Talk:Otto Kretschmer

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[edit] Origin of nickname

I'm concerned about the explanation given for the origin of the nickname, "Silent Otto." The story I always heard is somewhat different, but I don't know if I should insert it into this article without some citation.

My father was a young US Navy officer in the 1960s when he worked under Kretschmer at COMNAVBALTAP at the Marinenflughafen Holtenau (Kiel). Either Kretschmer or the other German officers told my father that the nickname referred to Kretschmer's refusal to radio in his position. Apparently, according to this story, each U-boat was expected to radio in to HQ on a daily (?) basis, but Kretschmer didn't want the British to intercept and triangulate or whatever. So he would conduct his patrol, sink lots of tonnage without reporting in, then return to base and be scolded by Admiral Doenitz. Each time he would promise to follow procedure on his next patrol ... but each time he would go back out and do the same thing again.

To me, this story has the ring of truth to it since it evokes both stereotypical German officialdom and Ordnung and the mind of a commanding officer making decisions alone at sea. On the other hand, a quick on-line search has not provided a verifiable source for my dad's version, and I don't know if the article should include it just because "my dad said so." Any thoughts?

-- Muffuletta 18:19, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

The german Wikipedia says, he was known as "Schweigsamer Otto", because of his reluctance to speak about his war successes and his refusal to become part of the propaganda machine. The silent running thing is not mentioned there. Neither is his reluctance to make radio broadcast. Now that doesn't mean the german Wikipedia is right on that. Just wanted to give you that info. Regards. --84.133.47.29 13:40, 27 March 2007 (UTC) (User Kleiderseller on de.wikipedia)

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Talk:Otto Kretschmer

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[edit] Origin of nickname

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