Werner Fürbringer

Werner "Fips" Fürbringer (2 October 1888 – 8 February 1982) was a successful German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I, sinking 101 ships. He was later promoted to the rank of Konteradmiral during World War II.

Life

Fürbringer was born in Braunschweig and entered the Imperial German Navy as a Seekadett on 3 April 1907. Subsequently, he attended basic training and was assigned on training ship . He also attended the Naval Academy and was promoted to the rank of Fähnrich zur See (officer candidate).

He then spent some time aboard the cruiser , sailing in East Asia within the High Seas Fleet, before being transferred to the Heavy cruiser . During the time of his transfer, Fürbringer was promoted to the rank of Leutnant zur See on 28 September 1910.

Spending another two years with the East Asia Squadron in Jiaozhou Bay Leased Territory, Fürbringer returned home in November 1912 and was selected for U-boat training.

World War I Fürbringer served aboard , but left prior to the U-20s sinking of in 1915. He exclusively commanded small, coastal U-boats, starting with in February 1915. He went on to command six subsequent UB and UC-type boats, during which time he was awarded the Iron Cross, Second and First class. He was a successful commerce raider, responsible for sinking 101 (mostly small, coastal) ships (totaling 97,881 GRT) and damaged five others (of 9,033 GRT). Fürbringer was captured and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war.

Lightoller was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross for sinking SM UB-110. Contradictory information exists about the numbers of UB-110s crew lost, with Lightoller claiming 15 survivors with 13 lost, while a German account claims 13 survivors with 21 lost, most in the alleged post-battle events.

World War II In the inter-war years Furbringer served in various capacities, and at the start of the Second World War he was appointed commander of Submarine Defence Department of Germany's Naval High Command (OKM). In 1942 he was promoted to Konteradmiral, and was Inspector of Armaments in the occupied Eastern Territories. He was released from service in June 1943.

Death Rear Admiral (Ret.) Werner Furbringer died in Brunswick in February 1982.

U-boat commands Werner Furbringer held command of seven U-boats during World War I

Awards and decorations Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class 2nd Class on 20 February 1915 1st Class on 10 October 1915 War Merit Cross (Brunswick) in May 1915 House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords (HOH3X) on 31 August 1916 Hamburg Hanseatic Cross (HH) on 8 August 1917 Lübeck Hanseatic Cross (LübH/LüH) U-boat War Badge (1918) The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 with Swords on 7 February 1935 Wehrmacht Long Service Award, 4th and 3rd Class on 2 October 1936 War Merit Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class with Swords 2nd Class on 30 January 1941 1st Class in 30 January 1942

Publications Werner (Fips) Fürbringer: Alarm! Tauchen!! U-Boot in Kampf und Sturm, Ullstein, Berlin 1933. English translation: Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander, 1915-1918, Naval Institute Press, 2000.