Otto Schultze
Otto Schultze (11 May 1884 – 22 January 1966) was a "Generaladmiral" with the "Kriegsmarine" during World War II and a recipient of the "Pour le Mérite" during World War I. The "Pour le Mérite" was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I. As a U-boat commander during World War I, he was credited with the sinking of 53 merchant ships for a total of 132,567 gross register tons, and of displacement. Early career. Schultze was born on 11 May 1884 in Oldenburg and following his primary  education, he joined the "Kaiserliche Marine" (Imperial Navy) on 7 April 1900 as a "Seekadett" (sea cadet). He initially served on during World War I before transferring to the U-boat service in 1915, taking command of . He surrendered command of "U-63" in mid-December 1917. He then served as a first officer of the admiral staff of the commander in chief of the U-boats at the Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, he held the position of chief of the I. "U-Boot-Flottille" (1st U-boat Flotilla). Between the wars, he held various staff positions. From September  1927-September 1929, he was commander of . In October, he took command of the "Marinestation der Nordsee" (North Sea Naval Station). He was promoted to "Vizeadmiral" (vice admiral) in 1934 and to admiral in 1936 retiring in 1937. World War II. On 1 January 1939, Schultze was recalled to active service and placed to the disposal of the "Kriegsmarine". Following a few months without command, he was appointed Commanding admiral of the North Sea Naval Station, which he had commanded in 1935–1937. While in this capacity, with headquarters in Wilhelmshaven, Schultze was responsible for the area stretched from the North  Sea to the West Coast and to Denmark and it also controlled the Schelde Delta. Schultze remained in this command until 28 November 1939, when he was relieved by Admiral Hermann Densch and placed to the "Führerreserve". He remained without command again until 2 March 1941, when he was ordered to Paris for duty as Commanding Admiral of France. Schultze remained in that capacity until the end of August 1942 and received German Cross in Silver on 31 August 1942. He was promoted to the rank of "Generaladmiral" (equivalent of U.S. four star Admiral) and placed to the disposal of  the "Kriegsmarine". Schultze retired on 30 September 1942. "Generaladmiral" Otto Schultze died on 22 January 1966, aged 81, in Hamburg. His son, Heinz-Otto Schultze also served in the "Kriegsmarine" and received Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as "Kapitänleutnant" and commander of "U-432". He was killed in action on 25 November 1943 in the South Atlantic.