Walther Schwieger

“	"It looks as if the ship will stay afloat only for a very short time... I couldn't have fired another torpedo into this mass of humans desperately trying to save themselves."	„
	~ Walther Schwieger after torpedoing the Lusitania.

Walther Schwieger (April 7^th, 1885 – September 5^th, 1917) was a U-boat commander in the Imperial German Army during World War I. He is known for sinking 49 ships, one of which infamously included sinking the RMS Lusitania, which resulted in a loss of 1,198 lives.

Biography

Early Life

Walther Schwieger was born on April 7^th, 1885; to a respected Berlin Family. Sometime in the year of 1903, he joined the Imperial German Navy, and would later in 1911 serve with the U-Boat Service.

World War 1

On May 7^th, 1915, Walther Schwieger launched a torpedo at the RMS Lusitania, sinking the ship and causing a loss of 1,198 lives, including 128 Americans. Because of this, Schwieger caused massive outrage in both the British and America, and he was condemned as a war criminal in the Allied press. Although Schwieger's war diary shows he was horrified as he witnessed how fast the Lusitania was sinking and he admitted he couldn't fire another torpedo in to the liner because of the confusion and panic he could see happening on the boat deck.

Walther Schwieger would go on to torpedo the SS Hesperian, on the 4^th of September, and SS Cymric on May 8^th, 1916. On May 31^st, 1917, on the U-88, he torpedoed the Miyazaki Maru, resulting in eight deaths.

Death

On September 5^th, 1917, while being chased by the HMS Stonecrop, His U-boat, the U-88, hit a British mine, sinking and killing Walther Schwieger and his crew.

Schwieger captained three different submarines during his career, during 34 missions. He damaged 4 ships, and sank 49 ships, weighing 183,883 gross register tons (GRT). He was the sixth most successful submarine commander of World War I.

References

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z2vj7ty