Johann Günther Lütjens (; 25 May 1889 – 27 May 1941) was a German admiral whose military service spanned more than 30 years and two world wars. Lütjens is best known for his actions during World War II and his command of the battleship during her foray into the Atlantic Ocean in 1941. He was killed in action during the last battle of the battleship Bismarck.
Born in 1889, Lütjens entered into the Imperial German Navy in 1907 and saw service during World War I against the British Royal Navy, achieving the rank of Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant). After the war he remained in the navy, now renamed the Reichsmarine. In the Weimar Republic era, Lütjens built a reputation as an excellent staff officer. In 1935, after the Nazi regime came to power in 1933, the navy was remodelled again and renamed the Kriegsmarine. Lütjens soon became acquainted with Erich Raeder and Karl Dönitz, the two commanders-in-chief of the Kriegsmarine in World War II. His capability and friendship led to rapid promotions and a command of the cruiser . By 1937, he had risen to the rank of Konteradmiral (rear admiral).
During the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Lütjens commanded destroyer operations in the North Sea. In April 1940, now a Vizeadmiral (vice admiral), he was given temporary command of the entire German surface fleet during the initial landing phase of Operation Weserübung, the invasions of Denmark and Norway. In the aftermath of the campaign he was appointed the fleet commander of the Kriegsmarine and promoted to Admiral on 1 September 1940. In January 1941, Lütjens planned and executed Operation Berlin, an Atlantic raid to support U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic by attacking British merchant shipping lanes. The operation was a tactical victory. It came to a close in March 1941, when the ships docked in German-occupied France after sailing some 18,000 miles, a record for a German battle group at the time.
In May 1941, Lütjens commanded a German task force, consisting of the battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser , during Operation Rheinübung. In a repetition of Berlin, Lütjens was required to break out of their naval base in occupied Poland, sail via occupied Norway, and attack merchant shipping. The operation went awry and the task force was soon spotted and engaged near Iceland. In the ensuing Battle of the Denmark Strait, was sunk and three other British warships were forced to retreat. The two German ships then separated. Three days later, on 27 May, Lütjens and most of the ship's crew drowned when Bismarck was caught and sunk. In the post-war navy of West Germany, the Bundesmarine, the destroyer , launched in 1967, was named after Lütjens.
Early life Lütjens was born in Wiesbaden in Hesse-Nassau, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia, on 25 May 1889. He was the son of Luise (née Volz) and Johannes Lütjens, a merchant. Growing up in Freiburg im Breisgau, he graduated from the Berthold-Gymnasium with his diploma (Abitur) aged 17.
He entered the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) as a Seekadett (Cadett) on 3 April 1907 at the German Imperial Naval Academy in Kiel, where he received his initial infantry training. He spent his initial year on (9 May 1907 – 1 April 1908) for his practical training on board and his first world cruise, before attending an officers course at the German Imperial Naval Academy in Kiel. His comrades nicknamed him "Pee Ontgens" after a character from the book Das Meer (The Sea) by Bernhard Kellermann, which was one of his favourite books. Lütjens graduated 20th of 160 cadets from his "Crew 1907" (the incoming class of 1907), and was thereafter promoted to Fähnrich zur See (Midshipman) on 21 April 1908. Starting on 1 April 1909, he underwent naval artillery training at the Naval Artillery SchoolNaval Artillery School—Schiffsartillerieschule in Kiel-Wik and then participated in a torpedo course on board on 1 July 1909.
Lütjens then attended another infantry course with the 2nd Sea-Battalion and boarded on 1 October 1909.2nd Sea-Battalion — II. See-Bataillon After receiving his commission as Leutnant zur See (Ensign) on 28 September 1910, he served on board (26 September 1910 – 1 April 1911), a harbour ship, and then (1 April 1911 – 1 April 1913). He then returned to the König Wilhelm (1 April 1913 – 1 October 1913), where he served as an instructor of cabin boys and later as an instructor of cadets. König Wilhelm at the time was a barracks ship based in Kiel and used as a training vessel for naval cadets. He then completed two further world cruises on Hansa. Following these assignments, he was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See (Lieutenant Junior Grade) on 27 September 1913.
Lütjens' next assignment was with the 4th Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla, where he served as a watch officer.4th Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla—4. Torpedobootflottille On 1 October 1913, he was appointed company officer with the I. Torpedodivision, and served as a watch officer on torpedo boat G-169 of the 2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla from 1 November.2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla—II. Torpedoboot-Halbflottille On 24 December 1913, he returned to his position as company officer with the I. Torpedodivision, before becoming a watch officer on G-172 of the 2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla on 15 March 1914.
World War I Shortly after World War I had begun, Lütjens was transferred to the Harbour Flotilla of the Jade BightHarbor Flotilla of the Jade Bight—Hafenflottille der Jade on 1 August 1914, followed shortly by his first command: torpedo boat of the 6th Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla on 4 September 1914. On 7 December 1914, he returned to the I. Torpedodivision, before attending a minesweeping course on 2 January 1915. After completion of this course, he was sent back again to the I. Torpdedivsion, where he took command of the training torpedo boat on 16 January. He served in this position until 14 March 1915, when he was posted back to the I. Torpedodivsion. On 5 May, he was transferred to the Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla "Flandern", serving as commander of torpedo boats A-5 and A-20.Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla "Flandern"—Torpedobootsflottille "Flander" He was appointed chief of the A-Demi-Flotilla in the II. Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla "Flandern" in February 1916, and at the same time commanded torpedo boat .A-Demi-Flotilla—A-Halbflottille He held this position until the end of World War I on 11 November 1918, when he returned to Antwerp and Kiel.
On 24 May 1917, Lütjens was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (captain lieutenant) during this assignment. As commander of torpedo boats along the Flanders coast, he led raids against Dunkirk on 23 March 1917. He was in combat with four British torpedo boats on 2 May 1917 and led five of his boats in actions against four French destroyers on 19 May 1917.
For his service in World War I, he received the Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords and the Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class, among other decorations and awards.
Inter-war period
After the war, Lütjens served as head of the Warnemünde (1 December 1918 – 24 January 1919 and 8 February 1919 – 10 March 1919) and Lübeck (24 January 1919 – 8 February 1919 and 8 July 1919 – 15 September 1919) Sea Transportation Agency.Sea Transportation Agency—Seetransportstelle He was ordered to the German Imperial Naval Office on 10 March 1919 and started serving with the Sea Transportation Agency in Lübeck on 8 July 1919.German Imperial Naval Office—Reichsmarineamt
As a result of the Treaty of Versailles (signed on 28 June 1919) the German Navy was downsized to 15,000 men, including 1,500 officers. On 1 January 1921, the German Imperial Navy was renamed the Reichsmarine in the era of the Weimar Republic. On 15 September 1919, Lütjens' posting with the Sea Transportation Agency ended and he was posted to the Coastal Defence Department III and later IV in Cuxhaven-Lehe as a company leader.Coastal Defence Department—Küstenwehrabteilungcompany leader—Kompanieführer As of 1 January 1921 he was also subordinated to the Staff of the North Sea. Lütjens was posted to the Fleet Department of the Naval Command on 7 June 1921.Naval Command—Marineleitung His commanding officer here was Admiral Paul Behncke. Here Lütjens served as the head of the Fleet Department until the end of September 1923.head of department—Dezernent In this position, Lütjens dealt with strategic and naval policy issues. This included the observation and analysis of the Washington Naval Conference and its disarmament agreements. On 4 October 1923 he returned to the torpedo force, taking command of the 3rd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla.
On 26 September 1925 he became 1st adjutant of the Marinestation der Nordsee. He served in this position until 2 October 1929. Here he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander) on 1 April 1926. This assignment was interrupted for a posting to the sailing yacht Asta (1–31 August 1926) and again for a short torpedo course for staff officers at the torpedo school in Mürwik (5–9 December 1927). On 21 April 1928 he participated in a training exercise on , then under the command of Alfred Saalwächter, which ended on 28 April. From 14 to 18 August 1928 he boarded Schlesien again for a torpedo firing exercise. On 3 October 1929 Lütjens took command as head of the 1st Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla in Swinemünde (present-day Świnoujście) which he commanded until 17 September 1931. This posting was interrupted by a number of training courses, the first for staff officers (9–12 January 1930), a torpedo course (3–8 February 1930), for commanders and staff officers in leadership positions (2–7 February 1931) and lastly a navigation course (16–21 February 1931).
Lütjens was called by Admiral Erich Raeder into the Naval Command of the Ministry of the Reichswehr on 17 September 1931.Ministry of the Reichswehr—Reichswehrministerium Shortly after he was assigned to the Ministry of the Reichswehr he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän (Commander) on 1 October 1931. In the Naval Command Lütjens first served as Department Head of the Fleet- and Naval Officer Personnel Department.Fleet- and Naval Officer Personnel Department—Flotten- und Marineoffizierspersonalabteilung On 26 September 1932 he was appointed chief of this department, a function that Lütjens held until the mid-September 1934. He advanced in rank to Kapitän zur See (Captain) on 1 July 1933.
Nazi Germany
On 30 January 1933, the Nazi Party, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, came to power in Germany, and began to rearm its forces, including the Navy. In 1935, the Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine.
On 16 September 1933, Lütjens received command of and sailed around the world for good will visits. Burkard Freiherr von Müllenheim-Rechberg, the most senior officer to survive Bismarcks last battle, was an officer cadet on Karlsruhe at the time of Lütjens' command. Lütjens took Karlsruhe on its fourth training cruise. Karlsruhe left Kiel on 22 October 1934. The ship sailed via Skagen, the Azores and Trinidad on the east coast of South America, passed the Cape Horn, up the west coast of South, Middle and North America to Vancouver. At Callao (25 January – 6 February 1935) they joined in the 400-year celebration of Peru. Karlsruhe returned to Kiel on 15 June 1935, travelling through the Panama Canal to Houston, Charlestown and Vigo, Spain.
Lütjens first met Karl Dönitz, future Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine in Vigo in June 1935. At that point, Dönitz had been entrusted with the rebuilding of the U-boat Arm but had spent the summer at sea commanding . After arriving at port, he met with Raeder. Raeder informed Dönitz that: Lütjens is to become chief of the Officer Personnel Branch at Naval Headquarters with the task of forming an officer Corps for the new Navy we are about to build.