Herbert A. Werner (13 May 1920 – 6 April 2013) was a German submarine officer and captain 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 served in five

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 ...

s and survived the sinking of in the Baltic and the loss of in Brest harbour. Werner moved to the United States in 1957 and became an American citizen.uboat.net

Biography

Herbert Werner was born in

Freiburg im Breisgau Freiburg im Breisgau (; abbreviated as Freiburg i. Br. or Freiburg i. B.; Low Alemannic German, Low Alemannic: ''Friburg im Brisgau''), commonly referred to as Freiburg, is an independent city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. With a population o ...

in 1920. He joined the navy in 1939 as an officer candidate and became a

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

(''Fähnrich zur See'') in November 1940. in April 1941 he was appointed watch officer on under

Ottokar Paulshen Ottokar is the medieval German form of the Germanic name Audovacar. People with the name Ottokar include: *Two kings of Bohemia, members of the Přemyslid dynasty ** Ottokar I of Bohemia (–1230) ** Ottokar II of Bohemia (–1278) *Four Styrian m ...

and carried out three war patrols with her, from April to November 1941, during which he was involved in a number of engagements and took part in the sinking of five merchant ships. Werner was promoted and sent to U-boat school for training, before joining ''U-612'' in April 1942 as first watch officer under

Paul Siegmann Paul may refer to: *Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) *Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity * Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chri ...

. ''U-612'' was lost accidentally in August 1942 while working up, although most of the crew were saved; they were transferred ''en bloc'' to . Werner accomplished four patrols with her (seeing only one success) up to December 1943, when he was again promoted and sent to commanders school. In April 1944 he took command of ''U-415'' but made only two abortive sorties before she was sunk in harbour after detonating a mine. Werner then took command of , in August 1944 and escaped with her to Norway, from whence he made one unfruitful patrol before the German surrender in May 1945. Werner is thought to have moved to the US in 1957, and there wrote the best selling memoir ''Iron Coffins''. He is believed to have died on 4 (or 6) April 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida.Herbert Werner at uboat.net
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References

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Werner, Herbert 1920 births 2013 deaths U-boat commanders (Kriegsmarine) Soldiers of the French Foreign Legion Military personnel from Freiburg im Breisgau People from the Republic of Baden German emigrants to the United States