Walther Schwieger

Walther Schwieger was a Kapitänleutnant in the Imperial German Navy who commanded U-boats during World War I. He is most infamous for his command of SM U-20, which sank the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania in May 1915, an event that dramatically escalated international tensions. His subsequent wartime service and death in 1917 cemented his legacy as one of the most notorious U-boat commanders of the conflict.

Early life and career

Walther Schwieger was born on 7 April 1885 in Berlin, the capital of the German Empire. He entered the Imperial German Navy as a naval cadet in April 1903, embarking on a career that would see him trained in the elite traditions of the Kaiserliche Marine. After completing his initial education at the Naval Academy at Mürwik, he served on various surface vessels, including the light cruiser SMS Stuttgart, gaining experience in navigation and ship handling. His early service demonstrated competence and ambition, leading to his promotion to Leutnant zur See and subsequent specialization in the emerging field of submarine warfare as the German Empire expanded its U-boat fleet in the years preceding World War I.

Command of U-20

In December 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Schwieger was given command of the U-boat SM U-20, a German Type U 19 submarine based out of Emden. His first war patrols in the North Sea and around the British Isles were marked by aggressive tactics against Allied shipping, adhering to the German naval strategy of unrestricted submarine warfare. Under his command, *U-20* successfully patrolled the busy sea lanes off the southern coast of Ireland, an area known as the Western Approaches, where he sank several merchant vessels. These early successes established Schwieger's reputation within the U-boat arm and set the stage for his most fateful patrol in the spring of 1915.

Sinking of the RMS Lusitania

On 7 May 1915, while on patrol off the Old Head of Kinsale, Schwieger's *U-20* encountered the British Cunard Line passenger liner RMS Lusitania. Believing the vessel to be a legitimate target under the rules of engagement for unrestricted submarine warfare, and potentially carrying war contraband, he ordered a single torpedo to be fired. The torpedo struck the liner, which sank in just 18 minutes, resulting in the deaths of 1,198 passengers and crew, including 128 American citizens. The sinking provoked international outrage, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, and became a major propaganda tool for the Allies. While defended by the German Imperial Admiralty Staff, the incident significantly strained German–American relations and is often cited as a factor in the later entry of the United States into the war.

Later wartime service

Following the controversy of the Lusitania sinking, Schwieger continued his command of *U-20*, conducting further patrols in the Atlantic Ocean. In September 1915, he was involved in another notable incident when his submarine sank the horse transport SS Hesperian, though he later commanded the rescue of survivors. After leaving *U-20*, he was given command of the newer SM U-88 in 1917. During this period, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany's highest military order, for his continued success against Allied shipping. His tactics evolved with the war, engaging targets during the intense naval campaigns of 1917, a year that saw heavy losses for merchant fleets in the Atlantic.

Death and legacy

Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger was killed in action on 5 September 1917, when his submarine, SM U-88, struck a British naval mine and sank with all hands in the North Sea. His death was a loss for the U-boat service, and he was posthumously recognized in Germany. Historically, Schwieger remains a deeply controversial figure; in the Allied nations, he is often vilified as the commander responsible for a major maritime tragedy involving civilians. Within the context of German naval history, he is frequently viewed as a skilled and dutiful officer executing the harsh policies of unrestricted submarine warfare as dictated by the Admiralty. The wreck of the RMS Lusitania lies off the coast of County Cork as a somber memorial to the event that defines his legacy.

Category:German military personnel of World War I Category:U-boat commanders Category:1885 births Category:1917 deaths