Lehmann-Willenbrock, Heinrich (U-96)

Date of birth:: December 11th, 1911 (Bremen, Germany)
Date of death:: April 18th, 1986 (Bremen, Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Fregattenkapitän Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Lehmann-Willenbrock
Promotions:
01.04.1931: Offiziersanwärter
14.10.1931: Seekadett
01.01.1933: Fähnrich zur See
01.01.1935: Oberfähnrich zur See
01.04.1935: Leutnant zur See
01.01.1937: Oberleutnant Zur See
01.10.1939: Kapitänleutnant
01.03.1943: Korvettenkapitän
01.12.1944: Fregattenkapitän

Successes:
24 ships sunk, total tonnage 170,237 GRT
2 ships damaged, total tonnage 15,864 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 8,888 GRT

Career:
Crew of 1931
14.10.1939-30.11.1939: Kdt, "U 8", Typ IIB
05.12.1939-11.08.1940: Kdt, Schulboot, "U 5", Typ IIA - 1. Feindfahrt, 16 Seetage
14.09.1940-28.03.1942: Kdt, "U 96", Typ VIIC - 8. Feindfahrt, 267 Seetage
00.09.1944-00.01.1944: Kdt, "U 256", Typ VIIC - 1. Feindfahrt, 44 Seetage
00.12.1944-00.05.1945: Chef, 11. Uboot-Flottille

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Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre

Rank:: Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant)
Awarded on:: October 2nd, 1936

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kommandant, "U 5"
Awarded on:: April 20th, 1940

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kdt, U-5
Awarded on:: December 14th, 1940

A submarine under the leadership of Captain Lieutenant Lehmann-Willenbrock sunk on its patrol against the enemy a total of 40,900 GRT. A partial result of its undertaking was announced earlier.

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kommandant, "U 96"
Awarded on:: December 31st, 1940

U-boot Kriegsabzeichen (ohne Brillianten)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kommandant, "U 96"
Awarded on:: January 2nd, 1941

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kdt, U-96
Awarded on:: February 25th, 1941

The boat Captain Lieutenant Lehmann-Willenbrock has prominently contributed 55,600 GRT to the success of the submarine arm. Captain Lieutenant Lehmann-Willenbrock thus has destroyed 125,580 GRT of enemy merchant ship in the shortest period of time.

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kommandant, "U 96"
Awarded on:: February 26th, 1941

Awarded for his achievements during his first three war patrols with U 96. In that time he sunk 14 ships (with 115580 GRT) and damaged a further 2 (with 15864 GRT). The largest ship sunk was the British freighter "Almeda Star" (14935 GRT), which was struck on the 17.01.1941.

61st Award.

Wehrmachtbericht

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kdt, U-96
Awarded on:: May 20th, 1941

A submarine under the leadership of Captain Lieutenant Lehmann-Willenbrock sunk from convoys British tankers totalling 33,000 GRT.

Croce Al Valore di Guerra

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kdt, U-96
Awarded on:: November 1st, 1941

Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kommandant, "U 96"
Awarded on:: December 31st, 1941

Awarded for further successes with U 96 over the course of another five war patrols. During these he sunk another 10 ships with 58746 GRT.

51st Award.

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kdt, U-96
Awarded on:: May 8th, 1942

Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Awarded on:: January 30th, 1944

U-Boots-Frontspange in Bronze

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: October 19th, 1944

U-boot Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillianten

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse des Verdienstordens der BRD

Awarded on:: 1974

Sources

Photo 1: Willi Schumacher Collection
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Feldgrau.com
- The U-boat War 1939-1945
- Deutsche Marinesoldaten