# Robert Gysae

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German U-boat commander

Robert Gysae Born (1911-01-14)14 January 1911 Berlin-Charlottenburg, German Empire Died 26 April 1989(1989-04-26) (aged 78) Wilhelmshaven, West Germany Allegiance Weimar Republic Nazi Germany West Germany Branch Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine German Navy Service years 1931–45 1956–70 Rank Korvettenkapitän (Kriegsmarine), Flottillenadmiral (Bundesmarine) Commands U-98 U-177 Conflicts Battle of the Atlantic Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

**Robert Karl Friedrich Gysae** (14 January 1911 – 26 April 1989) was a German U-boat commander in the *[Kriegsmarine](/source/Kriegsmarine)* during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). He was a recipient of the [Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_with_Oak_Leaves) of [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany). Gysae commanded [*U-98*](/source/German_submarine_U-98_(1940)) and [*U-177*](/source/German_submarine_U-177), being credited with sinking twenty-five ships on eight patrols, for a total of 146,815 [gross register tons](/source/Gross_register_tonnage) (GRT) of Allied shipping.

## Career

Gysae joined the *Reichsmarine* in 1931 and served on [torpedo boats](/source/Schnellboot) before transferring to the *U-Bootwaffe* ("U-boat force") in April 1940. In October 1940 he was appointed commander of the [Type VIIC U-boat](/source/German_Type_VII_submarine) *U-98*, unusually without serving any time as either 1.WO (*1. Wachoffizier*, "1st Watch Officer") or *Kommandantenschüler* ("Commander-in-Training") on any other U-boats. After six patrols in the north Atlantic in command of *U-98*, in March 1942 he transferred to the [Type IXD2 U-boat](/source/German_Type_IX_submarine) *U-177* for another two patrols, this time operating off [South Africa](/source/Union_of_South_Africa) and [Portuguese East Africa](/source/Mozambique_(Portugal)). He sank a total of 25 ships, including the [armed merchant cruiser](/source/Armed_merchant_cruiser) [HMS *Salopian*](/source/HMS_Salopian).

On 28 November 1942 off the coast of [Natal Province](/source/Natal_Province), Gysae sank the 6,796 ton British troop ship [RMS *Nova Scotia*](/source/RMS_Nova_Scotia_(1926)) with three [torpedoes](/source/Torpedo). She was carrying 780 Italians; a mixture of prisoners of war and civilian internees. Gysae rescued two survivors to identify the ship, who turned out to be Italian merchant sailors. Mindful of the [Laconia Order](/source/Laconia_Order) issued two months previously, Gysae radioed the [BdU](/source/Befehlshaber_der_U-Boote), who ordered him to continue his patrol. The BdU notified the Portuguese authorities, who sent the frigate [NRP *Afonso de Albuquerque*](/source/NRP_Afonso_de_Albuquerque_(1934)) from [Lourenço Marques](/source/Maputo) to help. Of 1,052 people from the *Nova Scotia* only 194 survived: 192 rescued by the frigate and two others in subsequent days. 858 were killed, including 650 Italians.[1]

*Flottillenadmiral* Gysae (wearing a white cap, 2nd person on the left of the coffin) at [Konrad Adenauer](/source/Konrad_Adenauer)'s funeral.[2]

In January 1944 he became commander of *[25th U-boat Flotilla](/source/25th_U-boat_Flotilla)*, a training flotilla based at [Gotenhafen](/source/Gdynia). In April 1945, during the last month of the war, Gysae commanded the *Marinepanzerjagd-Regiment 1*, a naval anti-tank regiment. After the war he served in the [German Mine Sweeping Administration](/source/German_Mine_Sweeping_Administration) (*Deutscher Minenräumdienst*) for more than two years. In 1956 he joined the *[Bundesmarine](/source/Bundesmarine)*, serving for four years as [naval attaché](/source/Naval_attach%C3%A9) in the United States, and then three years as commander of *Marinedivision Nordsee* with the rank of *[Flottillenadmiral](/source/Flottillenadmiral)* before retiring in 1970. He died in 1989 aged 78.[3]

## Summary of career

During his career Gysae sunk 24 commercial ships for 136,266 [GRT](/source/Gross_register_tonnage), one auxiliary warship of 10,549 [GRT](/source/Gross_register_tonnage), and damaged one ship for 2,588 [GRT](/source/Gross_register_tonnage).[4]

### Awards

- [Wehrmacht Long Service Award](/source/Wehrmacht_Long_Service_Award) 4th Class (2 October 1936)[5]

- [The Return of Sudetenland Commemorative Medal of 1 October 1938](/source/Sudetenland_Medal) (20 December 1939)[6]

- [Spanish Cross](/source/Spanish_Cross) in Bronze with Swords[7]

- [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross) (1939) - 2nd Class (31 May 1940)[6] - 1st Class (15 April 1941)[6]

- Knight's Cross of the [Order of the Crown of Italy](/source/Order_of_the_Crown_of_Italy) (11 March 1941)[6]

- [U-boat War Badge](/source/U-boat_War_Badge) (1939) (31 May 1941); with Diamonds[7]

- *[Croce di Guerra](/source/Croce_di_Guerra)* with Swords (Italy, 25 May 1943)[6]

- [Wound Badge](/source/Wound_Badge) (1939) in Black (25 June 1943)[6]

- [War Merit Cross](/source/War_Merit_Cross), 2nd Class with Swords (1 September 1944)[6]

- [U-boat Front Clasp](/source/U-boat_Front_Clasp) in Bronze (1 October 1944)[6]

- [Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_with_Oak_Leaves) - Knight's Cross (31 December 1941) as commander of *U-98*[8] - 250th Oak Leaves (31 May 1943) as commander of *U-177*[8]

- [Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit) ([United States of America](/source/United_States_of_America))[7]

- Officer's Cross, [Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany](/source/Order_of_Merit_of_the_Federal_Republic_of_Germany)[7]

### Promotions

Kriegsmarine 1 April 1932: Seekadett (Midshipman)[5] 1 January 1933: Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[5] 1 January 1935: Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[5] 1 April 1935: Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[5] 1 January 1937: Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[5] 1 October 1939: Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[6] 1 July 1943: Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain)[6] Bundesmarine 7 December 1956 Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain)[6] 20 September 1960 Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea)[7] 13 April 1967 Flottillenadmiral (Flotilla Admiral)[7]

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Helgason, Guðmundur. ["Nova Scotia (Troop transport) - Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net"](http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/2476.html). *German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net*. Retrieved 5 March 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKilian2011325_2-0)** [Kilian 2011](#CITEREFKilian2011), p. 325.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-uboat.net_3-0)** Helgason, Guðmundur. ["*Korvettenkapitän* Robert Gysae"](http://www.uboat.net/men/gysae.htm). *German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net*. Retrieved 18 April 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEDixon201938_4-0)** [Dixon 2019](#CITEREFDixon2019), p. 38.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003182_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003182_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003182_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003182_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003182_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003182_5-5) [Busch & Röll 2003](#CITEREFBuschRöll2003), p. 182.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003183_6-10) [Busch & Röll 2003](#CITEREFBuschRöll2003), p. 183.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003184_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003184_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003184_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003184_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003184_7-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBuschRöll2003184_7-5) [Busch & Röll 2003](#CITEREFBuschRöll2003), p. 184.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScherzer2007356_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEScherzer2007356_8-1) [Scherzer 2007](#CITEREFScherzer2007), p. 356.

### Bibliography

- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). *Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945* [*The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945*] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-8132-0515-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-8132-0515-2).

- Dixon, Jeremy (2019). *The U-Boat Commanders — Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1945*. Yorkshire, UK: [Pen and Sword Books](/source/Pen_and_Sword_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-52671-873-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-52671-873-0).

- [Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther-Peer_Fellgiebel) [in German] (2000) [1986]. *Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile* [*The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches*] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-7909-0284-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-7909-0284-6).

- [Jürgen, Rohwer](/source/J%C3%BCrgen_Rohwer) (1999). *Axis submarine successes of World War Two: German, Italian, and Japanese submarine successes, 1939-1945*. Greenhill Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1557500298](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1557500298).

- Kilian, Dieter E. (2011). *Politik und Militär in Deutschland: Die Bundespräsidenten und Bundeskanzler und ihre Beziehung zu Soldatentum und Bundeswehr* [*Politics and the Military in Germany: The Federal Presidents and Chancellors and their Relationship to Soldiers and the Bundeswehr*] (in German). BoD – Books on Demand. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-937885-36-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-937885-36-0).

- Scherzer, Veit (2007). *Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives* [*The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives*] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-938845-17-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-938845-17-2).

Military offices Preceded by Fregattenkapitän Karl Neitzel Commander of the 25th U-boat Flotilla 5 January 1944 – 21 April 1945 Succeeded by Korvettenkapitän Georg-Wilhelm Schulz

[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)

Authority control databases VIAF GND

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Gysae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gysae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gysae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.