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Friedrich GuggenbergerGerman submarine officer, captain-lieutenant
Date of Birth: 06.03.1915
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- The Early Life of Hans-Joachim Guggenberger
- July 1st, 1935: Promoted to Ensign
- Command of U-81 and Notable Achievements
- December 10th, 1941: Awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Tragic End and Prisoner of War
- Rescued by American destroyer "Bernegate"
- Arrested 10 km from the Mexican border on January 6th, 1945
- Graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, USA
- Promoted to Rear Admiral on October 31st, 1968
The Early Life of Hans-Joachim Guggenberger
On September 26th, 1934, Hans-Joachim Guggenberger embarked on his naval career as a cadet. Over the next few years, he rapidly rose through the ranks:
July 1st, 1935: Promoted to Ensign
April 1st, 1937: Promoted to LieutenantTransition to the Submarine Fleet
In October 1939, Guggenberger joined the submarine branch. He served on U-28 under the command of Günther Kunke, gaining valuable experience.
Command of U-81 and Notable Achievements
On April 26th, 1941, Guggenberger was appointed commander of U-81. He led the submarine on nine patrols, spending 261 days at sea:
November 13th, 1941: Torpedoed and sank the British aircraft carrier "Ark Royal" (22,600 tons)
December 10th, 1941: Awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Continued Service and CommendationsDecember 24th, 1942: Relinquished command of U-81
January 23rd, 1943: Given command of U-847
January 9th, 1943: Awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross
May 15th, 1943: Took command of U-513 (Type IX-C), embarking on a single patrol lasting 63 days
Tragic End and Prisoner of War
On July 19th, 1943, U-513 was sunk off the coast of Brazil by American aviation. Guggenberger was severely injured but managed to survive:
Rescued by American destroyer "Bernegate"
Treated and held as a prisoner of war in Phoenix, ArizonaEscape Attempts and Return to Germany
February 12th, 1944: Escaped with four other submarine officers
Recaptured in August 1944
December 24th, 1944: Attempted another escape with 24 other submariners
Arrested 10 km from the Mexican border on January 6th, 1945
Transferred to a camp in New York in February 1946Returned to the British zone of Germany in August 1946
Post-War Career and Legacy
After the war, Guggenberger pursued a career as an architect. In 1956, he returned to the navy and served in various high-ranking positions:
Graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, USA
Served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the NATO Allied Forces Northern Europe for four years
Promoted to Rear Admiral on October 31st, 1968
Retired in October 1972Tragically disappeared on May 13th, 1988 (found dead in a forest in 1990)
Throughout his military career, Guggenberger sank 17 ships and damaged one, totaling 70,692 GRT. His courage and leadership earned him numerous accolades and left a lasting legacy in submarine warfare history.
