Korvettenkapitän Günther Prien (January 16, 1908 - March 7, 1941) was one of the three outstanding U-boat aces of the first part of the Second World War, and the first U-boat commander to win the Knight's Cross. Under Prien's command, the submarine U-47 sank over 30 Allied ships totalling about 200,000 tons. By far his most famous exploit, however, was the sinking of the British battleship HMS Royal Oak at anchor in Scapa Flow.
Born in Thuringia, Prien went to sea as a young man before joining the Reichsmarine in January 1931. He initially served on the light cruiser Königsberg before transferring to the U-boat service in October 1935. Prien progressed steadily in rank, from Fähnrich zur See in 1933, to Oberfähnrich zur See in 1935, Leutnant zur See (also in 1935), then Oberleutnant zur See in 1937. He was appointed to the command of the new Type VIIB U-47 on her commissioning (December 17, 1938) while still an Oberleutnant, and was promoted to Kapitänleutnant on February 1, 1939.
On October 14, 1939, Prien risked shallow water, unknown shoals and detection by defenders to penetrate the Royal Navy's primary base, Scapa Flow. Although most of the Home Fleet was at sea, Prien sunk the battleship Royal Oak and returned home to instant fame. On his return to Germany following the Scapa raid, Prien was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and was the first member of the Kriegsmarine to receive this award. Following the successful mission, Prien was given the nickname Der Stier von Scapa Flow, or "The Bull of Scapa Flow". This emblem was painted on the conning tower of U-47, and was to soon become the emblem of the 7th U-boat Flotilla.
Following later patrols, Prien was awarded the Oakleaves in 1940; he was killed when the U-47 was sunk in March 1941, not long after being promoted to the rank of Korvettenkapitän.
Although he was at sea for under two years, Prien's record stands high among the U-boat aces during the Second World War. He spent 238 days at sea, sinking 30 enemy vessels for a total tonnage of 193,808 grt.
External Links
u47.org
