Gunther Krech German submarine officer, lieutenant commander. Date of Birth: 21.09.1914 Country: Germany

1. Early Life and Naval Career
2. Submariner on the Rise
3. Successful Wartime Raids
4. Key Successes:
5. Return to Europe and Sinking
6. Legacy

Early Life and Naval Career

On September 23, 1933, a young German man named Krech embarked on his naval career as a cadet. Three years later, on October 1, 1936, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. After a brief stint in the Luftwaffe (air force), Krech found his calling in the submarine service.

Submariner on the Rise

In November 1939, Krech transitioned to the U-boat fleet. He served as a watch officer on U-100 under Lieutenant Commander Joachim Schepke until November 1940. On February 20, 1941, he was appointed commander of U-558.

Successful Wartime Raids

Over the next two years, Krech led U-558 on 10 patrols, spending a total of 437 days at sea. His primary operating area was the Caribbean Sea. Krech had a remarkable track record during this time, earning a reputation as a skilled and effective submarine commander.

Key Successes:

- In August 1942, U-558 sank a 2,000-ton British cargo ship in the Windward Passage.

- In September of the same year, U-558 destroyed two cargo ships with a combined tonnage of 15,200 tons and the Norwegian tanker "Villa" (6,700 tons) near Aruba.

- Several days later, U-558 sent a 2,600-ton American cargo ship to the bottom off Trinidad.

These successes earned Krech the prestigious Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on September 17, 1942.

Return to Europe and Sinking

After its Caribbean exploits, U-558 returned to France for a major overhaul. It did not return to sea until January 1943. On July 20, 1943, tragedy struck as Krech's submarine fell victim to depth charges dropped by British and American aircraft northwest of Cape Ortegal, Spain.

Legacy

Out of the 45 crew members on board, only 5, including Krech, survived and were taken prisoner. Despite the tragic end to his career, Krech left a lasting legacy as a highly successful submarine commander. During his wartime service, he sank 20 ships with a total tonnage ranging from 101,696 to 120,238 gross registered tons. These included the British corvette "Gladiolus" and the British anti-submarine trawler "Bedfordshire." Krech also damaged two ships with a combined tonnage of 15,070 gross registered tons.