Freiherr Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim

Kapitänleutnant (Crew 4/03)

Successes
14 ships sunk with a total of 36,925 GRT
3 ships damaged with a total of 10,005 GRT
1 ship taken as prize with a total of 1,115 GRT

Born:	9 Oct 1885	Padrojen, East Prussia
Died:	15 May 1965	Bremen

Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim

Ranks

1 Apr 1903		Seekadett
15 Apr 1904		Fähnrich zur See
28 Sep 1906		Leutnant zur See
27 Mar 1909		Oberleutnant zur See
12 Mar 1915		Kapitänleutnant
24 Nov 1919		Out of naval service

Decorations

26 Apr 1911		Order of the Crown
		Iron Cross 2nd class
		Iron Cross 1st class

U-boat Commands

U 32	3 Sep 1914	-	17 Mar 1916
U 93	10 Feb 1917	-	30 Apr 1917

Notes

Edgar Freiherr von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim served on the U32 and U93. Already in the war, in 1916, he wrote "War Diary of U202" which sold very well in the US post war. In his book, he accused the British of using hospital ships to transport troops to France. Until today this has never been solved and it may still take some years before the truth comes out.

On April 30, 1917, von Spiegel's ran out of luck when the U 93 met the small sailing ship Prize in the Channel. He surfaced and planned to sink the ship with his gun. Members of the sailing ship's crew took to the life boats. However, then suddenly the White Ensign was hoisted and the Prize showed her 12 pounder guns. The Prize turned out to be a Q-ship!

The Q-ship was badly damaged in the exchange of fire and nearly sank but she also scored numerous hits on the U-boat. At one point, U 93 tried to ram, apparently went out of control, and disappeared into the mist. Three men, including Spiegel, were rescued from the water by the panic party. Prize's crew as well as von Spiegel assumed the German submarine had been sunk. The Prize's commanding officer, Lieutenant Wilson Sanders RNR, was awarded the Victoria Cross for the action.

Despite heavy damage, however, the U 93 was able to limp home on the surface under the command of her IWO. Spiegel spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.

Ships hit by Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim

Date	U-boat	Name of ship	Type of ship	Tons

8 Apr 1915	U 32	Chateaubriand	Sailing vessel	2,247	fr
11 Apr 1915	U 32	Wayfarer (d.)	Steamer	9,599	br
22 Jun 1915	U 32	Kiew (p.)	Steamer	1,115	da

4 Mar 1916	U 32	Teutonian	Tanker	4,824	br
5 Mar 1916	U 32	Rothesay	Steamer	2,007	br
6 Mar 1916	U 32	Trois Freres	Sailing vessel	107	fr
7 Mar 1916	U 32	Ville Du Havre	Sailing vessel	3,109	fr

15 Apr 1917	U 93	Fram	Sailing vessel	105	da
18 Apr 1917	U 93	Troldfos	Steamer	1,459	nw
18 Apr 1917	U 93	West Lothian	Sailing vessel	1,887	nw
22 Apr 1917	U 93	Vestelv	Sailing vessel	1,729	nw
28 Apr 1917	U 93	Diana (d.)	Sailing vessel	207	da
29 Apr 1917	U 93	Comedian	Steamer	4,889	br
29 Apr 1917	U 93	Ikbal	Steamer	5,434	br
30 Apr 1917	U 93	Ascaro	Steamer	3,245	it
30 Apr 1917	U 93	Horsa	Steamer	2,949	br
30 Apr 1917	U 93	Parthenon	Steamer	2,934	gr
30 Apr 1917	U 93	Prize (d.)	Q-ship	199	br
				48,045
15 ships sunk (38,040 tons) and 3 ships damaged (10,005 tons). Legend (d.) means the ship was damaged. (p.) means the ship was taken as prize (included in ships & tonnage lost). We have a picture of this vessel.