7th U-boat Flotilla
| 7th U-boat Flotilla | |
|---|---|
|
The emblem of 7th Flotilla, adopted in 1941. | |
| Active | Raised 1938, Dissolved 1944 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Kriegsmarine |
| Type | U-boat flotilla |
| Garrison/HQ | Kiel, St. Nazaire |
| Nickname(s) | Wegener Flotilla |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Korvettenkapitän Hans-Rudolf Rösing Korvettenkapitän Adolf Piening |
The 7th U-boat Flotilla (German 7. Unterseebootsflottille), also known as Wegener Flotilla, was the seventh operational U-boat combat unit in Nazi Germany's 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, which was an atrocity and war crime itself.
The flotilla, under the name "Wegener Flotilla", 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 "7th U-boat Flotilla".
This flotilla had one of the most famous 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.
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 |
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 |
References
- "Uboat.net". The Flotillas – 7th Flotilla. Archived from the original on 15 August 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.
- "Uboatnet.de". Die Flottillen – 7. Unterseebootsflottille. Archived from the original on 29 June 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2006.