Günther Prien

Who was Günther Prien?

Lieutenant Commander Günther Prien was a German U-boat ace of the first part of the Second World War, and the first U-boat commander to win the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the first member of the Kriegsmarine to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. It was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Günther Prien.

Under Prien's command, the submarine U-47 sank over 30 Allied ships totaling about 200,000 gross register tons . His most famous exploit was the sinking of the British battleship HMS Royal Oak at anchor in the Home Fleet's anchorage in Scapa Flow.