Günther Prien
Günther Prien (16 January 1908 – presumed 8 March 1941) was a German U-boat commander during World War II. He was the first U-boat commander to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the first member of the Kriegsmarine to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Prien.
Günther Prien | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Der Stier von Scapa Flow |
| Born | 16 January 1908 Osterfeld, Province of Saxony, Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 8 March 1941 (aged 33) U-47, Western Approaches, off Ireland |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/ | Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1933–1941 |
| Rank | Korvettenkapitän |
| Service number | NSDAP #1,128,487 |
| Unit | 7th U-boat Flotilla |
| Commands held | U-47 |
| Battles/wars | See battles Spanish Civil War World War II
|
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Under Prien's command, the submarine U-47 was credited with sinking over 30 Allied ships totalling about 200,000 gross register tons (GRT), along with the British battleship HMS Royal Oak at anchor in the Home Fleet's anchorage in Scapa Flow.
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