German submarine U-513 was a type IXC U-boat built for service in Nazi Germany 's Kriegsmarine during World War II .
51-481: She was laid down on 26 April 1941 by the naval construction firm Deutsche Werft AG in Hamburg as yard number 309, and commissioned on 10 January 1942. Her commanders were Korvettenkapitän Rolf Rüggeberg (10 January 1942 until 14 May 1943) and Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Guggenberger (15 May until 19 July 1943). Her training period was from 10 January 1942 to 31 August, as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla . She
102-634: A blanket approval of all nominations received by the OKW up until the surrender. The validity of this "Dönitz decree" ( Dönitz-Erlaß ) was contested after the war, and the German military archive agency (WASt) concluded that it violated Nazi legislation that required a case-by-case decision. Analysis of the German Federal Archives revealed evidence for 7,161 officially bestowed recipients. The German Federal Archives substantiate 863 awards of
153-423: A displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine
204-727: A nomination could be submitted via teleprinter communication. At first, the recipient of the Knight's Cross, or one of its higher grades, received a brief telegram informing him of the award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Thereafter he received a Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis (Preliminary Testimonial of Ownership). The award was also noted in the recipient's Soldbuch (Soldier's Pay Book), his Wehrpass (Military Identification) and personnel records. From 1 September 1939 to Adolf Hitler's death on 30 April 1945, all Knight's Cross awards were approved by Hitler, after prior approval by
255-454: A series of pre-fabricated, complete hull sections rather than around a single keel. The event recognized as the keel laying is the first joining of modular components, or the lowering of the first module into place in the building dock. It is now often called "keel authentication" and is the ceremonial beginning of the ship's life, although some modules may have been started months before that stage of construction. Keel-related traditions from
306-489: A set and included the more elaborate A-piece and a second clasp with rhinestones for everyday wear, the B-piece. The Diamonds were awarded 27 times during World War II. However three individuals never received a set of Diamonds. Hans-Joachim Marseille , the fourth recipient, was killed in an aircraft crash prior to its presentation. The deteriorating situation and the end of the war prevented its presentation to Karl Mauss ,
357-421: A single-engine plane, two points for a twin-engine plane and three for a four-engine plane, with all points being doubled at night). It was issued from 1939 to 1945, with the requirements being gradually raised as the war went on. Nominations for the Knight's Cross could be made at company level or higher. Commanders could not nominate themselves. In this instance the division adjutant made the recommendation. In
408-524: A soldier had to already hold the 1939 Iron Cross First Class, though the Iron Cross First Class was awarded concurrently with the Knight's Cross in some cases. Unit commanders could also be awarded the medal for the exemplary conduct of the unit as a whole. Also, U-boat commanders could qualify for sinking 100,000 tons of shipping and Luftwaffe pilots could qualify for accumulating 20 "points" (with one point being awarded for shooting down
459-707: The Luftwaffe (air force), as well as the Waffen-SS , the Reich Labour Service and the Volkssturm (German People storm militia ), along with personnel from other Axis powers . The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German invasion of Poland . The award was created to replace the many older merit and bravery neck awards of the German Empire. A higher grade,
510-558: The decorations of Nazi Germany . The Knight's Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of military valour. Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht : the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and
561-461: The mast stepping custom of placing coins under the mast and is believed to date back to Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome and were intended to " pay the ferryman " to convey the souls of the dead across the River Styx should the ship sink. The first milestone in the history of a ship is the generally simple ceremony that marks the laying of the keel. Shipyard officials issue invitations to
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#1732791512602612-406: The 26th recipient and Dietrich von Saucken , the 27th and final recipient. The Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds ( Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten ) was instituted on 29 December 1944. This medal was the highest level, originally intended for 12 of the most distinguished servicemen in the entire German armed forces after
663-714: The Atlantic by way of the gap between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands . Her first two successes came in Conception Bay near Bell Island , Newfoundland on 5 September. She arrived in Lorient , in occupied France on 22 October. The second and third sorties took her into the mid-Atlantic, but she returned to her French base empty-handed. Her last sortie ended in April 1943. Thereafter her captain, Rolf Rüggeberg,
714-459: The French occupation. To finance the army, the king implored wealthy Prussians to turn in their jewels in exchange for a men's cast-iron ring or a ladies' brooch, each bearing the legend "Gold I gave for iron" ( Gold gab ich für Eisen ). The award was reinstituted for the wars in 1870 and 1914. With the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939, Adolf Hitler in his role as commander in chief of
765-581: The German armed forces decreed the renewal of the Iron Cross of 1939. A new grade of the Iron Cross series was introduced, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, without distinction, was awarded to officers and soldiers alike, conforming with the National Socialist slogan: "One people, one nation, one leader". Analysis of the German Federal Archives revealed evidence for 7,161 officially bestowed recipients. The German Federal Archives substantiate 863 awards of
816-463: The German constitution and Germany's postwar policies. The German Law of Titles, Orders and Honours ( German : Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen ) regulates the wearing of the Knight's Cross in post World War II Germany. German law prohibits wearing a swastika , so on 26 July 1957 the West German government authorized replacement Knight's Crosses with an Oak Leaf Cluster in place of
867-791: The Golden Oak Leaves of the Order of the Red Eagle , which was the second highest Prussian order after the Order of the Black Eagle . The king also awarded the Oak Leaves together with the Pour le Mérite since 9. October 1813 for gallantry. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords ( Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern ) was instituted on 15 July 1941. The Oak Leaves with Swords clasp
918-636: The Iron Cross for all ranks in the three branches of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS . However, 200 of the OdR-listed cases are lacking an official proof of award. In 1999, German SPD Minister of Defence Rudolf Scharping banned any contacts between the Bundeswehr and the association, stating that it and many of its members shared neo-Nazi and revanchist ideas which were not in conformity with
969-482: The Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ( Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub ) was instituted on 3. June 1940. Before the introduction of the Oak Leaves only 124 members of the Wehrmacht had received the Knight's Cross. Prior to Case Yellow ( Fall Gelb ), the attack on the Netherlands, Belgium and France, just 52 Knight's Crosses had been awarded. In May 1940 the number of presentations peaked. The timing for
1020-580: The Luftwaffe the lowest level was the Geschwader and in the Kriegsmarine the respective flotilla was authorized to make the nomination. It was also possible to nominate subordinated foreign units. The nomination by the troop had to be submitted in writing and in double copy. The format and the content were predefined. Every nomination contained the personal data, the rank and unit at the time of
1071-558: The Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, along with the 147 Swords and 27 Diamonds awards. Author Veit Scherzer concluded that every presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, or one of its higher grades, made until 20 April 1945 is verifiable in the German Federal Archives. The first echelon of the Heerespersonalamt Abteilung P 5/Registratur (Army Personnel Office Department P 5/Registry)
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#17327915126021122-475: The Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, along with the 147 Swords and 27 Diamonds awards. The Golden Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross was awarded only once, to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 29 December 1944. The legal grounds for this decree had been established in 1937 with the German law of Titles, Orders and Honorary Signs ( Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen ) that made the Führer and President of Germany
1173-412: The Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross, was instituted in 1940. In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves were instituted: the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, was created. Over 7,000 awards were made during the course of
1224-405: The act, since when the soldier held this position, the military service entry date, previous military decorations awarded and date of presentation, etc. For enlisted soldiers and noncommissioned officers the résumé had to be submitted as well. The nomination had to be forwarded in writing by a courier up the official command chain. Every intermittent administrative office or commander between
1275-417: The ceremony, and they conduct the ceremony. The builder may be the commander of a naval shipyard or the president of a private company. The ship's prospective name, without the "USS", is mentioned in the invitation, if known; otherwise, her type and number are given, e.g., DD 2217. For submarines, they do not have a keel to be laid; instead, the initials of the ship sponsor are welded on a steel plate during
1326-595: The ceremony. The plate will be mounted in a place of honor on the submarine once built. Knight%27s Cross of the Iron Cross Oak leaves Oak leaves and swords Oak leaves, swords and diamonds The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ( German : Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes ), or simply the Knight's Cross ( Ritterkreuz ), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II . While it
1377-558: The commanders in chief of the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe, and from the autumn of 1944 also by the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler , made the presentations instead. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR) ( German language : Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes e.V. ( OdR )) is an association of highly decorated soldiers of both world wars. The association
1428-406: The entire German state. As the war progressed four additional years, leaders had to distinguish those who had already won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross or one of the higher grades and who continued to show merit in combat bravery or military success. The Knight's Cross was eventually awarded in five grades: The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross instituted on 1. September 1939. Its appearance
1479-478: The expedition led by the explorers of Schurmann Family located U-513 , 85 km (46 nmi) east of their hometown of Florianópolis . The find was announced worldwide on 17 June 2011, when the Schürmanns produced images of a Side-scanning sonar. A dive was made in 2012, where photos and video images were recorded. German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs . U-513 had
1530-408: The four specially celebrated events in a ship's life; the others are launching , commissioning , and decommissioning . Earlier, the event recognized as the keel laying was the initial placement of the central timber making up the backbone of a vessel, called the keel . As steel ships replaced wooden ones, the central timber gave way to a central steel beam. Modern ships are most commonly built in
1581-630: The head of the Heerespersonalamt and the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW). After 30 April 1945, in the context of the rapid disintegration of Germany's government and armed forces, it is unclear who held the authority to approve awards. A teleprinter message dated 3 May authorized the commanders-in-chief of those units still engaged in combat to award the Knight's Cross by themselves. Likely on 7 May, just before Germany's surrender on 8 May, Hitler's successor Karl Dönitz decreed
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1632-509: The introduction of the Oak Leaves is closely linked to Case Red ( Fall Rot ), the second and decisive phase of the Battle of France . Like the Knight's Cross to which it was added, the Oak Leaves clasp could be awarded for leadership, distinguished service or personal gallantry. The Oak Leaves, just like the 1813 Iron Cross and Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, was not a National Socialist invention. They originally appeared in conjunction with
1683-813: The invasion of the Soviet Union, the presentations were made at the Führer Headquarters " Wolf's Lair " in East Prussia , in the " Werwolf " near Vinnytsia in Ukraine, and at the Berghof. After the 20 July plot , the presentations were only made sporadically by Hitler himself. The last presentations by Hitler were made early in 1945 in the Führerbunker in Berlin. Senior commanders, like
1734-530: The nominating unit and the commander-in-chief of the respective Wehrmacht branch (commander-in-chief of the Heer , commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe and commander-in-chief of the Kriegsmarine with their respective staff offices) had to give their approval along with a short comment. In exceptional cases, such as the nominated individual had sustained severe injuries or that the command chain had been interrupted,
1785-513: The only person who was allowed to award orders or honorary signs. The re-institution of the Iron Cross was therefore a Führer decree, which had political implication since the Treaty of Versailles had explicitly prohibited the creation of a military decoration, order or medal. However, Germany had formally renounced the Treaty by this time. The renewal for the first time had created an honorary sign of
1836-403: The sinking and the war. 27°17′S 47°32′W / 27.283°S 47.533°W / -27.283; -47.533 Keel laying Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction . It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimate owners of the ship. Keel laying is one of
1887-629: The sunken U-513 . She was finally found in 2011, and the first underwater videos of the boat were released in March 2012. In 2014, a one-hour TV documentary on the history of this voyage featuring film from the era and the submarine's final resting place titled: The Ghost of U-513 was released and has been shown on the Smithsonian Channel . It includes details from the life of captain Friedrich Guggenberger who survived
1938-424: The times of wooden ships are said to bring luck to the ship during construction and to the captain and crew during her later life. They include placing a newly minted coin under the keel and constructing the ship over it, having the youngest apprentice place the coin, and, when the ship is finished, presenting the owners with the oak block on which the keel is laid. The tradition of the placement of coins derives from
1989-461: The war ended. Six sets of Golden Oak Leaves were manufactured, each consisting of an A-piece, made of 18- carat gold with 58 real diamonds, and a B-piece, made of 14-carat gold with 68 real sapphires. One of these sets was presented to Hans-Ulrich Rudel on 1 January 1945; the remaining five sets were taken to Schloss Klessheim , where they were taken by the US forces. To qualify for the Knight's Cross,
2040-592: The war. The Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross at the beginning of the German campaign as part of the Napoleonic Wars . The design was a silver-framed cast iron cross on 13 March 1813. Iron was a material which symbolised defiance and reflected the spirit of the age. The Prussian state had mounted a campaign steeped in patriotic rhetoric to rally their citizens to repulse
2091-581: Was lower in precedence than the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross , the Grand Cross was never awarded at-large to Nazi German military and paramilitary forces. The Grand Cross' sole award was made to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring in September 1939, making the Knight's Cross (specifically, the Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds grade) the de facto highest award among
German submarine U-513 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2142-498: Was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-513
2193-433: Was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes , one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun , 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight. U-513 ' s first patrol began when she departed Kiel on 7 August 1942 and headed for
2244-726: Was found on 14 July 2011, at a depth of 130 m (430 ft), by Brazilian underwater archeologists from the Instituto Kat Schurmann , the Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (Univali) and geophysicists of the Coastal Planning and Engineering Company. The search for U-513 was conducted with a sail boat and took two years. Another 10 German submarines remained to be discovered in Brazilian coastal waters. A Brazilian project searched Brazilian waters for
2295-631: Was founded in 1955 in Cologne by Alfred Keller , Knight of the Order Pour le Mérite and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Later, the recipients of the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross , or the Pour le Mérite for enlisted personnel, were included. The AKCR lists the awarding of 7318 Knight's Crosses, as well as 882 Oak Leaves, 159 Swords, 27 Diamonds, 1 Golden Oak Leaves and 1 Grand Cross of
2346-436: Was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers . The boat
2397-672: Was relocated from Zossen in Brandenburg to Traunstein in Bavaria on this day and the confusion regarding who can be considered a legitimate Knight's Cross recipient began. Hitler frequently made the presentations of the Oak Leaves and higher grades himself. The first presentations in 1940 and 1941 were made in the Reich Chancellery in Berlin or at the Berghof near Berchtesgaden . Beginning with Operation Barbarossa ,
2448-699: Was replaced with the young captain Friedrich Guggenberger who in January 1943 had been awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves . Her fourth and last foray began 18 May 1943 and saw her close to the Brazilian coast. After five attacks resulting in four ships sunk and one damaged, she was sunk southeast of São Francisco do Sul , Santa Catarina state on 19 July 1943 by a US Navy Mariner , nicknamed "The Nickel Boat", led by Lt. (jg) Roy S. Whitcomb, from Patrol Squadron VP-74 . 46 men died; there were seven survivors, including her captain, Friedrich Guggenberger . U-513 took part in two wolfpacks , namely: The wreck
2499-475: Was similar in appearance to the Oak Leaves clasp with the exception that a pair of crossed swords were soldered to the base of the Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds ( Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten ) was instituted on 15 July 1941. The first recipients were Werner Mölders and Adolf Galland . Presentation of the Diamonds came as
2550-589: Was then assigned to the 10th U-boat Flotilla for operations. She sank six ships with a total tonnage of 29,940 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged two more with a total tonnage of 13,177 GRT. The boat was a member of two wolfpacks . She was sunk by depth charges from a U.S. Martin PBM Mariner amphibious aircraft in the South Atlantic Ocean on 19 July 1943. In 2011 after nine years research and two years of seagoing searches,
2601-469: Was very similar to the Iron Cross. Its shape was that of a cross pattée , a cross that has arms which are narrow at the center and broader at the perimeter. The most common Knight's Crosses were produced by the manufacturer Steinhauer & Lück in Lüdenscheid . The Steinhauer & Lück crosses are stamped with the digits "800", indicating 800 grade silver, on the reverse side. The Knight's Cross of
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