Gunter Jahn

Gunter Jahn (27 September 1910 – 12 April 1992) was a German U-boat commander during World War II. He was born in Hamburg, Germany and began his naval career in April 1931 as a Seekadett. He first served on the light cruiser Nürnberg for more than two years, including nine patrols in the first year of the war.

Gunter Jahn
Born	27 September 1910 Hamburg
Died	12 April 1992(1992-04-12) (aged 81) Krailling
Allegiance	Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
Branch	Reichsmarine  Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1931–45
Rank	Korvettenkapitän
Commands	U-596 13 November 1941–27 July 1943 29th U-boat Flotilla
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

In March 1941 Jahn joined the U-boat force and his first patrol was on board U-98 in September 1941. Later in November he commissioned U-596. On his second patrol he broke through the Strait of Gibraltar and went on to become one of the most successful U-boat commanders in the Mediterranean Sea. In July 1943 he left the boat and became the commander of the 29th U-boat Flotilla. In September 1944 he fell into French captivity, where he spent nearly two years.

Awards

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (2 October 1936)^[1]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (18 October 1939)^[2]
  • 1st Class (6 October 1942)^[2]
• Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes (20 December 1939)^[2]
• U-boat War Badge (1939) (6 October 1942)^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 30 April 1943 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-596^[3]