7. Unterseebootsflottille

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7. Unterseebootsflottille

The emblem of 7. Unterseebootsflottille, adopted in 1941.
Active Raised 1938, Dissolved 1944
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Kriegsmarine
Type U-boat flottilla
Garrison/HQ Kiel, St. Nazaire
Nickname Unterseebootsflottille Wegener
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Korvettenkapitän Hans-Rudolf Rösing
Korvettenkapitän Adolf Piening

7. Unterseebootsflottille (also known as Unterseebootsflottille Wegener) was the seventh operational U-boat combat unit in the German Kriegsmarine. Founded on June 25, 1938 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Werner Sobe, it was named in honour of Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener. Wegener, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on August 19, 1915 after his submarine U-27 was sunk by British Q-Ship HMS Baralong.

The flotilla, under the name Unterseebootsflottille Wegener, was founded in Kiel in June 1938. In September 1940, the flotilla left its base in Kiel and moved to St. Nazaire in France. After the change in location, the flotilla was renamed 7. Unterseebootsflottille. In August 1944, the flotilla was disbanded and its remaining boats were distributed to other flotillas based in Norway.

Unterseebootsflottille Wegener had one of the most famous flotilla emblems from World War II. The "snorting bull" emblem was first used by U-47, which is famous for sinking the British battleship HMS Royal Oak in October 1939. The emblem, based on a picture seen in a comic book, was adopted by the flotilla while based in St. Nazaire.

[edit] Flotilla commanders

Duration Commander
June 1938 – December 1939 Korvkpt. Ernst Sobe
January 1940 – May 1940 Korvkpt. Hans-Rudolf Rösing
May 1940 – September 1940 Kptlt. Herbert Sohler (in deputize)
September 1940 – February 1942 Korvkpt. Herbert Sohler
March 1944 – May 1945 Korvkpt. Adolf Piening

[edit] U-boats assigned to 7. Unterseebootsflottille

Type Number assigned
Type VIIB 19
Type VIIC 89
Type VIIC/41 1
Type U-A (Foreign Boat) 1

[edit] References