Walther Schwieger

Walther Schwieger was a Kapitänleutnant in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I, serving as the commander of U-20 (Germany). He is infamous for his role in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, which resulted in significant loss of life, including many United States citizens, and contributed to the United States' eventual entry into World War I. Schwieger's actions were widely condemned by the Allies of World War I, including France, United Kingdom, and Russia. His military career was marked by service under notable German Empire naval commanders, such as Gustav Bachmann and Hugo von Pohl.

● Early Life and Career

Walther Schwieger was born in 1885 in Berlin, German Empire, to a family with a strong Prussian heritage. He joined the Kaiserliche Marine at a young age, attending the Naval Academy Mürwik and graduating as a Leutnant zur See. Schwieger's early career included service on various German Empire warships, such as the SMS Elsass and SMS Lothringen, under the command of notable officers like Henning von Holtzendorff and Reinhard Scheer. He also participated in several naval exercises and maneuvers, including the Kiel Week and the Baltic Sea fleet exercises, alongside other Kaiserliche Marine ships like the SMS Friedrich der Grosse and SMS Nassau.

● World War I

At the outbreak of World War I, Schwieger was assigned to the U-boat fleet, serving as a commander of U-14 (Germany) and later U-20 (Germany). He operated in the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, targeting Allies of World War I shipping, including vessels from France, United Kingdom, and Russia. Schwieger's U-boat was also involved in the Battle of the Atlantic (1914-1918), where he engaged with Royal Navy warships like the HMS Dreadnought and HMS Invincible. He worked closely with other Kaiserliche Marine U-boat commanders, such as Otto Weddigen and Max Valentiner, to coordinate attacks on Allies of World War I convoys.

● Sinking of

the Lusitania On May 7, 1915, Schwieger's U-20 (Germany) torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania, a British passenger liner, off the coast of Ireland. The sinking resulted in the loss of over 1,000 lives, including many United States citizens, such as Alfred Vanderbilt and Charles Frohman. The incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from the Allies of World War I, including France, United Kingdom, and Russia, and contributed to the United States' eventual entry into World War I. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania was also widely reported in the media, with newspapers like The New York Times and The Times of London publishing detailed accounts of the tragedy.

● Later Life and Legacy

Schwieger continued to serve in the Kaiserliche Marine until his death on September 5, 1917, when his U-88 (Germany) was sunk by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Stonecrop in the North Sea. His legacy is marked by controversy and debate, with some viewing him as a war hero and others as a war criminal. The sinking of the RMS Lusitania remains one of the most infamous incidents of World War I, and Schwieger's role in the tragedy continues to be studied by historians, including John Keegan and Barbara Tuchman. His actions also had significant implications for the Treaty of Versailles and the Paris Peace Conference, which imposed harsh penalties on Germany for its role in World War I.

● Military Career and Commands

Schwieger's military career was marked by service in various Kaiserliche Marine units, including the U-boat fleet and the High Seas Fleet. He commanded several U-boats, including U-14 (Germany), U-20 (Germany), and U-88 (Germany), and participated in numerous naval battles and operations, such as the Battle of Dogger Bank and the Battle of Jutland. Schwieger worked closely with other notable Kaiserliche Marine officers, such as Erich Raeder and Karl Dönitz, to develop and implement Germany's U-boat warfare strategy during World War I. His military career was also influenced by the Schlieffen Plan and the Kriegsmarine's overall strategy, which emphasized the importance of U-boat warfare in World War I.