WWI U-boat commanders

Max Valentiner

Korvettenkapitän (Crew 4/02)

Successes
143 ships sunk for a total of 298,793 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 680 tons
5 ships damaged for a total of 22,301 GRT
1 warship damaged for a total of 10,850 tons
3 ships taken as prize for a total of 3,550 GRT

Born:15 Dec 1883 Tønder, Denmark 
Died:19 Jun 1949 Sønderborg, Denmark 

Max Valentiner

Ranks

1 Apr 1902Seekadett
29 Sep 1905Leutnant zur See
1908Oberleutnant zur See
22 Mar 1914Kapitänleutnant
1918Korvettenkapitän
1941Kapitän zur See

Decorations

15 Aug 1902Lifesaving Medal
1911Order of the Crown (Prussia)
Iron Cross 2nd class
Iron Cross 1st class
1916Hausorden von Hohenzollern
26 Dec 1916Pour le Mérite

U-boat Commands

U 385 Dec 1914 - 15 Sep 1917
U 15722 Sep 1917 - 20 Jul 1918

Notes

Christian August Max Ahlmann Valentiner was born in Tønder, Denmark just north of the current border with Germany. The area was occupied by Prussia at the time. He was awarded the Pour le Mérite in recognition of of distinguished naval service and leadership. The award also seems to have recognized completion of a war patrol in the Mediterranean where the U38 sank 23 enemy warships and merchant vessels including two neutral ships.

Valentiner was listed after the war as a war criminal by the British authorities because of his very unorthodox methods of attack.

Max Valentiner died on 19 June 1949 in Sønderborg, Denmark and is buried in the cemetery west of the town.

Sources

Max Valentiner (http://www.max-valentiner.dk).

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