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Johann Günther Lütjens (25 May 1889 – 27 May 1941) was a German Admiral whose military service spanned more than thirty years and two World Wars. Lütjens is best known for his actions during World War II and his command of the battleship during its foray into the Atlantic Ocean in 1941. In its aftermath, the episode entered into naval legend. Born in 1889, he entered into the German Imperial Navy () in 1907. A diligent and intelligent cadet he progressed to officer rank before the outbreak of war, when he was assigned to a Torpedo boat Squadron. During World War I Lütjens operated in the North Sea and English Channel and fought several actions with the British Royal Navy. He ended the conflict as a ''Kapitänleutnant'' (captain lieutenant) with the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class (1914) to his credit. After the war he remained in the service of the navy, now renamed the ''Reichsmarine''. He continued to serve in torpedo boat squadrons eventually becoming a Commanding Officer in 1925. In the Weimar Republic era, Lütjens built a reputation as an excellent staff officer. In 1933, the year the National Socialists came to power under Adolf Hitler, the navy was remodelled again and renamed the ''Kriegsmarine''. He soon became acquainted with Erich Raeder and Karl Dönitz; the only two Commanders-in-Chief of the ''Kriegsmarine'' in World War II. His capability and friendship led to his promotion to ''Kapitän zur See'' (Captain at Sea) and a sea command at the helm of the cruiser . In the six years of peace he had risen to the rank of ''Konteradmiral'' (rear admiral), a promotion conferred upon him October 1937. In September 1939 World War II began with the German invasion of Poland. Lütjens received the a prompt award of the Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class (1939) three days later. His command of destroyer operations in the North Sea over the winter, 1939–40, earned him the Clasp to the Iron Cross 1st Class. On 1 January 1940, he was promoted to ''Vizeadmiral'' (Vice Admiral). In April 1940 he was given temporary command of the entire German surface fleet during the initial landing phase of Operation Weserübung, the invasions of Denmark and Norway. His actions earned him the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (ドイツ語:''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes'') in June. The award was to express recognition of extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. In the aftermath of the campaign he was appointed the commander of the German surface fleet and promoted to Admiral on 1 September 1940. He was involved in the tentative planning for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of the United Kingdom, but the plans were shelved after the Battle of Britain. German intentions turned to blockade and Lütjens made the German battleships and the centerpiece of his battle fleet; using the latter vessel as his flagship. In January 1941 he planned and executed Operation ''Berlin'', an Atlantic raid to support U-Boats in the Battle of the Atlantic by attacking British merchant shipping lanes. The operation was a tactical and propaganda victory. It came to a close in March 1941 when the ships docked in German-occupied France after sailing some 18,000 miles; a record for a German battle group at the time. His success led him to being chosen for further operations. In May 1941, Lütjens commanded a German task force, consisting of the battleship ''Bismarck'' and the heavy cruiser , during Operation ''Rheinübung''. In a repeat of ''Berlin'', Lütjens was required to break out of their naval base in occupied Poland, sail via occupied Norway, and attack merchant shipping. The operation went awry and the task force was soon spotted and engaged near Iceland. In the ensuing Battle of the Denmark Strait, was sunk and three other British warships were forced to retreat. The two German ships then separated. Three days later, on 27 May, Lütjens and most of the ship's crew lost their lives when ''Bismarck'' was caught and sank. In 1955 the Federal Republic of Germany was remilitarised and entered NATO. The ''Bundesmarine'' was established the following year. In 1967 this organisation recognised Lütjens and his service by naming the destroyer ''Lütjens'' after him. ==Childhood, education and early career== Johann Günther Lütjens was born in Wiesbaden in Hesse-Nassau, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia, on 25 May 1889. He was the son of merchant Johannes Lütjens and his wife Luise, née Volz.〔Stumpf 1982, p. 270.〕 Growing up in Freiburg im Breisgau, he graduated from the Berthold-Gymnasium with his diploma (''Abitur'') aged seventeen.〔Gaack and Carr 2011, p. 380.〕〔Ueberschär 2011, p. 407.〕 He entered the Imperial German Navy (''Kaiserliche Marine'') as a ''Seekadett'' (midshipman) on 3 April 1907 at the German Imperial Naval Academy in Kiel, where he received his initial infantry training.〔Dörr 1996, pp. 19–20.〕 He spent his initial year on (9 May 1907 – 1 April 1908) for his practical training on board and his first world cruise, before attending an officers course at the Naval Academy at Mürwik. His comrades nicknamed him "Pee Ontgens" after a character from the book ''Das Meer'' (The Sea) by Bernhard Kellermann, which was one of his favourite books.〔 Lütjens graduated 20th of 160 cadets from his "Crew 1907" (the incoming class of 1907), and was thereafter promoted to ''Fähnrich zur See'' (ensign) on 21 April 1908.〔Dörr 1996, pp. 20, 22.〕 Starting on 1 April 1909, he underwent naval artillery training at the Naval Artillery School〔Naval Artillery School—''Schiffsartillerieschule''〕 in Kiel-Wik and then participated in a torpedo course on board on 1 July 1909.〔Dörr 1996, p. 20.〕 Lütjens then attended another infantry course with the 2nd Sea-Battalion before boarding on 1 October 1909.〔2nd Sea-Battalion —'' II. See-Bataillon''〕 After receiving his commission as ''Leutnant zur See'' (second lieutenant) on 28 September 1910, he served on board (26 September 1910 – 1 April 1911), a harbour ship, and then (1 April 1911 – 1 April 1913). He then returned to the ''König Wilhelm'' (1 April 1913 – 1 October 1913),〔 where he served as an instructor of cabin boys and later as an instructor of cadets. ''König Wilhelm'' at the time was a barracks ship based in Kiel and used as a training vessel for naval cadets. He then completed two further world cruises on ''Hansa''.〔 Following these assignments, he was promoted to ''Oberleutnant zur See'' (sub-lieutenant) on 27 September 1913.〔Dörr 1996, p. 22.〕 Lütjens' next assignment was with the 4th Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla, where he served as a watch officer.〔4th Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla—''4. Torpedobootflottille''〕〔 On 1 October 1913, he was appointed company officer with the I. Torpedodivision, and served as a watch officer on torpedo boat ''G-169'' of the 2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla from 1 November.〔2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla—''II. Torpedoboot-Halbflottille''〕 On 24 December 1913, he returned to his position as company officer with the I. Torpedodivision, before becoming a watch officer on ''G-172'' of the 2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla on 15 March 1914.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Günther Lütjens」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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