Herbert Schultze (20 September 1908 – 29 June 1987) was a German naval officer who served as a U‑boat commander in the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. He is most noted for his command of the Type IIIA U‑boat U‑48, the most successful German submarine of the war in terms of tonnage sunk. Under his leadership, U‑48 sank a total of 30 Allied merchant ships, amounting to approximately 225 000 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged several additional vessels.
Early life and career
Schultze was born in Stettin, then part of the German Empire (now Szczecin, Poland). He entered the Reichsmarine in 1927, completing basic training and later specializing in submarine tactics. By the outbreak of World War II, he had risen to the rank of Kapitänleutnant.
World War II service
In November 1939, Schultze took command of U‑48. During his tenure (1939‑1941) the boat operated primarily in the North Atlantic, targeting Allied convoys. His success earned him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 25 July 1940. In August 1941, after the sinking of the battleship HMS Royal Oak (though he was not directly involved), Schultze was promoted to Korvettenkapitän and assigned to staff duties, including training new U‑boat crews and contributing to tactical development within the U‑boat force.
Post‑war life
After Germany’s surrender, Schultze was held as a prisoner of war until 1947. Upon release, he pursued a civilian career in the maritime industry and later worked as a consultant on naval matters. He retired from public life and died in Hamburg in 1987.
Awards and decorations
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (25 July 1940)
- Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class
- War Merit Cross with Swords
Schultze’s wartime record remains documented in naval archives and U‑boat research publications.
