Hans Jenisch


Hans Jenisch was a Kapitänleutnant in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II and a Kapitän zur See in West Germany's Bundesmarine. He commanded the Type VIIA U-boat, sinking seventeen ships on seven patrols, for a total of of Allied shipping, to become the 26th highest scoring U-boat ace of World War II.

Career

Jenisch joined the navy, then named Reichsmarine, in 1933, and after serving in the cruiser transferred to the U-boat arm in 1937. He served as 1WO of under Werner Lott, before taking command of the U-boat in February 1940.

''Empress of Britain''

On 26 October 1940, Empress of Britain was spotted by a German Focke-Wulf C 200 Condor long-range bomber, commanded by Oberleutnant Bernhard Jope. Jope's bomber strafed Empress of Britain three times and hit her twice with bombs causing severe damage to the ship. Jenisch had been informed of the location of the damaged vessel and intercepted her on the evening of 27 October. Jenisch fired three torpedoes, hitting her twice. Empress of Britain sank at 02:05 on 28 October 1940. At 42,348 gross tons, she was the largest ship sunk by a German U-boat.

Capture

Jenisch was captured on 30 October 1940 after U-32 was sunk north-west of Ireland by the British destroyers and. Nine of her crew died, but 33 survived to be taken prisoner, including Jenisch. He spent the next 6.5 years in British captivity before his return to Germany in June 1947.

Post-war

Even though Jenisch became known as a celebrated U-boat commander, his subsequent assessment of submarines was highly negative. In POW camp, he told a shocked Wilfried Prellberg he considered submarines in warfare "obsolete. All of it." On joining the West German Bundesmarine in 1956, Jenisch held staff positions and commanded the training frigate Hipper for a time.
Jenisch was Divisional Training Commander at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr in Hamburg from 1 October 1966 to 31 March 1970. He retired in 1972 with the rank of Kapitän zur See, and died in 1982.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

During seven patrols he sank 17 ships, including the 42,348-ton, for a career total of, as well as damaging 3 ships for 22,749 tons, including the cruiser.

DateName of shipNationalityTonnageFate
2 March 1940Lagaholm2,818Sunk
18 June 1940Altair1,522Sunk
18 June 1940Nuevo Ons108Sunk
18 June 1940Sálvora108Sunk
19 June 1940Labud5,334Sunk
22 June 1940Eli Knudsen9,026Sunk
30 August 1940Chelsea4,804Sunk
30 August 1940Mill Hill4,318Sunk
30 August 1940Norne3,971Sunk
1 September 1940HMS Fiji8,000Damaged
22 September 1940Collegian7,886Damaged
25 September 1940Mabriton6,694Sunk
26 September 1940Corrientes6,863Damaged
26 September 1940Darcoila4,084Sunk
26 September 1940Tancred6,094Sunk
28 September 1940Empire Ocelot5,759Sunk
29 September 1940Bassa5,267Sunk
30 September 1940Haulerwijk3,278Sunk
2 October 1940Kayeson4,606Sunk
28 October 194042,348Sunk

Awards