Joachim Schepke, born in Flensburg in 1912, rose from naval cadet to one of the most highly decorated U-boat commanders in Kriegsmarine history in just a decade of service. His career, tragically cut short in March 1941, coincided with the peak successes of Germany’s submarine fleet in the Atlantic.
From Battleship Deck to Submarine Interior
Flensburg, situated on the Danish border, was a city with strong maritime traditions. It was there in 1930 that eighteen-year-old Joachim Schepke began his adventure with the navy. After completing naval school, he was assigned to the battleship „Deutschland,” where he gained his first experience on the waters of the Baltic and North Seas.
A turning point in his career came in the fall of 1935, when he was sent for submarine training. The course lasted just three months, but it was enough to convince his superiors of his suitability. As a watch officer on U-13, he became familiar with life in the cramped, claustrophobic quarters of a submarine—a knowledge that would prove invaluable.
Before taking his own command, however, he served as an instructor in Stralsund and at the torpedo school in Flensburg-Mürwik. The Wehrmacht was then building up its personnel for the coming war, and experienced officers were highly prized.
First Command and Outbreak of War
The U-3, a small Type IIA submarine, became the first command for Schepke. He took charge on October 29, 1938, less than a year before the outbreak of World War II. These small, coastal submarines were ill-suited for long Atlantic patrols but were excellent training grounds for command skills.
By September 1939, when the war broke out, Schepke already had nearly a year of command experience. His initial combat successes were modest but meaningful. By January 1940, he had sunk two Allied ships, proving he could effectively use his vessel’s capabilities.
The next step was the U-19, a slightly larger Type IIB submarine. Over four months of command, he conducted five combat patrols, sending nine more ships to the bottom. These results did not go unnoticed by his superiors. In February 1940, he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class.
Pinnacle of Career and Final Patrol
The real wave of success came when Schepke took command of U-100. This larger, ocean-going submarine allowed him to operate on the North Atlantic convoy routes, where Allied merchant ships were easy targets for an experienced commander.
His achievements aboard U-100 were impressive, even by the standards of the „happy times” of the U-boat service. In his entire career, he sank 37 ships totaling nearly 156,000 GRT and damaged four more. This placed him among the elite of Germany’s submarine aces.
Recognition came quickly. In September 1940, he received the Knight’s Cross as the thirty-second officer in the Kriegsmarine and the fourteenth in the submarine forces. Just two months later, on December 1, 1940, he was awarded the Oak Leaves. He was only the seventh member of the Wehrmacht and the third in the navy to receive such an honor.
Spring 1941 marked a turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic. The British became increasingly effective at detecting German submarines, and U-boat losses began to rise. Schepke embarked on his final patrol in March of that year.
On March 17, 1941, southeast of Iceland, U-100 was detected and sunk by Allied forces. Joachim Schepke died with his submarine. He was only twenty-nine years old.
His death came at a time when the era of German submarine dominance was ending. Just weeks earlier, other U-boat aces, including Günther Prien, had also been killed. The Allies were mastering anti-submarine warfare, and the „happy times” were fading into the past.
Autor
Marcus Renfell
Marcus Renfell is a historian driven by curiosity and passion. He refuses to accept the “safe,” polished versions of the past. Instead, he brings forgotten, overlooked, and distorted stories back to life. His work blends scholarly precision with the art of storytelling, turning historical narratives into vivid, page-turning experiences.
His mission is simple: to prove that history can be gripping, alive, and deeply personal.
His debut book: Women of Science. Stories You Were Never Told
In his first publication, Marcus Renfell shines a light on the remarkable women who shaped the world of science — both the pioneers whose names we know and the brilliant minds history forgot. It’s an inspiring journey through untold stories, groundbreaking achievements, and the resilience of women who changed our understanding of the world.
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