__NOTOC__ Horst von Schroeter (10 June 1919,

Bieberstein Bieberstein is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Adolf Marschall von Bieberstein (1842–1912), German politician *Adolph Bieberstein (1902–1981), American footballer * Arno Bieberstein (1884–1918), German swimmer *Fri ...

– 25 July 2006) was a German

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role ...

commander during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. He was a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight' ...

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

. After World War II he joined the

West German Navy The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...

and from 1976 to 1979 held the position of Commander of the NATO Naval forces in the Baltic Sea Approaches ( COMNAVBALTAP). U-123 sank the Spanish-registered motor ship Castillo Montealegre on 8 April 1943 west of Conakry, French Guinea. As per maritime rules, the neutral ship had the Spanish flag painted in both sides. Commander Horst von Schroeter ordered the shooting of 3 torpedoes and she sunk in less than a minute. The submarine surfaced, the commander asked from the conning tower "What ship?" to the survivors. Although being confirmed he had just sunk a neutral ship, he left without giving any assistance to the 40 men adrift (five went down with the ship). A few days later the Hill-class naval trawler HMS Inkpen rescued 29 survivors from a boat. 11 on a separated raft died. The affair was hushed-up by the government of Franco; indeed, the survivors were ordered to shut-up. The career of Commander Horst von Schroeter was unaffected by this affair and after the war he even became a NATO commander.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia est ...

(1939) 2nd Class (25 August 1941) & 1st Class (10 February 1942)Busch & Röll 2003, p. 450. *

U-boat War Badge The U-boat War Badge (german: U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen) was a German war badge that was awarded to U-boat crew members during World War I and World War II. History The ''U-boat War Badge'' was originally instituted during the First World War on Feb ...

(1939) (25 August 1941) *

U-boat Front Clasp The U-boat Front Clasp (german: U-Boot-Frontspange) or U-boat Combat Clasp, was a World War II German '' Kriegsmarine'' military decoration awarded to holders of the U-boat War Badge to recognize continued combat service and valor. History The awa ...

in Silver (15 March 1945)Busch & Röll 2003, p. 451. *

on 1 June 1944 as ''

Oberleutnant zur See ''Oberleutnant zur See'' (''OLt zS'' or ''OLZS'' in the German Navy, ''Oblt.z.S.'' in the ''Kriegsmarine'') is traditionally the highest rank of Lieutenant in the German Navy. It is grouped as OF-1 in NATO. The rank was introduced in the Imper ...

'' and commander of ''U-123''Fellgiebel 2000, p. 389. * Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

(4 September 1971)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * 1919 births 2006 deaths People from Mittelsachsen Bundesmarine admirals Vice admirals of the German Navy Military personnel from Saxony U-boat commanders (Kriegsmarine) Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany {{germany-navy-bio-stub