The Death and Funeral of Wolfgang Lüth

The funeral procession for Wolfgang Lüth on 16 May 1945, shot to death by his own sentry two days before. The six officers of the honor guard walk beside the casket.

Kapitän zur See Wolfgang Lüth (15 October 1913 – 14 May 1945), was given the last state funeral of the Third Reich, the only U-boat commander to be so honored. He was the second most successful German U-boat ace of World War II.

In July 1944 U-boat ace Wolfgang Lüth took command of the 1st Department of the Naval Academy Mürwik in Flensburg. He was promoted to Fregattenkapitän on 1 August 1944 and became the commander of the entire academy in September. He was promoted to Kapitän zur See on 1 September 1944.

In May 1945, when the War was over, Lüth was in Flensburg which was in the British area of occupation from 5 May 1945. British forces allowed Lüth, as the Area Commander at the time, to post German Sentries around Mürwik Naval Academy because of the possible threat to the general welfare of the area. Lüth took the sentries from Admiral Donitz`s Guard Battalion, a unit formed for the protection of the Government. They were composed of Submariners and Commanded By Korvettenkapitan Peter Cremer. "Ask once for the password," Lüth had put in written orders, "and if no answer, Shoot!". After midnight on 13/14 May 1945 the weather being dark, rainy, windy and cold. A youngster of 18 years Matthias Gottlob was the sentry on duty. At half midnight he heard footsteps "Halt!" he shouted. "Wer da?"(who is there). Nobody answered. Gottlob called again "Wer da?" still no answer. The stranger has stopped. a third time he cried "Wer da?". No answer. Gottlob shoots his rifle and heard the fall of a body. Another guard came up and asked "What happened?" "I shot someone" replied Gottlob. The other guard peers at the body on the ground "Its a senior Officer. One of ours!" The sentry looked down closely at the body on the ground. "God," he said "Its Wolfgang Lüth, The Commandant!" Turns out he returning drunk and failed to respond to the sentry's challenge and was shot in the head. The officer in charge immediately reported the incident, contacting Großadmiral and Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz. Dönitz's adjutant, who had accepted the call, initially thought that it was a bad joke. He then called Lüth's brother, Joachim, as the two siblings had been staying together. It was he who informed Lüth's wife and their four children that Lüth had died.

Dönitz contacted the British commander of the city of Flensburg, asking him for permission to conduct a formal state funeral, which was approved by royal assent. The funeral was held on 16 May 1945 with Dönitz, Adolf Hitler's designated successor serving as Reichspräsident, delivering the eulogy. In advance, Dönitz had ordered a board of inquiry and court martial to clarify the circumstances of the shooting. During the court martial, Gottlob stated that, in accordance with his orders, he had asked for the password three times without receiving a response from the person, whom he could not visually identify in the darkness. Without aiming he had fired his rifle from the hip. The chain of events was confirmed by the watch leader. The court ruled that Gottlob was not guilty and cleared him of any fault.

The state funeral (Staatsbegräbnis) of U-boat ace and Brillantenträger Wolfgang Lüth, which were held in Flensburg on 16 May 1945. Großadmiral and Reichspräsident Karl Dönitz on the far right delivering the eulogy, while the guard of honour - in the middle is fellow U-boat ace Korvettenkapitän Georg Lassen - standing in front of him.

The state funeral (Staatsbegräbnis) of U-boat ace and Brillantenträger Wolfgang Lüth, which were held in Flensburg on 16 May 1945. Fähnriche (Midshipmans) bearing the coffin, while the officer at front holding Lüth's Ordenskissen (medal pillow).

The state funeral (Staatsbegräbnis) of U-boat ace and Brillantenträger Wolfgang Lüth, which were held in Flensburg on 16 May 1945. Fellow U-boat ace Korvettenkapitän Reinhard Hardegen on the grave.

The grave of Wolfgang Lüth in the Friedhof Adelby, located in the churchyard of St. Johanniskirche, Flensburg, Germany. The picture was taken by N. Simonsen on 26 August 2012.

The memorial stone of Wolfgang Lüth in Flensburg-Mürwik.

Source :
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5147731/Fascinating-photos-capture-Nazi-submarine-captain.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfgang_L%C3%BCth
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=1382361#p1382361
https://uboat.net/men/luth_funeral.htm
https://warspot.ru/4334-tayna-smerti-volfganga-lyuta
https://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/thread.php?threadid=685