BdU

Op - staff

From 1936 until August 1939 Karl Dönitz lead the U-boat force as FdU with a relatively small staff. The title FdU was changed to BdU on 19 September, 1939. At the same time the BdU staff were divided in two parts:

BdU-Op
BdU - Operationsabteilung
(operational department )
U-boat Tactical Command 		BdU-org
BdU - Organisationsabteilung
(organization department )
U-boat training and personnel

In the autumn of 1939 and in February 1940 there were a few trials, to lead convoy-battles trough a officer on board of one of the U-boats (in October Korvkpt. Hartmann on U-37 led the attack against convoy HG 3). But then Karl Dönitz realized that leading from the bases through radio communication would be more efficient.

The BdU-Op had the tactical command for all boats in the Atlantic, the North Sea and in the Indian Ocean. For the other combat areas existed special FdU's (Mediterranean, Arctic Ocean) or special area commands (Black and Baltic Sea).

Bases of BdU Op

08.39
09.39 -11.39
11.39 - 09.40
09.40 - 10.40
10.40 - 03.42
03.42 - 03.43
03.43 - 12.43
12.43 - 02.45
02.45 - 04.45
04.45
05.45
 Swinemünde
Wilhelmshaven, Marinestation
Sengwarden near Wilhelmshaven;
Paris, Boulevard Souchet 18
Kernevel near Lorient
Paris, Avenue Maréchal Maunoury
Berlin, Hotel am Steinplatz
Bernau, 'Koralle'
Sengwarden near Wilhelmshaven
Plön
Flensburg-Mürwik


The BdU-op staff members

FdU/BdU

01.36 - 09.39
09.39 - 05.45		 FdU Kommodore Karl Dönitz
BdU Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz

Chef der Operationsabteilung

10.39 - 05.45 Konteradmiral Eberhardt Godt


1. Admiralstabsoffizier (A I)

01.38 - 10.39
10.39 - 05.40
05.40 - 10.40
11.40 - 11.41
11.41 - 05.45		 Korvkpt. Eberhardt Godt
Kptlt. Victor Oehrn
Korvkpt. Werner Hartmann
Korvkpt. Victor Oehrn
Fregkpt. Günther Hessler


1. Admiralstabsoffizier operativ (A I op)
'Geleitzugs-Asto' (convoy staff officer)

10.42 - 07.44
07.44 - 12.44
04.45 - 05.45		 Kptlt. Adalbert Schnee
Kptlt. Heinrich Schroeteler
Korvkpt. Ernst Hechler


2. Admiralstabsoffizier (A 2)

10.38 - 08.39
09.39 - 03.40
04.40 - 02.43
02.43 - 05.43
05.43 - 05.45		 Kptlt. Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen
Korvkpt. Hans-Günther Loof
Kptlt. Karl Daublebsky von Eichhain
Kptlt. Peter-Erich Cremer
Korvkpt. Alfred Hoschatt


3. Admiralstabsoffizier (A 3)

01.39 - 09.39
09.39 - 09.41
09.41 - 06.42
06.42 - 05.45		 Kptlt. Hans Cohausz
   No officer in this position
Kptlt. Herbert Kuppisch
Kptlt. (MN) Wilhelm Muhr


4. Admiralstabsoffizier (A 4)
(communications and torpedoes)

09.39 - 11.39
11.39 - 05.44
06.44 - 10.44
10.44 - 05.45		 Kptlt. Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen
Korvkpt. Hans Meckel
Kptlt. Hermann Rasch
Korvkpt. Waldemar Mehl


5. Admiralstabsoffizier (A 5)
(accountancy)

11.39 - 05.41
06.41 - 05.45		 Kptlt. Werner Winter
Korvkpt. Dr. Gottfried Teufer


6. Admiralstabsoffizier (A 6)

06.42 - 12.42
12.42 - 03.44
03.44 - 10.44
10.44 - 05.45		 Kptlt. Herbert Kuppisch
Korvkpt. Herbert Schultze
Korvkpt. Hans-Ludwig Witt
Kptlt. Kurt Neide


Ingenieur Offizier

01.36 - 10.39
11.39 - 10.40
10.40 - 02.43
02.43 - 06.44
06.44 - 05.45		 Fregkpt. (Ing) Otto Thedsen
Kptlt. (Ing) Hans Looschen
Korvkpt. (Ing) Karl Scheel
Kptlt. (Ing) Gerd Suhren
Kptlt. (Ing) Karl-Heinz Wiebe