WWII Kriegsmarine Portrait of Ritterkreuzträger Georg Schewe – Commander of U-105
Original WWII postcard-size portrait photograph depicting Kapitänleutnant Georg Schewe, highly decorated Kriegsmarine U-Boat commander and recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross).
The photograph shows Schewe wearing his Knight’s Cross together with Kriegsmarine uniform and white-topped naval visor cap. A very sharp and attractive wartime image with excellent display appeal. The reverse bears a handwritten dedication making this a particularly desirable personalized portrait connected directly to his famous U-boat command.
Georg Schewe served with both U-60 and U-105 during the Battle of the Atlantic and became one of the more successful early-war U-boat commanders. Across ten war patrols, Schewe sank 16 Allied ships totaling approximately 85,779 tons. Particularly notable was a single patrol aboard U-105 during which he sank roughly 71,450 tons of Allied shipping — one of the most successful individual patrols of the entire Second World War.
For his achievements commanding U-105, Schewe received the:
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross) on 23 May 1941 while holding the rank of Kapitänleutnant.
His wartime awards included:
- Iron Cross 2nd Class
- Iron Cross 1st Class
- U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen (U-Boat War Badge)
- Sudetenland Medal
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award
The photograph remains in very good overall condition with light age wear consistent with period handling and storage.
A scarce and historically significant original photograph of one of Germany’s notable U-boat commanders.
€150,00
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Historical Description
Georg Schewe (24 November 1909 – 16 September 1989) was a German Kriegsmarine officer and U-boat commander who gained distinction during the early years of the Battle of the Atlantic. Serving aboard both U-60 and later U-105, Schewe became known for highly successful commerce-raiding operations against Allied shipping routes.
His most famous achievements came while commanding U-105, a Type IXB U-boat operating in the Atlantic during 1940–1941. During one exceptionally successful patrol, Schewe and his crew sank approximately 71,450 tons of Allied shipping, making it one of the highest-scoring patrols of the war and second only to the famous patrol of Günter Hessler aboard U-107.
In recognition of his combat successes and leadership, Schewe was awarded the:
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross) on 23 May 1941 as Kapitänleutnant and commander of U-105.
Like many early-war U-boat commanders, Schewe became part of the elite circle of celebrated Kriegsmarine submarine officers whose operations formed a central part of Germany’s naval war strategy against Britain and Allied maritime supply lines.
Today, original photographs of decorated U-boat commanders — especially dedicated examples naming their operational boat such as “U-105” — are highly sought after by collectors of Kriegsmarine and Battle of the Atlantic memorabilia.
