Herbert Panknin joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1943. He was promoted to Fähnrich (Ing.) on July 1st 1933. In 1937, after his officers training, he was transferred to the U-boot service and promoted to Oberfähnrich. He already received his next promotion to Leutnant (Ing.) on April 1st 1937. His first ship was the U-57 on which he made 9 patrols between December 1938 and July 1940. In between Panknin was promoted as Oberleutnant (Ing.) on April 1st 1939.
In July 1940 he was transferred to the new U-106, a type IXc U-boat. Until November 1941 Panknin made 3 patrols on this vessel. In November 1941, Panknin was appointed flotilla engineer of the 9th U-boat flotilla in Brest (France). He was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) on February 1st 1942. As from September 1943 he took part in 2 patrols on board of the U-861.
In 1958 Panknin once again became a military, this time in the Bundesmarine. From 1966 he became Commander of the Technische Marineschule II in Bremerhaven and went with retirement in March 1973.
Do you have more information about this person? Inform us!