| Commander of theU-boats | |
|---|---|
| Befehlshaber der U-Boote | |
 Kriegsmarine | |
| Abbreviation | BdU |
| Reports to | Oberbefehlshaber der Marine |
| Precursor | Führer der Unterseeboote |
| Formation | 1917, recreated 17 October 1939 |
| Abolished | 8 May 1945 |
TheBefehlshaber der Unterseeboote orBdU (Eng: "Commander of theU-boats") was the supreme commander of the German Navy'sU-boat Arm (Ubootwaffe) during theFirst andSecond World Wars. The term also referred to the Command HQ of the U-boat arm.[1]
The title was established in June 1917, replacing the role of "Leader of the U-boats" (Führer der Unterseeboote, or FdU) for the High Seas Flotillas. The first incumbent wasKapitan zur See/KommodoreAndreas Michelsen, previously head of theHigh Seas Fleet’s destroyer force.[2] The post was abolished with the end of the war.
It was revived on 17 October 1939, whenKarl Dönitz was promoted torear admiral (Konteradmiral). His previous title had been FdU, a position he had held from January 1936.[3]
On 31 January 1943 Dönitz was promoted togrand admiral (Großadmiral) and became supreme commander (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine) of the entire Kriegsmarine, replacingErich Raeder. He retained the title, but was replaced as operational commander at BdU by his chief of staffEberhard Godt.[4]
Godt's successor was AdmiralHans Georg von Friedeburg, who held the position at the end of the war and became commander-in-chief of the German navy when Dönitz became head of Nazi Germany after Hitler's suicide.
| No. | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Other positions held |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Dönitz, KarlKonteradmiral Karl Dönitz (1891–1980) | 17 October 1939 | 31 January 1943 | 3 years, 106 days | FdU (January 1936 - September 1939) |
| 2 |  | Godt, EberhardKonteradmiral Eberhard Godt (1900–1995) | 31 January 1943 | 8 May 1945 | 2 years, 97 days | Admiralstabsoffizier (1939-1939) Chef der Operationsabteilung (1939-1945) |
| No. | Portrait | Abteilungschef | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | _(cropped).jpg) | Friedeburg, HansKapitän zur See Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (1895–1945[note 1]) | 17 October 1939 | 11 September 1941 | 1 year, 10 months |
| No. | Portrait | 2. Admiral der Unterseeboote | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Friedeburg, HansKonteradmiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (1895–1945) | 12 September 1941 | 30 April 1943 | 1 year, 7 months |
| No. | Portrait | Kommandierender Admiral der Unterseeboote | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) | Friedeburg, HansAdmiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (1895–1945) | 1 February 1943 | 30 April 1945 | 2 years, 2 months |
| 2 |  | Dobratz, KurtKapitän zur See Kurt Dobratz (1904–1995) | 1 May 1945 | 8 May 1945 | 7 days |
Dobratz had transferred from navy to Luftwaffe in 1935. He rejoined the Kriegsmarine in 1943 and was given command ofU-1232 taking it out on one patrol before becoming chief of staff at BdU.[5]
| No. | Portrait | Stabschef des Kommandierenden Admirals der Unterseeboote | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Beucke, HeinzFregattenkapitän Heinz-Ehler Beucke (1904–1979) | March 1943 | May 1943 | 2 months |
| 2 | | Kratzenberg, ErnstKonteradmiral Ernst Kratzenberg (1896–1984) | June 1943 | April 1945 | 1 year, 10 months |
| 3 | | Dobratz, KurtKapitän zur See Kurt Dobratz (1904–1995) | April 1945 | April 1945 | 0 days |
| 4 | | Engler, EwaldFregattenkapitän Ewald Engler (born 1913) | 1 May 1945 | 8 May 1945 | 7 days |
Beucke was withdrawn from command of U-boat (a single patrol withGerman submarine U-173) in 1942 because his brothers had been killed.