direct the U-boats from land.

After only three patrols Hartmann received the Knight's Cross. He then had a couple of staff functions until he in November 1941 took command of the 27. Unterseebootsflottille in Gotenhafen.

In November 1942 he took over one of the large Type IXD U-boats and completed with U-198 the third longest patrol ever undertaken, lasting 200 days.

In 1944 he became commander of the U-boat forces in the Mediterranean Sea and in this function received the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.

After the war he spent several years in the Bundesmarine.