# Werner Hartmann

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For the German physicist, see [Werner Hartmann (physicist)](/source/Werner_Hartmann_(physicist)). For other uses, see [Werner Hartmann (disambiguation)](/source/Werner_Hartmann_(disambiguation)).

**Werner Hartmann** (11 December 1902 – 26 April 1963) was a German [U-boat](/source/U-boat) commander in [World War II](/source/World_War_II). He was credited with sinking 26 ships, amounting to over sunk. 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).

## Early life and career

Hartmann was born on 11 December 1902 in Silstedt near [Wernigerode](/source/Wernigerode) in the [Province of Saxony](/source/Province_of_Saxony), a [province](/source/Provinces_of_Prussia) of the [Kingdom of Prussia](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia) in the [German Empire](/source/German_Empire). He was the third child of Albert Hartmann, an [evangelic](/source/Evangelic) [pastor](/source/Pastor) in Wernigerode, and Helene Hartmann, née Wernicke. Hartmann had one older brother, Rudolf, and an older sister, Edith. From 1909 to 1914, he attended the *[Volksschule](/source/Volksschule)*, a primary school, in Silstedt and later the *[Gymnasium](/source/Gymnasium_(school))*, a secondary school, in the district of [Magdeburg](/source/Magdeburg).[1]

On 1 April 1914, Hartmann joined the *Königlich Preußischen Kadettenkorps* (Royal Prussian Cadet Corps) in Oranienstein near [Diez](/source/Diez,_Germany). He initially served in the *Vorkorps* (pre corps) before he transferred to the *Hauptkadettenanstalt* (Main [Military Academy](/source/Military_Academy)) in [Berlin-Lichterfelde](/source/Berlin-Lichterfelde) on 1 April 1917. There he graduated with his *[Abitur](/source/Abitur)* (diploma) in 1921. Following his graduation he began his naval career with the *[Reichsmarine](/source/Reichsmarine)* of the [Weimar Republic](/source/Weimar_Republic) on 1 April 1921 as a member of "Crew 21" (the incoming class of 1921).[1]

Until 30 September 1925, he underwent a number of military and naval training courses.[2] It began with basic military training (1 April – 30 September 1921) in [Stralsund](/source/Stralsund) at the [Baltic Sea](/source/Baltic_Sea) and weapons courses at the [Naval Academy at Mürwik](/source/Naval_Academy_at_M%C3%BCrwik). Hartmann was then transferred to the [SMS *Hannover*](/source/SMS_Hannover) (1 October 1921 – April 1922) for onboard training and then to the [training ship](/source/Training_ship) [*Niobe*](/source/Niobe_(schooner)) (April – 30 June 1922).[3] During this timeframe, he was promoted to *[Fähnrich zur See](/source/F%C3%A4hnrich_zur_See)* (officer cadet) on 1 April 1923 and to *[Oberfähnrich zur See](/source/Oberf%C3%A4hnrich_zur_See)* (Senior Ensign) on 4 April 1925.[2]

He went on to serve as commander of the [torpedo boats](/source/Torpedo_boat) [German torpedo boat *Seeadler*](/source/German_torpedo_boat_Seeadler) and [German torpedo boat *Albatros*](/source/German_torpedo_boat_Albatros), before transferring to the [U-boat arm](/source/U-boat_arm) in 1935. During the [Spanish Civil War](/source/Spanish_Civil_War), he commanded that patrolled Spanish waters during the [Civil War](/source/Spanish_Civil_War) in 1937–38 with [Günther Prien](/source/G%C3%BCnther_Prien) as his first [watch officer](/source/Watch_officer).

## World War II

From January–May 1940 Hartmann was commander of both and *[2nd U-boat Flotilla](/source/2nd_U-boat_Flotilla)*, but directing U-boats while at sea proved inefficient, and the *[Befehlshaber der U-Boote](/source/Befehlshaber_der_U-Boote)* or BdU ("U-boat High Command") decided henceforth to direct the U-boats from land. After three patrols, and sinking 19 ships totalling , Hartmann received the [Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross).[4] His senior officers on his four patrols on *U-37* were future Knight's Cross winners, first watch officer *Oberleutnant zur See* [Ernst Bauer](/source/Ernst_Bauer_(Kapit%C3%A4n_zur_See)) (two patrols) and later *Oberleutnant zur See* [Nicolai Clausen](/source/Nicolai_Clausen) (two patrols), second watch officer *Leutnant zur See* [Gustav Poel](/source/Gustav_Poel) and chief engineer *Oberleutnant* (Ing.) [Gerd Suhren](/source/Gerd_Suhren).[5]

Hartmann's first patrol (19 August 1939 – 15 September 1939) on *U-37* left [Wilhelmshaven](/source/Wilhelmshaven) almost two weeks before the outbreak of World War II on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces [invaded Poland](/source/Invasion_of_Poland).[2] Commander of *U-37* on this patrol was *Kapitänleutnant* Heinrich Schuch.

Hartmann then moved to the BdU as a staff officer, and in November 1940 became commander of the 2nd ULD (U-boat Training Division). A year later he took command of the *[27th U-boat Flotilla](/source/27th_U-boat_Flotilla)* in [Gotenhafen](/source/Gdynia). In November 1942 he took command of the large [Type IXD](/source/German_Type_IX_submarine) for a patrol to the Indian Ocean lasting 200 days, the third longest patrol ever undertaken, and sank 7 ships totalling . Chief engineer was [Johann-Friedrich Wessels](/source/Johann-Friedrich_Wessels) who received the Knight's Cross for his services on this patrol. In 1944 Hartmann became *[Führer der Unterseeboote](/source/F%C3%BChrer_der_Unterseeboote) Mittelmeer* ("Commander of U-boats in the Mediterranean") and in this post received the [Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_with_Oak_Leaves).[4]

## Bundesmarine and later life

After the war he joined the *[Bundesmarine](/source/Bundesmarine)* on 1 July 1956, commanding the 1. *Schiffsstammregiment* (1st Naval training regiment) in [Glückstadt](/source/Gl%C3%BCckstadt), retiring on 1 April 1962.[6] He died on 26 April 1963 in Usseln/[Waldeck](/source/Waldeck,_Hesse) of [pulmonary embolism](/source/Pulmonary_embolism).[citation needed] He was buried in a family grave in Glückstadt.[7]

## Summary of career

### Ships attacked

As commander of and Werner Hartmann is credited with the sinking of 26 ships for a total of .[4]

### Awards

- [Wehrmacht Long Service Award](/source/Wehrmacht_Long_Service_Award) 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936)[6]
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 2nd Class (1 April 1939)[6]
- Spanish [Naval Merit Cross](/source/Crosses_of_Naval_Merit_(Spain)) in White 2nd Class (*Cruz blanca del merito naval*) (21 August 1939)[8]
- [Iron Cross](/source/Iron_Cross) (1939) - 2nd Class (8 November 1939)[6][9] - 1st Class (8 November 1939)[6][9]
- [U-boat War Badge](/source/U-boat_War_Badge) (1939) (7 December 1939)[10] - with Diamonds (5 November 1944)[10]
- [Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves](/source/Knight's_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross_with_Oak_Leaves) - Knight's Cross on 9 May 1940 as *[Korvettenkapitän](/source/Korvettenkapit%C3%A4n)* and commander of *U-37*[11][12] - 645th Oak Leaves on 5 November 1944 as *[Kapitän zur See](/source/Kapit%C3%A4n_zur_See)* and leader of the U-Boote in the Mediterranean Sea,[11] before commander of *U-198*[13]

### Promotions

1 April 1924: Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)[2] 4 April 1925: Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Ensign)[2] 1 October 1925: Leutnant zur See (Second Lieutenant)[2] 1 July 1927: Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant)[2] 1 October 1933: Kapitänleutnant (Captain Lieutenant)[6] 1 July 1937: Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain)[6] 1 April 1941: Fregattenkapitän (Frigatte Captain)[6] 1 April 1943: Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea)[6]

## References

### Citations

1. Röll 2010, p. 11.

1. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 29.

1. Röll 2010, p. 150.

1. *Kapitän zur See* Werner Hartmann.

1. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 31.

1. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 30.

1. Röll 2010, p. 149.

1. Röll 2010, p. 152.

1. Thomas 1997, p. 251.

1. Busch & Röll 2003, p. 535.

1. Scherzer 2007, p. 369.

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 215.

1. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 92.

### 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 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (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 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. ["*Kapitän zur See* Werner Hartmann"](http://www.uboat.net/men/hartmann.htm). *German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net*. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. ["Ships hit by U-37"](http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u37.html). *German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net*. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. ["Ships hit by U-198"](https://uboat.net/boats/successes/u198.html). *German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net*. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). *Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two*. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
- Röll, Hans-Joachim (2010). *Kapitän zur See Werner Hartmann—Vom Lehrmeister Priens zum Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub* [Captain at Sea Werner Hartmann—From Prien's Teacher to the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves] (in German). Würzburg Germany: Flechsig. ISBN 978-3-8035-0013-7.
- 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 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Thomas, Franz (1997). *Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 1: A–K* [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2299-6.

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