7. Unterseebootsflottille
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| 7. Unterseebootsflottille | |
|---|---|
 The emblem of 7. Unterseebootsflottille, adopted in 1941. |
|
| Active | Raised 1938, Dissolved 1944 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Kriegsmarine |
| Type | U-boat flottilla |
| Garrison/HQ | Kiel, St. Nazaire |
| Nickname | Unterseebootsflottille Wegener |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Korvettenkapitän Hans-Rudolf Rösing Korvettenkapitän Adolf Piening |
7. Unterseebootsflottille (also known as Unterseebootsflottille Wegener) was the seventh operational U-boat combat unit in the German Kriegsmarine. Founded on June 25, 1938 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Werner Sobe, it was named in honour of Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener. Wegener, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on August 19, 1915 after his submarine U-27 was sunk by British Q-Ship HMS Baralong.
The flotilla, under the name Unterseebootsflottille Wegener, was founded in Kiel in June 1938. In September 1940, the flotilla left its base in Kiel and moved to St. Nazaire in France. After the change in location, the flotilla was renamed 7. Unterseebootsflottille. In August 1944, the flotilla was disbanded and its remaining boats were distributed to other flotillas based in Norway.
Unterseebootsflottille Wegener had one of the most famous flotilla emblems from World War II. The "snorting bull" emblem was first used by U-47, which is famous for sinking the British battleship HMS Royal Oak in October 1939. The emblem, based off of a picture seen in a comic book, was adopted by the flotilla while based in St. Nazaire.
[edit] Flotilla commanders
| Duration | Commander |
|---|---|
| June 1938 – December 1939 | Korvkpt. Ernst Sobe |
| January 1940 – May 1940 | Korvkpt. Hans-Rudolf Rösing |
| May 1940 – September 1940 | Kptlt. Herbert Sohler (in deputize) |
| September 1940 – February 1942 | Korvkpt. Herbert Sohler |
| March 1944 – May 1945 | Korvkpt. Adolf Piening |
[edit] U-boats assigned to 7. Unterseebootsflottille
| Type | Number assigned |
|---|---|
| Type VIIB | 19 |
| Type VIIC | 89 |
| Type VIIC/41 | 1 |
| Type U-A (Foreign Boat) | 1 |
