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Werner Lott

1907 – 1997

German World War II U-boat commander

SubmarinerMarineoffizierSoldier
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About Werner Lott

Lived 1907 – 1997 (aged 89). Werner Lott was a submariner, marineoffizier and soldier.

Werner Lott (3 December 1907 – 2 May 1997) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. He was taken prisoner on 29 November 1939 after he ordered his boat scuttled in the North Sea at position after having been depth-charged by , and .

He was famously known for his humanity and being responsible for saving the lives of 28 Greek sailors whose ship he torpedoed; his submarine rescued the sailors who were treated with the utmost decency and landed them safely on a County Kerry beach in what was one of only two such instances when a German submarine crew risked its own safety to protect the crew of a vessel they torpedoed and sank. Another incident involving Lott happened while a prisoner of war in the Tower of London. He complained about the accommodations, and asked to talk to the officer in charge. Instead, he was visited by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the commander of the flotilla that sank his submarine, who arranged for the Admiralty to allow Lott and his second-in-command to dine at Scott's restaurant on the condition they not try to escape. Lott kept his promise, and was returned to the Tower later that night. A few days later, he and the other officers were moved to the Grizedale P.O.W. Camp. Later, the entire crew was moved to POW camps in Canada.

In 1984 he visited the Kerry man, Jimmy Fenton, who catered for the Greek sailors and posed for a photograph shaking his hand.

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
Occupation
Submariner, Marineoffizier, soldier
Awards
Iron Cross

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Werner Lott's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Werner Lott?

German World War II U-boat commander (1907-1997)

When was Werner Lott born?

Werner Lott was born on 3 December 1907 in Wielbark.

When did Werner Lott die?

Werner Lott died on 2 May 1997.

What was Werner Lott's occupation?

Werner Lott was a submariner, marineoffizier and soldier.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Werner Lott

· Wikidata: Q2033403

· DBpedia: Werner Lott

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Werner Lott. https://biography.guide/werner-lott/

MLA: "Werner Lott." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/werner-lott/.

Chicago: "Werner Lott." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/werner-lott/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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