We recently received a letter from RADM OTTO KRETSCHMER (122-LIFE-1985) the top submarine Skipper of World War II, and he gives us further insight into his career in the KRIEGSMARINE. He writes:

"On page 4 of KTB #101, the picture was made in August 1940 at Lorient, France, when Grand Admiral Raeder was there to inspect the naval forces in their blues and when only the crew of U-99 wore British Army summer battle dress with German insignia. On that occasion he made to me the award of the KNIGHTS CROSS of the IRON CROSS. Years later when I was already a Prisoner of War somebody added on the photo by retouching the OAK LEAF CLUSTER and the CROSSED SWORDS which I had been awarded in the meantime. The captured summer battle dress had come in very handy, because the operations order with the planned return to a German port had been altered by signal during the patrol to eventually proceeding to the port of Lorient, which as the first French port in the bay of Biscay had been taken over by the German Navy. The plight: no blue uniforms on board, all the overalls had to go to the laundry. So, French blues and raincoats were issued and the very practical British army summer battle dresses and fitted with German insignia.

Leaving port & returning from patrol, everybody in U-99 was dressed alike, during the warm season in overalls and peakless caps; in winter with leather suits. There were no status symbols visible. No spectator could tell who is who; no WHITE TOP for the Skipper. I looked like the picture on Page 4 but without decorations.

A delegate of the International Red Cross Committee in Geneva one day in 1942 visited the POW Camp, No. 30, Bowmanville Canada and said that the Canadian Camp Commander would like to make the award of the CROSSED SWORDS he had brought from the German Government; but the senior German general in the camp decided otherwise: i.e. to make it himself."

Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 105)
Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 106)
Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 107)
Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 108)
Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 109)
Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 110)
Otto Kretchmer Letter (KTB 111)