Joachim Berger
| Joachim Berger | |
|---|---|
| Born |
23 June 1913 Berlin, German Empire |
| Died |
4 March 1943 (aged 29) North Atlantic Ocean |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
.svg.png){kind=small} Reichsmarine.svg.png){kind=small} Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1934–43 |
| Rank | Kapitänleutnant |
| Commands held | U-87 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | U-boat War Badge 1939, Iron Cross 1st Class |
Joachim Berger (23 June 1913 – 4 March 1943)[1] was a German U-boat commander in World War II.
Naval career
Joachim Berger joined the Reichsmarine in 1934. He served as a training officer on the 2nd torpedo boat flotilla from October to November 1939. From November 1939 to April 1940 he held a staff position. From April 1940 to March 1941, Berger served on the staff of Naval Commander Molde. From March to April 1941 he was an instructor with the Naval Gunnery School. From April to May 1941, Berger served with the 24th U-boat Flotilla and went through his U-boat Commander training and U-boat familiarisation (Baubelehrung) from May to August 1941. On 19 August 1941 Berger commissioned the new Type VIIB boat U-87.[2] He commanded this boat for more than 18 months, during which he went out on five patrols, 260 days at sea, all over the North Atlantic - including a patrol to US waters from May to July 1942. He sank five ships with a total of over 38,000 gross register tons (GRT).
Death
Berger was killed along with his entire crew of 49 men when the boat was sunk[3] on 4 March 1943 west of Leixões, Portugal, in position 41°36′N 13°31′W / 41.600°N 13.517°WCoordinates: 41°36′N 13°31′W / 41.600°N 13.517°W, by depth charges from the Canadian corvette Shediac and the Canadian destroyer St. Croix.
Summary of Career
Ships attacked
| Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 December 1941 | Cardita |  United Kingdom | 8,237 | Sunk |
| 17 January 1942 | Nyholt |  Norway | 8,087 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1942 | Port Nicholson | United Kingdom | 8,402 | Sunk |
| 16 June 1942 | Cherokee |  United States | 5,896 | Sunk |
| 11 October 1942 | Agapenor | United Kingdom | 7,392 | Sunk |
Awards
- Iron Cross 2nd Class - 30 January 1942
- U-boat War Badge 1939 - 28 March 1942
- Iron Cross 1st Class - 9 July 1942
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Kapitänleutnant Joachim Berger". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
- ↑ Busch & Röll 1999, p. 30.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-87". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.