Johannes Spieß
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (November 2024) |
Johannes Spieß | |
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| Born | 25 July 1888, Berlin, German Empire |
| Died | 30 March 1972 (aged 83), Hamburg, West Germany |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service | Imperial German Navy |
| Years of service | 1907-1920 |
| Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
| Commands | U-9, 12 Jan 1915 - 19 Apr 1916
U-19, 11 Aug 1916 - 4 Jul 1917 |
| Battles / wars | U-boat Campaign (World War I) |
| Awards | Iron Cross First & Second Class, Military Merit Order (Bavaria), Royal House Order of Hohenzollern |
Johannes Spieß (25 July 1888 – 30 March 1972) was an Imperial German Navy U-boat commander during World War I.[1]
World War I
[edit]Johannes Spiess was born in Berlin on 25 July 1888.
Spiess joined the Imperial German Navy as a sea cadet in 1907. He gradually rose through the ranks and was a First Lieutenant when World War I broke out. In 1914, he served as the executive officer to Otto Weddigen on the U-9 and was present at the often recounted sinking of the British cruisers HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy.
Due to an injury, Weddigen was forced to hand over command of the U-9 to Spiess in January 1915. Thereafter, Spiess was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and remained a submarine commander until the end of the war. Besides the U-9, he also commanded the U-19, U-52, and U-135. During his career as a commander, he sunk 41 ships (79,449 tons) and damaged 2 others (4,052 tons).[1]
He was active in the North Sea during the 1915 Restricted Submarine Phase, patrolled the Baltic Sea during 1915–1916, the English Channel, Irish Sea and North Sea in 1917-1918 during the Unrestricted Submarine Phase and later was a key actor in suppressing the initial German Naval Mutinies in 1918. He also initiated the only confirmed landing of German military personnel on British shores.
Post-war life and death
[edit]After World War I ended in November 1918, and with the subsequent Treaty of Versailles imposing restrictions on Germany's military capabilities, Spiess' naval career transitioned into civilian life. After his retirement from the navy, he wrote his memoirs in the book "Six Years of Submarine Cruising".[2]
He lived through the interwar period of the Weimar Republic, the rise of Nazi Germany, World War II, and the subsequent division of Germany. However, very little information is available about his activities during these times.
Spiess died in Hamburg on 30 March 1972.
Gallery
[edit]-
A young Johannes Spiess in military uniform -
Johannes Spiess (middle) with two comrades -
Spiess, first row, 4th from left together with Otto Weddigen and the crew of the U-9 -
Spiess on watch -
Johannes Spiess with his bride
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kapitänleutnant Johannes Spieß - German and Austrian U-boats of World War One - Kaiserliche Marine - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Six Years of Submarine Cruising by Johannes Spiess | U.S. Naval War College Archives". www.usnwcarchives.org. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
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