Befehlshaber der U-Boote

The Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote or BdU (Eng: "Commander of the U-boats") was the supreme commander of the German Navy's U-Boat Arm (Ubootwaffe) during the First and World Wars. The term also referred to the Command HQ of the U-boat arm.[1]

The title was established in June 1917, replacing the role of "Leader of the U-boats" (Führer der Unterseeboote, or FdU) for the High Seas Flotillas. The first incumbent was Kapitan zur See/Kommodore Andreas Michelsen (de), previously head of the High Seas Fleet’s destroyer force.[2] The post was abolished with the end of the war.

It was revived on 17 October 1939, when Karl Dönitz was promoted to rear admiral (Konteradmiral). His previous title had been FdU, a position he had held from January 1936.[3]

On 31 January 1943 Dönitz was promoted to grand admiral (Großadmiral) and became supreme commander (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) of the entire Kriegsmarine, replacing Erich Raeder. He retained the title, but was replaced as operational commander at BdU by his chief of staff Eberhard Godt.[4]

Godt's successor was Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg, who held the position at the end of the war.

Department Chief
No. AbteilungschefTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Friedeburg, HansKapitän zur See
Hans-Georg von Friedeburg
(1895–1945)		17 October 193911 September 19411 year, 329 days
2nd Admiral of the U-boats
No. 2. Admiral der UnterseebooteTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Friedeburg, HansKonteradmiral
Hans-Georg von Friedeburg
(1895–1945)		12 September 194130 April 19431 year, 230 days
Commanding Admiral of the U-boats
No. Kommandierender Admiral
der Unterseeboote		Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Friedeburg, HansAdmiral
Hans-Georg von Friedeburg
(1895–1945)		1 February 194330 April 19452 years, 88 days
2
Dobratz, KurtKapitän zur See
Kurt Dobratz
(1904–1995)		1 May 19458 May 19457 days
Chief of Staff of the Commanding Admiral of the U-boats
No. Stabschef des Kommandierenden
Admirals der Unterseeboote		Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Beucke, HeinzFregattenkapitän
Heinz Ehler Beucke
(1904–1979)		March 1943May 19432 months
2
Kratzenberg, ErnstKonteradmiral
Ernst Kratzenberg
(1896–1984)		June 1943April 19451 year, 10 months
3
Dobratz, KurtKapitän zur See
Kurt Dobratz
(1904–1995)		April 1945April 19450 months
4
Engler, EwaldFregattenkapitän
Ewald Engler
(1913–?)		1 May 19458 May 19450 months

Notes
  1. Hague pviii
  2. Tarrant p56
  3. "Karl Dönitz". uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  4. "Eberhard Godt". uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
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References
  • Arnold Hague : The Allied Convoy System 1939–1945 (2000). ISBN 1-55125-033-0 (Canada); ISBN 1-86176-147-3 (UK).
  • VE Tarrant (1989) The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945 Arms & Armour ISBN 0-85368-928-8
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