The STRANGEST U-Boat Ace

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Wolfgang Lüth (15 October 1913 - 14 May 1945) was a German U-boat captain of World War II who was credited with the sinking of 46 merchant ships plus the French submarine Doris sunk during 15 war patrols, for a total tonnage of 225,204 gross register tons (GRT).
Lüth joined the Reichsmarine in 1933. After a period of training on surface vessels, he transferred to the U-boat service in 1936. In December 1939 he received command of U-9, which he took on six war-patrols. In June 1940 he took command of U-138 for two patrols. In October 1940 he transferred again, this time to the ocean-going submarine U-43 for five war-patrols. After two patrols on U-181, the second being his longest of the war, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He was the first of two U-boat commanders to be so honored during World War II, the other recipient being Albrecht Brandi.
Lüth's last service position was commander of the Naval Academy Mürwik near Flensburg. He was accidentally shot and killed by a German sentry after the end of the war on the night of 13/14 May 1945. On 16 May 1945, Lüth was given a state funeral by the Flensburg Government.
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#ww2 #wwii #uboat #navy

[@BigMaxGames]

Thank you for this amazing video. This was my great Uncle and I just showed it to my 97 year old father who was stupefied that this even existed as he was also in the German Navy

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Hope you guys enjoyed it! He seemed like quite the man based off how his crew remember him, which is the most important aspect for me when evaluating someone like him. A very unique leader who had the respect of his men till the day they died, which says a lot to me. Do you happen to have any more info on his death? A lot of different theories out there but no evidence really suggesting one is correct over the other. Appreciate you watching and have a fantastic day :)

[@BigMaxGames]

From what the family understands and what we've been told, he was about to give testimony at the Nuremburg trials and was shot shot to ensure he didn't testify during the course of the events that happened after the war. He was after all given the very last death official ceremony of the third Reich. @@HiddenHistoryYT

[@Kamikatzef1]

Oha krass. Kann ich gar ned vorstellen wie das damals war

[@gunt-her]

@@Kamikatzef1 WW2 must have been heaven compared to the migrant problems of modern Europe.

[@usamahbinmuhammadbinawadbi2865]

As an American I can say we were on the wrong side of history…we should’ve fought alongside together.

[@scottsmith2052]

The line about the captain being willing and able to stand anybody's watch, essentially for fun, speaks volumes.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I agree Scott! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@andrewstackpool4911]

Many of us have done that, or taken duties during watches.

[@sabre22b]

Why wouldn't you?

[@carlmanvers5009]

With everything said, the thing that stands out is his concern for his men, and the way he supported them even after he stopped being their captain. _That_ is leadership.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching :)

[@AnnLyon-v3o]

My great-uncle was Senior Engineer on board HMS Laurentic, sunk by Otto Kretschmer along with HMS Patroclus on the night of 3-4 November 1940. He survived, despite spending over an hour in the water at the age of 60! I had some correspondence with Otto Kretschmer and met him just before his death in 1998. A very interesting man - thoroughly professional in a slightly chilling way.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Wow, absolutely incredible! Anything interesting to share from his survival story? Appreciate you watching and have a great weekend :)

[@TorstenKnodt]

I mean it was war, but I think I couldn't have contacted him.

[@WardenWolf]

Mad respect for this man, even though he was an enemy. He showed genuine care for his crew, and he kept his crew and himself alive, something few U-boat captains were able to do.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching!

[@Dilley_G45]

Luck was apart of it. Skill takes you only so far. Where the depth charges fall you can't control. You can maneuver but with 7 knots against a destroyer going 30+ knots you have few chances. The chance is higher against a single destroyer cause they usually had to run full speed when dropping charges, but run slow to use asdic. Planes could surprise you at night. Etc.

[@thebonesaw..4634]

He was a heartless psychopath who interfered in his men's lives for no other reason that it served the Reich. He deserves absolutely zero "respect"... he was a faithful fascist who believed in the Nazi cause, something that most other U-boat commanders did not believe in (they fought out of duty to the Kriegsmarine... Lüth fought because he liked being a Nazi and really, really enjoyed killing). He had zero concern for the pain and suffering of others (classic psychopathic behavior). The man was a murderous monster... and you think he deserves respect? What the hell is wrong with you? And just in case you think, _"I can't possibly understand the pressures of being on a U-boat"..._ I'm a submariner!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@Dilley_G45 spot on!

[@davecopp9356]

@WardenWolf Well said. What a great leader and captn. RIP and thank you for your service to this man. Respect doing such a great job with his team and for sinking so many All lied ships.

[@robertscheinost179]

Having served on a Submarine Tender during the diesel sub era, I found that most submariners had more screws loose than a Studebaker. I found this typical of someone that enjoyed living on a steel pipe that was so crowded that everyone aboard was basically living in each other's back pocket. That being said, thank God for our nation's safety there are men and women that are willing to do so. Thanks for a very interesting video.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Great info here Robert, thanks for sharing! Appreciate you watching :)

[@robertscheinost179]

@@HiddenHistoryYT You have a great channel, I enjoy it thoroughly!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@robertscheinost179 Thank you very much Robert!

[@SADFORIAN]

One of my mentors in civilian tech life was a submariner for the US in the early/mid-'80s. Strange dude who was also a gentleman who wore his heart on his sleeve and just an incredible craftsman.

[@R4Y2k]

Modern nuclear subs are cruise ships compared to the subs of the WW2 era, tho :D

[@jjohnsonTX]

Hadn't heard many details about Luth, aside from the tonnage sunk, before this. Very well done, and an objective look at the commander's frame of mind.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it James! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@denovemportem]

The man who saved my Grandfather´s life... twice by being an extremely wise U-boot captain! True story!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

That’s incredible! Which U-Boat(s) did he serve on? Appreciate you watching :)

[@denovemportem]

@@HiddenHistoryYT none, and that is just part of this incredible story. My Grandfather, like me, was Portuguese which adds a curious "wtf?" moment to everyone who hears it. It´s an amazing story that has some very funny twists and the way that I found out is nothing short of an hollywood movie, for being so far fetched. A pile up of incredible facts and coincidences that resulted in what I told you. Luth´s wisdom and analytic spirit saved quite a few neutral country lives. My ancestor being one of them ;)

[@oliverdenker8267]

@@denovemportem Can you tell more?

[@denovemportem]

@@oliverdenker8267 Sure. Just gimme some time and I will write it down as an answer. And sorry in advance for the incoming "wall of text"... :P

[@oliverdenker8267]

@@denovemportem Can't wait.

[@wildcolonialman]

Fascinating, and thank you. Like all who devour War history, Das Boat was perhaps the finest War movie made.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it! Have a great week Simon :)

[@frankmiller95]

The film is among the very best of its genre. As a retired professional mariner aboard surface ships, l read the book on my first ship. lt gave rise to many internal images of a torpedo impacting the the thin steel hull of our even-then, ancient refer ship, many years after WWll. The film is a masterpiece that lives up to the brilliance of the book, which is almost unique. There is not one inauthentic moment and a superb cast. Prochnow is brilliant.

[@wildcolonialman]

@@frankmiller95 Amen.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@frankmiller95 I shockingly have never finished it 🫣

[@frankmiller95]

@@HiddenHistoryYT Do yourself a favor and try watching the entire film from the beginning, without breaks. The WWll German Navy was the least political branch of the entire Wehrmacht and the film brilliantly and accurately depicts the characters as men fighting a war not of their choosing, but simply fulfilling their duty to their country as they saw it.

[@jeffreycavallo7755]

I enjoyed that!! Luth understood leadership, we can learn from this!!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I agree Jeffrey! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@chrisworthington1027]

I just finished reading " U Boat Ace" what an amazing story and excellent read. I highly recommend this book to any fan of WWII history.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I’ll have to check that out! Appreciate you watching and have a great rest of your week :)

[@matthewdukes3207]

Commenting for the algorithm because this channel deserves to be discovered by more people.

[@jtjames79]

Replying to your comment for the algorithm because this channel deserves to be discovered by more people.

[@kevinfoley8105]

Agreed!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate it Matthew! Hope you have a great weekend :)

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you :)

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks Kevin have a great weekend :)

[@deecawford]

It’s been 6 months that his has been uploaded but man it’s a good one. Glad to find another channel that loves diving into history like I do. Thanks so much.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@steeltrap3800]

For viewers who found this interesting, I recommend reading "U-333: The Story of a U-boat Ace" by Peter 'Ali' Cremer. Cremer was also stationed at the Marineschule Mürwik (MSM) in Flensburg-Mürwik when Luth was shot, as several of the surviving aces who were no longer in frontline service formed the guard for Doenitz (and other duties), and it was from there that Doenitz ended the war as German Head of State Cremer, incidentally, spent all his time in the North Atlantic, so experienced the 'worst' of the Allied antisubmarine warfare developments that made them so deadly. In fact he was one of a few senior commanders chosen by Doenitz to take boats on patrol following "Black May" (May 1943) when so many u-boats had been lost. The scene was described by Cremer as Doenitz in his HQ, standing at the huge table on which he plotted the u-boat campaign and surrounded by his staff, saying he wanted commanders with certain sorts of experience and then picking out a few from those who had raised their hands. Really a great read and gives a real insider's view of the u-boat war from their perspective.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I will have to order that, thanks for sharing! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@MrDwarfpitcher]

Lüth sounds like your typical mad captain that turns out to be the compassion filled enthusiastic mentor you love to have. Someone that puts crew above the ship and the ship above the mission.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

You don't have to like an enemy or for that matter a defeated enemy. You should however respect what they accomplished.

[@MothaLuva]

Depends on who the enemy belongs to. And if what they accomplished is to be respected.

[@SGTDuckButter]

That is how I look at it, everyone with at least half a brain understands that.

[@straybullitt]

That can sometimes be difficult in regards to the German atrocities committed during WW2. You do have to give respect to the ones who were just doing a task to the best of their abilities, and are far removed from the inner workings of the party.

[@MothaLuva]

@@straybullitt What atrocities?

[@straybullitt]

@@MothaLuva Auschwitz, amongst several other camps of horror. Was that a serious question? 🤔

[@charlesrabideau3474]

Just found this channel. GREAT stories well presented with excellent narration

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate it Charles! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

Haha, King Neptune had that conversation with me on 03 AUG 90. He has never cared much which side you were on.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂

[@John-gg4mq]

Thanks for a great video: I read a detailed account of Luth's death that suggested it was clearly "suicide by sentry". A formal inquiry determined that Luth had spoken to the sentry and emphasized that he had orders to shoot unidentified people. He also determined that the sentry would actually do so. Shortly afterwards, Luth then walked towards the sentry at night and ignored at least three challenges- with the last one just telling him to stop. Password no longer important. The sentry stated that he meant to shoot high, but had mis calculated Luth's height.

[@ColonelSandersLite]

If true, that's pretty scummy IMHO. It's one thing to take your own exit. Something else to make someone else carry that baggage for you.

[@sam3d]

How more badass can you get being a Uboat commander and have a last name "Wolfgang" while being German Uboat Commander !😂

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

True! Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@Arsenic71]

Wolfgang is his first name but your point remains totally valid 🙂

[@marianasteyer3911]

Bravo. Greetings from Germany. Danke, hervorragende Arbeit

[@vonzigle]

Thanks!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate it my friend! If there’s ever any topic that you want to see covered just let me know! Have a fantastic weekend :)

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

His death reminds me of the end of Das Boot. Except he was the sub, ironic.

[@johnmeneses7039]

Absolutely Brilliant movie.

[@kenlang5268]

I knew most of his background, but nevertheless this was an exceptional documentary. Well done.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it Ken! Have a great rest of your week :)

[@ylovaht2097]

Submarine oils were maden in Estonia onely and doomed smart fellows were known from Alfred Rosenberg/ from Estonia / or they did NOT knew their Destiny

[@BeniPress]

Please don't call every german soldier of this bitter era a "Nazi". In the last free elections this party had about 34%. But Hitler was Chancellor, which gave him the opportunity to change laws and to create the 3.Reich. Based on the informations, they had been given by the government, most soldiers fought just for their country, even the attack on Poland was sold as an act of 'self-defense'. This for sure not an excuse for all the crimes that germany is responsible for, but be fair.

[@doomhippie6673]

According to the facts given we can call Lüth a Nazi. He seemed to be quite political so here it fits.

[@BeniPress]

@@doomhippie6673 my comment did not depend on Lüth, you are right

[@ryanpark2049]

The wrong side was taken down

[@brandongardner9829]

Great story of a Great Man. And a Great Name.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching!

[@davecopp9356]

Thank you Mr. Wolfgang Lüth for your service. Respect and RIP.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

He was just a murderous UBoat captain furthering the aims Germany aims of conquest.

[@Rudeljaeger]

@@anthonyeaton5153 Better than furthering the communists.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

@@Rudeljaeger No. Nazis and Communists are equal in their murderous attitude.

[@donr444]

@@anthonyeaton5153 Ah yes, the eternal lie of Germany wanting to take over the world..

[@anthonyeaton5153]

@@Rudeljaeger …and let the Nazis complete their conquests and carry on murdering millions. Get real mate.

[@adriancarter8805]

I have just watched this with my mother. She is his granddaughter and I am his grandson. She was 4 years old when he died. Found it very illuminating. Even had one photo my mum had never seen before. She maybe has some differing opinions but we were impressed with the commentary nonetheless…

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Absolutely incredible to hear this! I found him to be a very interesting man who had the respect of his crew, which tells me a lot!

[@yabbadabbadoo8225]

Most people who post German WW2 stuff are clueless Historians NAZI refers to a Political Party in Germany from 1933 to 1945 (May 8th) You are Only a Nazi if you are a paid up member same as any political party on this planet Most Germans were not Nazi's, they were ruled by them The most Nazi outfit in Germany were the SS, the original Brown shirts that became Hitler's Private Army There is a strong case that the SS were a paid private force with zero legal standings thus no official duty to any Laws As such could be Executed upon capture, most were, that's why they fought to their deaths in the millions

[@TheAustrianPainter1488]

My grandfather was on U-43 and U-181 he achieved the rank of Oberleutnant zur See

[@charlesclark7350]

In ww2 and previous to , subs were called "pig boats" because they smelled so bad. Now when a modern sub surfaces the outside air stinks because modern air scrubbers make air so clean.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@이이-n4z8y]

So Luth was a real man. A good man that we can try to emulate.

[@crankychris2]

well made, broadcast quality. ;))

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it Chris! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@shanechostetler9997]

Good thing the ships were small back then.

[@ericcriteser4001]

Brilliant. Thank you for sharing.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it Eric! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@cold-warfool7512]

They should make a movie of him.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I agree! Thanks for watching :)

[@johnmeneses7039]

Try watching Wolfgang Petersens "Das Boot" 1981. It will open your eyes. Best War movie EVER.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Nice idea, but it would probably be full of half-truths and even lies, because of the official opinion which must be: „He was German, he can‘t have had a single decent character trait…“ Incidentally, that is also the official attitude of German politicians and historians, which many people in Germany have long since adopted... Btw, your channel is great, the videos are excellent. You got yourself a new subscriber! 😊

[@Necron990]

Very well presented and very interesting! New subscriber!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate it!

[@ppumpkin3282]

It's one thing to take a shot at a merchant marine, but to take a shot at a destroyer knowing if you miss he's coming for you, takes some real guts.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching & have a great week :)

[@lordmanatee439]

Heroes of the greatest generation

[@SB-cf3xt]

His death is very similar to that of another great U-boat commander , Werner Henke .

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Very interesting. I will have to make a video on him in the coming weeks! Thanks for watching :)

[@SB-cf3xt]

@@HiddenHistoryYT Great news, I will not fail to see it, if you like try to see the story of Commander Ralph Kapitsky (or Kapitzky) with U-615 in the Caribbean, a true hero.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@SB-cf3xt Awesome, I will check that out as well!

[@renardfranse]

THANX for this wonderful video

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks Ren! Appreciate you watching and have a great weekend :)

[@JohnH-mo5mb]

The H in Lüth is quiet, which means you pronounce it as if it wasn’t there, Lüt.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Ahh thank you my friend! Appreciate you watching & have a great week :)

[@rogerhuber3133]

As to the explanation of his death that he was drunk makes no sense as it was stated he didn't drink.

[@mikeholland1031]

I noticed that too but maybe he was down about Germany surrendering and fell off the wagon. You never know.

[@Bulletguy07]

I think the story about Werner Hartenstein Captain of U-156 which sank the RMS Laconia one of the strangest I read about. Google Laconia Incident.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Someone else suggested a video on him so looks like I will have to make that this month! Thanks for watching :)

[@johnmeneses7039]

@@HiddenHistoryYT That would be great, looking forward to it.

[@Bear-hr1xo]

This Nazi sank my grandfather's ship, but luckily he survived. Greetings from Norway

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Wow! What ship was he on? And thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@Bear-hr1xo]

@@HiddenHistoryYT The New Sevilla. Between 21.20 and 21.26 hours on 20 Sep 1940, U-138 fired torpedoes at convoy OB-216 52 miles northwest of Rathlin Island and reported three ships totalling 20,000 grt sunk. The three ships sunk were New Sevilla, Boka and City of Simla. The New Sevilla (Master Richard Black Chisholm) was taken in tow, but sank the next day 9 miles from the Mull of Kintyre in 55°48N/07°22W. Two crew members were lost. The master and 22 crew members were picked up by HMS Arabis (K 73) (LtCdr B. Blewitt, RNR) and landed at Liverpool. 44 crew members were picked up by the Icelandic trawler Belgaum and later transferred to the Industria, which had already picked up 215 crew members and landed at Belfast.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@Bear-hr1xo dang, that is incredible. Can’t imagine that was very great experience at all

[@robg8203]

You said "2wo" and iwo". I would say either "iiwo and iwo" together or "2wo and 1wo" together. Great video!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@jessiejames7492]

brilliant and good looking

[@trikyy7238]

The U-Boot dudes had the biggest hats.

[@perpetualgrin5804]

Would be great to do a comparison with the Russian hats😅.

[@billyshane3804]

SAS had the best balaclavas.

[@0815Catgus]

What a great guy he was literally me

[@24934637]

Not only did it take tremendous skill to be a member of the U-Boat crews, it also took tremendous balls (Courage). There wasn't ANY other military service in the world that had the same horribly high death rate that the U-Boats had. Yes, they WERE the enemy, and they killed a huge number of allied sailors and soldiers being transported across the Atlantic, but they deserve respect!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

True! Appreciate you watching & have a great week :)

[@gineasley3517]

Remember Luth almost certainly knew nothing of the concentration camps as most in the German navy and Air Force did not either. German propaganda hid the truth from many, including many intended Jewish victims. In fact, when a few Jewish men escaped from one of the camps, bringing with them documents to back up their stories of atrocities, the English did not believe them- it all seemed too horrific and fantastical to be real…

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@saleaeswandrea]

Very cool documentary, this gives a more detailed view of the ship captain's

[@billkunert7281]

Good video. I have one comment-The Knights Cross and American awards for heroism are, I feel, similar in that they are not won they are awarded.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

You are correct! Thanks for watching and have a great rest of your weekend :)

[@waynesimpson2074]

Luth was an outstanding Engineer, a much decorated Nazi and held many certificates for his patents. The details of his death were covered up to protect the honour of his family but like so many technically gifted geniuses his trade off for his intelligence was a deficit of common sense. He met his demise with the initial, successful demonstration of his last patent; the self homing bullet... but seriously... His Nazi arrogance was his downfall, he felt it beneath him to answer to a subordinate when challenged for a password. The guardsman on security detail had no charges to answer after the shooting inquiry. This speaks volumes.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Great info here Wayne. Thanks for watching!

[@thejester7729]

this guy reminds me of my last captain on the south dakota, good memories.

[@jl9952]

Sounds very cool guy and great leader.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching & have a great weekend :)

[@LuizRanieri.]

Guy was literally the Michael Scott of submarines!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂

[@alexander_winston]

That’s what SHE said.

[@peetsnort]

I wonder how they refuelled when in the Indian ocean and south Africa

[@garyvigorito3289]

German supply ships as well as German raiders like Komoran,Thor etc. Later in the war at Japanese bases also.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

Serious Question: How do they always have these exact-seeming tonnages for shipping sunk? I can see them estimating and rounding but how, exactly, could they come up with a number like 20,333 tons or the like? It’s not like they can identify every ship they torpedo and then look it up on Lloyds,or do they?

[@shanechostetler9997]

The ships are all recorded as to how much tonnage was onboard, just like today. In fact, even the old sailing ship owners kept meticulous records.

[@mikespangler98]

Also at the end of the war both sides sit down to compare notes. The families of the men lost deserve as complete of as accounting as is possible.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

@@shanechostetler9997 I knew that the info was known, my question is “how would a U Boot skipper know how to report down to the last ton?” Shooting ships in the dark and scurrying away wouldn’t produce a ships manifest.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

@@mikespangler98 that makes more sense, and would seem worthy of a video on its own. Drachinifel for instance.

[@dougerrohmer]

@@blacksquirrel4008 They would be relatively familiar with the tonnage and capacity of most types of ships, form Lloyds. They could also see how heavily it is laden by how low in the water they are sailing. Also, I would imagine a ship headed for the UK in 1941 would be fully loaded.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

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[@thelastaustralian7583]

You missed the most important point ! He was a devoted Lutheran !

[@andreasarnoalthofsobottka2928]

Why didn't you start your research by learning how to correctly pronounce his name?

[@anton33779]

Amazing, but the I is to be read as erste because they used roman numerals

[@hazchemel]

In concert with other comments, I completely concur. In addition, much appreciation for your tranquil dexterity with the English language Stricken I am with wonder and awestruck at the marvel of humanity itself that it brings forth such men as Luth. The same seed grown one in a hothouse and the other in the wilderness shall vary considerably. Luth's whole world far exceeded the blythe harshness of mere wilderness more perhaps, like the lip of the volcano's caldera.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching :)

[@anthonyeaton5153]

What blithering hell are talking about. That is psycho babble on stilts.

[@danielgreen3715]

That was interesting thank you👍

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching Daniel!

[@Siddich]

Lüth, not luth. we do not make a strange sfsfsfs sound out of a t, just because there is a silent h with it…and those two dots are there for a reason.

[@hrbooksmusic7878]

Thank God Germans never pronounce a name the wrong way because they are not familiar with a foreign language! (No, I‘m not secretly attacking Germans by using irony; I‘m German myself…)

[@tommygun5983]

I think it would be cool to be on a modern sub for a bit but def not for the periods of time or the ones these guys were. But in war and times of hardship like this it doesn’t surprise me he had little sympathy for the enemy, otherwise how could he complete his mission

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Very true!

[@kennedysingh3916]

Watched from Jamaica

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks Mon!

[@irongeneral7861]

6:00 German Aang with his arrowhead showing!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching & have a great week :)

[@privatepilot4064]

Exceptional video!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate it! Thanks for watching and have a fantastic rest of your week :)

[@FritzGraber-oy1kx]

Wolfgang Lüth débute sa carrière dans la marine en avril 1933 après avoir étudié le droit pendant trois semestres. Au cours de l'été 1933, il passe les trois mois traditionnels sur le voilier-école Gorch Fock , puis effectue un voyage d'entraînement de neuf mois autour du monde (Inde, Indonésie, Australie, Amérique du Nord et du Sud) sur le croiseur léger Karlsruhe . Après un an sur le croiseur léger Königsberg, il est transféré dans la force sous-marine en février 1937. En juillet 1937, il devient II WO (2nd Watch Officer) sur l'U-27 et effectue une patrouille dans les eaux espagnoles pendant la guerre civile espagnole. En octobre 1937, il devient I WO sur l'U-38 sous les ordres du Kptlt. Heinrich Liebe et est en patrouille en septembre 1939 lorsque la guerre éclate. Après un bref passage sur un bateau-école, il prend le commandement du petit sous-marin U-9 de type IIB . Au cours de six patrouilles sur ce sous-marin, il remporte ses premiers succès, notamment le naufrage du sous-marin français Doris en mai 1940. Le Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Lüth en patrouille Un mois plus tard, l'Oberleutnant Lüth mit en service le sous-marin U-138 de type IID . Dans la nuit du 20 au 21 septembre 1940, lors de sa première patrouille à bord du nouveau sous-marin, il coula quatre navires d'un total de 34 633 tonnes - un grand exploit pour un petit sous-marin côtier. En octobre 1940, au retour de sa deuxième patrouille, au cours de laquelle il coula un navire et en endommagea un autre, il reçut la Croix de chevalier , seul commandant d'un sous-marin de type côtier à remporter cette décoration. Il quitta le U-138 ce mois-là pour prendre le commandement du grand sous-marin de type IX U-43 . Au cours de cinq patrouilles sur ce sous-marin, il coula 12 navires pour un total de 68 077 tonnes. Il quitta le U-43 en avril 1942 et mit en service en mai 1942 le type IX D2 U-181 . En septembre 1942, le Kptlt. Lüth quitta Kiel pour sa première patrouille à bord de ce sous-marin. La zone d'opérations comprenait l' océan Indien ainsi que les eaux sud-africaines. Il atteignit Le Cap, en Afrique du Sud, à la fin du mois d'octobre, et au cours des deux semaines suivantes coula quatre navires totalisant 21 987 tonnes. Le 16 novembre, il reçut un message radio annonçant qu'il avait reçu les feuilles de chêne pour sa croix de chevalier. Avant de retourner à la base, il coula huit autres navires au cours des deux semaines suivantes, totalisant 36 394 tonnes, arrivant à Bordeaux en janvier 1943. En mars 1943, le Kptlt. Lüth quitta Bordeaux pour une nouvelle patrouille dans les eaux africaines et l' océan Indien . Cette patrouille, dans des conditions difficiles, fut également couronnée de succès, avec dix navires coulés totalisant 45 331 tonnes. Au cours de cette patrouille, Lüth devint le premier officier de sous-marin à recevoir la Croix de chevalier avec feuilles de chêne, glaives et diamants . Cette patrouille était également exceptionnelle car elle fut la deuxième plus longue patrouille de la guerre, durant 205 jours , juste derrière les incroyables 225 jours de Kentrat sur l'U-196 . Pour maintenir le moral pendant cette patrouille, Lüth a lancé diverses idées, comme la publication d'un journal de bord, l'organisation de concours de divers types et d'autres activités conçues pour maintenir l'équipage en forme mentalement et physiquement. Il s'exprima sur ce sujet lors d'une conférence d'officiers d'état-major de la Marine à Weimar le 17 décembre 1943, décrivant de manière fascinante les problèmes psychologiques qui pouvaient survenir en raison de la durée extrême d'une telle patrouille. (Le texte complet apparaît dans The U-Boat Offensive 1939 - 1945 de Tarrant .) Le capitaine de corvette Lüth après sa patrouille de 205 jours avec le FdU West Kapitän z. S. Rösing (à gauche) et le commandant de la 12e flottille Fregkpt. Klaus Scholtz (à droite). Kpt. zur See Lüth en janvier 1945 En janvier 1944, après plus de cinq ans de service ininterrompu sur des sous-marins, le Korvettenkapitän Lüth, hautement décoré, prend le commandement de la 22e flottille (d'entraînement) qui forme les futurs capitaines de sous-marins. En juillet 1944, il prend le commandement de la I. Abteilung (1ère section) à la Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik (académie navale), où sont formés les futurs officiers de la Kriegsmarine, et devient en septembre 1944 le plus jeune commandant de la Marineschule . Quelques jours seulement après la fin de la guerre, il meurt dans un tragique accident. Le 13 mai 1945, le capitaine du See Wolfgang Lüth est abattu par une sentinelle de l' école de marine parce qu'il ne s'identifie pas et ne donne pas le mot de passe. Le coup de feu malchanceux, tiré par la sentinelle sur une cible qu'il ne peut même pas voir dans l'obscurité, atteint Lüth à la tête, le tuant sur le coup. On a beaucoup spéculé sur les raisons pour lesquelles il n'a pas répondu au défi de la sentinelle. Certains ont suggéré qu'il s'agissait d'un suicide délibéré, d'autres que Lüth avait répondu mais que la sentinelle ne l'avait pas entendu. L'explication la plus probable est qu'il était ivre, épuisé ou distrait alors qu'il traversait le terrain de la Marineschule peu après minuit, le quatrième jour après la capitulation de l'Allemagne. Lüth fut l'un des commandants de sous-marins les plus controversés, d'abord et avant tout parce qu'il affichait publiquement sa ferme conviction dans les principes du nazisme. Mais d'autres aspects de sa personnalité, et même ses succès, ont également trouvé leurs détracteurs. Bien qu'il ait coulé un tonnage énorme de navires, ses succès ont surtout eu lieu dans les eaux africaines et dans l' océan Indien , des zones relativement faciles à capturer avec des défenses légères par rapport à l'Atlantique Nord. Certains de ses contemporains ont trouvé ses idées sur la gestion des équipages naïves et même ridicules ; les commandants qui ont subi des attaques fréquentes et meurtrières de la part des avions et des navires d'escorte qui les poursuivaient dans les eaux du Nord n'ont pas trouvé de raison de s'intéresser au problème de la nécessité de divertir les équipages pendant les patrouilles monotones. Le livre Das Boot de Buchheim ridiculise la célèbre conférence de Lüth sur les « Problèmes de leadership dans un sous-marin » (bien que la conférence ait eu lieu deux ans après que les événements décrits dans le livre étaient censés avoir eu lieu, il est clair à qui Buchheim fait référence lorsqu'il se moque d'un long texte tiré d'un « discours du lieutenant-commandant L. »). L'attitude paternaliste de Lüth envers son équipage était également bien connue. Non seulement il estimait qu'il était de son devoir de chef de se préoccuper du bien-être de ses hommes même après qu'ils aient quitté son bateau, mais il contrôlait aussi leurs habitudes personnelles autant que possible. Toutes les lectures apportées à bord devaient obtenir l'approbation personnelle de Lüth, et les posters de pin-up étaient interdits, dans le cadre d'une campagne visant à éradiquer les « problèmes sexuels à bord ». Il promouvait activement ses théories sur la bonne façon de maintenir une bonne santé physique en patrouille, allant jusqu'à exiger le port de certains vêtements et à interdire ou réglementer étroitement la consommation de cigarettes et de certains aliments et boissons. Cependant, le style de leadership de Lüth semble avoir suscité une loyauté à vie chez la majorité de ses hommes d'équipage, qui le vénèrent encore aujourd'hui. Il a également continué à aider ses hommes dans leurs affaires personnelles et leur carrière après avoir quitté l'U-181 , prenant du temps sur son emploi du temps administratif chargé pour répondre à leurs demandes d'aide. Il était manifestement un chef charismatique, comparable à l'amiral Dönitz qui déclara après la guerre que Lüth était destiné à occuper le poste de chef de la BdU. Cependant, en raison de ses convictions politiques, si Lüth avait survécu, il aurait sans doute passé une longue période en captivité alliée et aurait peut-être même été exclu de tout poste d'autorité après sa libération. Deux jours après sa mort, Lüth reçut les dernières funérailles nationales du Troisième Reich. Six officiers de sous-marins décorés de la Croix de chevalier formaient la garde d'honneur et Dönitz prononça les derniers mots. Une pierre commémorative à l'école de marine de Mürwik honore encore aujourd'hui la mémoire de cet officier de sous-marin exceptionnel.

[@Random_Content563]

Is it Johann?

[@cameronmolt5649]

Good content.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it Cameron! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@EiziEizz]

Lüth was a lucky sob, that he could sink defenseless rice trawlers in the south sea, while his brave contemporates had to fight british destroyers in the heavily mined english channel. Not an u-boat ace but a lucky sob until after the war.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@henrywhittaker2519]

Good presentation.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate it Henry! Have a great weekend :)

[@helmutmultz8552]

He. kick. the. ass. off. the. Allies

[@HiddenHistoryPlaysYT]

Wow, what a guy!

[@louisavondart9178]

No Uboots had refrigerators. The Type XXI had a freezer though.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Good info! Thanks for watching!

[@robertlutz5757]

The Type XIV did. And a bakery, too.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@KJB7777 😂

[@thebonesaw..4634]

12:08 - "And he never drank"... (irony).

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Ya his death is greatly shrouded in mystery. I lean somewhat of an assisted suicide basically, but can’t count out that he could’ve drank when the Third Reich collapsed. Thanks for watching :)

[@johnlammergeier2890]

so essentially he was a real professional

[@Joelontugs]

Wolfgang lulth sounds like a rap name lol

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂 not wrong! Thanks for watching :)

[@qre268Zrtb]

The gravestone says 14th May, but in the commentary you say 13th May, he could not have died a day later as it was also mentioned that he died instantly after being shot in the head.

[@danielnavarro537]

It might’ve been a typo error

[@rodan2852]

Still a captain that could keep a crew under discipline for 205 days 1,000s of miles from home.....that is no small feat....and then killed by a some kid

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Agreed. Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

Nothing strange. Absolutely brilliant man.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appeared to be a great leader of men! Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@gianpaolodabbeni9086]

EXCELLENT

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate you watching and have a fantastic weekend :)

[@stayhungry1503]

he was really bold and also really bald

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂

[@seanohare5488]

Hilarious

[@paulmcdonough1093]

there is a u boat near me in Birkenhead uk i have seen it

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

That is awesome!

[@nevillebloodybartos]

Yes!!! U534 sunk in 1945 by an RAF Liberator… salvaged in 1990 and put on display as a museum ship …. Unfortunately I think it’s been cut in to 4 pieces as the museum moved the sub needed to be transported by road

[@fazole]

It's quite something to read the memoirs of the German sailors crossing the Equator. The hazing was quite intense. They shoved oily rags in the mouth, and scraped them with shells. Officers were NOT exempt!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I will have to check those out! Any good places online with them?

[@456klem]

What you refer to seems to be the so-called "Äquator-Taufe", an Initiation ritual not unique to Germany. More details here: de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%84quatortaufe

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@456klem Great info!

[@Joshtow167]

I love playing uboat. Just figured iut hiw to properly use the TDC. You do feel sorry and id imagine evn more watching helpless sailors burning whike xovered in oil. "War is hell you cannot redine it" William Tecumseh Sherman

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Worth learning? I have it installed but have never played it still!

[@neromax4424]

A lot of very good philosophies

[@vedranr.glavina7667]

RIP, YOU HEROES of our GERMANY !

[@anthonyeaton5153]

Are you a Nazi?

[@albinrudfell5356]

0:43 He looks like Stellan Skarsgård when he was young

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Wow, great spot! Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@watdeneuk]

Good video. U-boot is however way more pronounced as 'boat' then the English 'boot'.

[@johnmeneses7039]

Almost pronounced Booo.....t. Similar to Afrikaans.

[@ottersirotten4290]

It was mentioned that he would had faced long Time Imprisonment by the Allies if survived longer, but why though?

[@jonbutzfiscina1307]

A leader. Perhaps one day he and others like him will get their due.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

He got it by being sunk.

[@alanjackson4646]

The ‘hero’ submarine Captains of any nationality were supported wholly by their crew, they all live in the same tube. Medals awarded were and still are for the submarine as a whole. I served on several Royal Navy submarines in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and you soon begin to appreciate which ‘Captain’ you would want to go to war with ! The life at sea on a diesel electric submarine was at best grim, I therefore have great respect for all the men who manned such vessels and volunteered over and over to go into combat, especially after being attacked with depth charges. Since 1901 the Royal Navy has lost in excess of 5000 men, a high proportion of which were lost by accident with several Admirals fighting over the design and use of submarines. The steam driven K boats or Fleet boats designed to keep up with the Fleet were an unmitigated disaster and caused the accidental deaths of many men whilst in service. RESURGAM.

[@seenit_]

So he was "strange" because he disavowed degeneracy? LOL ok.

[@gabork5055]

It's strange he forbade tobacco, serving on a U-boat must be stressful job, it doesn't sound like something anyone would follow while off-duty. That Triton cosplay thing was also really strange and kinda gay, something you would expect college kids would do 'for fun' or whatever. But otherwise he sounds like he was an annoying but ultimately good guy.

[@opoxious1592]

This ending is so sad, after surviving and serving one of the most dangerous and dealdy positions in the German army.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@tonyramdial9651]

He was a captain of a u boat during the Happy Time.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@TheBrettWay]

hidden history has the best production quality on all of youtube. Thank you for sharing the lost stories of these scumbags.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

You’re the man!

[@Rick2010100]

Sounds like some one who stormed the enemy lines with a knife between his teeth, but good warrior are made of this stuff.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@RR-le4gm]

Nice video! Your voice sounds familiar to me, did you ever made a video about Dirlewanger?

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

No I have not, although that would be a great topic eventually! Appreciate you watching though and have a great week :)

[@HAL-vu8ef]

Can anyone recommend some really good U Boat autobiographies? I read Iron Coffins, Steel Boats Iron Hearts and also Teddy Surhen Ace of Aces. I found them fascinating as first person accounts. Also, any allied Submariner autobiographies? Thanks

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

U-977, Thunder Below, Clear the Bridge, Wahoo: The Patrols of America’s Most Famous WWII Submarine

[@HAL-vu8ef]

@@HiddenHistoryYT thanks!

[@fordwk]

Hirschfeld: The Secret Diary Of A U Boat