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Lothar Arnauld de la PeriereGerman naval officer, hero of World War I, vice admiral
Date of Birth: 18.03.1886
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Early Career and World War I
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière, a distinguished German naval officer and the most successful submariner of all time, was born in 1886. He joined the Imperial German Navy in 1903, serving on battleships and the light cruiser "Emden". With the outbreak of World War I, he served as an adjutant to Admiral Hugo von Pohl before transferring to the submarine fleet in 1915.
Mediterranean Success
Taking command of the submarine U-35, von Arnauld de la Perière commenced a series of successful patrols in the Mediterranean Sea. He adhered to the rules of prize law, evacuating crews before sinking their vessels with gunfire or charges. This approach earned him respect from the British, and he was not included on their list of war criminals. In total, U-35 sank 189 ships, with a combined tonnage of 446,708 GRT.
Post-War Service
After the war, von Arnauld de la Perière remained in the depleted German navy. He held various roles, including navigation officer on battleships and captain of the new cruiser "Emden". In 1931, he retired from active service with the rank of corvette captain.
World War II and Death
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, von Arnauld de la Perière was recalled to service. He held several senior positions, including naval commandant of Danzig, Belgium, and the western French coast. In 1941, he was promoted to vice admiral. However, his career was tragically cut short when his plane crashed during takeoff, killing him. He was buried at the Invalidenfriedhof cemetery in Berlin.
Legacy
Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière's wartime feats remain unparalleled. His total of 194 ships sunk has never been matched by any other submariner. He was a skilled and respected commander, whose adherence to prize law earned him the respect of his adversaries.
