TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Lütjens, Günther

Date of birth:
May 25th, 1889 (Wiesbaden, Germany)
Date of death:
May 27th, 1941 (Atlantic Ocean)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
3 April 1907: Seekadett
21 April 1908: Fähnrich zur See
28 September 1910: Leutnant zur See
27 September 1913: Oberleutnant zur See
24 May 1917: Kapitänleutnant
1 April 1926: Korvettenkapitän
1 October 1931: Fregattenkapitän
1 July 1933: Kapitän zur See
18 September 1937: Konteradmiral
17 December 1939: Vizeadmiral
26 August 1940: Admiral

Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!

Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
October 6th, 1915
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
August 17th, 1916
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
June 18th, 1917
Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
November 24th, 1917
Ritter des Königlicher Preussischer Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
September 12th, 1934
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1936
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  1.Klasse, 25 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 4th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 25th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Awarded on:
October 26th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes
Awarded on:
December 20th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 20th, 1940
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Vizeadmiral (Rear-admiral)
Unit:
efehlshaber der Aufklärenden Streitkräfte
Awarded on:
June 14th, 1940
Awarded for his successes during the Norwegian campaign. While in command of the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst battleships he succeeded in holding off British naval formations attempting to intervene in Norway, and was recognized for the fulfillment of this important mission with the Knight’s Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 11th, 1940
Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 22nd, 1941
The fleet commander Admiral Lutjens as leader of a battleship task force reports as success so far on an extended undertaking of a heavy naval forces in the North Atlantic, the sinking of a total of 22 armed enemy merchant vessels of a total of 116 000 GRT. Eight hundred survivors were rescued here by German battleships.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 25th, 1941
As also mentioned in a special report, a German task force under the leadership of chief of fleet Lütjens encountered, in the sea area of Iceland, heavy British sea forces. The battleship "Bismarck" sank the British battlecruiser "Hood," the largest battleship of the British fleet, after a short and heavy battle. A further battleship of the newest English "King George" class was damaged and forced to retreat. The German sea forces continued their operation without loss.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 28th, 1941
As reported yesterday, the battleship "Bismarck," after its victorious battle near Iceland, was on 26 May hit by a torpedo from an enemy aircraft and left unmanoeuvrable. True to the last radio message from chief of fleet Admiral Lütjens, the battleship was defeated by overwhelming enemy forces and sank with flag flying together with its commander Kapitän zur See Lindemann and its brave crew, on 27 May before noon.
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 9th, 1942
Kriegsabzeichen für Hilfskreuzer

Sources

Photo