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''Kapitän zur See'' (Captain) Wolfgang August Eugen Lüth (15 October 1913 – 14 May 1945), was the second most successful German U-boat ace of World War II. His career record of 46 merchant ships plus the sunk during 15 war patrols, with a total displacement of , was second only to that of ''Korvettenkapitän'' (Lieutenant Commander) Otto Kretschmer,〔 whose 47 sinkings totaled .〔Williamson 2006, p. 19.〕 Lüth joined the ''Reichsmarine'' in 1933. After a period of training on surface vessels, he transferred to the U-boat service in 1936. In December 1939 he received command of , which he took on six war-patrols. In June 1940 he took command of for two patrols. In October 1940 he transferred again, this time to the ocean-going submarine for five war-patrols. After two patrols on , the second being his longest of the war, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten''). He was the first of two U-boat commanders to be so honored during World War II, the other recipient being Albrecht Brandi. Lüth's last service position was commander of the naval academy at Mürwik a part of Flensburg. He was accidentally shot and killed by a German sentry on the night of 13/14 May 1945. Lüth was given the last state funeral in the Third Reich, the only U-boat commander to be so commemorated.〔Kurowski 1995, p. 153.〕 ==Early life and career== Lüth was a Baltic German born in Riga in the Russian Empire. He went to the ''Naturwissenschaftliches Gymnasium'' there and after he had received his ''Abitur'' (school leaving certificate), he studied Law for three semesters at the Herder-Institut. With his parents approval he joined the ''Reichsmarine'' on 1 April 1933 as an ''Offiziersanwärter'' (Officer Candidate). After he underwent basic military training in the 2nd department (II. ''Abteilung'') of the standing ship division (''Schiffsstammdivision'') of the Baltic Sea in Stralsund (1 April 1933 – 29 June 1933), he was transferred to the training ship ''Gorch Fock'' (30 June 1933 – 23 September 1933) attaining the rank of ''Seekadett'' (Naval Cadet) on 23 September 1933.〔 He initially served with the surface fleet, going on a nine-month training tour around the world in the light cruiser ''Karlsruhe'' from 24 September 1933 to 27 June 1934. He advanced in rank to ''Fähnrich zur See'' (Midshipman) on 1 July 1934 and served for a year aboard the light cruiser ''Königsberg'' (22 March 1936 – 31 January 1937),〔 attaining the rank of ''Oberfähnrich zur See'' (Senior midshipman) on 1 April 1936 and ''Leutnant zur See'' (Ensign) on 1 October 1936.〔〔Alman 1988, p. 8.〕 In February 1937 he transferred to the U-boat arm and was promoted to ''Oberleutnant zur See'' (Lieutenant (grade )) on 1 June 1938.〔 In July he was appointed 2nd Watch Officer of (3 July 1938 – 23 October 1938). He sailed on a patrol in Spanish waters during the civil war in that country on the U-boat tender ''Erwin Wassner'' (13 April 1939 – 18 May 1939). In October he was appointed the 1st Watch Officer of under the command of ''Kapitänleutnant'' (Lieutenant) Heinrich Liebe,〔 who during the course of World War II would earn the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (''Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub''). Lüth was on patrol with ''U-38'' from 19 August 1939 until 18 September, (the war started on 1 September).〔Berger 1999, p. 190.〕 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「Wolfgang Lüth」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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