Johann Günther Lütjens (German pronunciation: [ˈjoːhan ˈɡʏntɐ ˈlʏtjəns]; 25 May 1889 – 27 May 1941) was a German admiral whose military service spanned more than 30 years and two world wars. Lütjens is best known for his actions during World War II and his command of the battleship Bismarck during her foray into the Atlantic Ocean in 1941. He was killed in action during the last battle of the battleship Bismarck.
Born in 1889, Lütjens entered into the Imperial German Navy in 1907 and saw service during World War I against the British Royal Navy, achieving the rank of Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant). After the war he remained in the navy, now renamed the Reichsmarine. In the Weimar Republic era, Lütjens built a reputation as an excellent staff officer. In 1935, after the Nazi regime came to power in 1933, the navy was remodelled again and renamed the Kriegsmarine. Lütjens soon became acquainted with Erich Raeder and Karl Dönitz, the two commanders-in-chief of the Kriegsmarine in World War II. His capability and friendship led to rapid promotions and a command of the cruiser Karlsruhe. By 1937, he had risen to the rank of Konteradmiral (rear admiral).
During the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Lütjens commanded destroyer operations in the North Sea. In April 1940, now a Vizeadmiral (vice admiral), he was given temporary command of the entire German surface fleet during the initial landing phase of Operation Weserübung, the invasions of Denmark and Norway. In the aftermath of the campaign he was appointed the fleet commander of the Kriegsmarine and promoted to Admiral on 1 September 1940. In January 1941, Lütjens planned and executed Operation Berlin, an Atlantic raid to support U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic by attacking British merchant shipping lanes. The operation was a tactical victory. It came to a close in March 1941, when the ships docked in German-occupied France after sailing some 18,000 miles, a record for a German battle group at the time.
In May 1941, Lütjens commanded a German task force, consisting of the battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, during Operation Rheinübung. In a repetition of Berlin, Lütjens was required to break out of their naval base in occupied Poland, sail via occupied Norway, and attack merchant shipping. The operation went awry and the task force was soon spotted and engaged near Iceland. In the ensuing Battle of the Denmark Strait, HMS Hood was sunk and three other British warships were forced to retreat. The two German ships then separated. Three days later, on 27 May, Lütjens and most of the ship's crew drowned when Bismarck was caught and sunk. In the post-war navy of West Germany, the Bundesmarine, the destroyer Lütjens, launched in 1967, was named after Lütjens.
Lütjens was born in Wiesbaden in Hesse-Nassau, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia, on 25 May 1889. He was the son of Luise (née Volz) and Johannes Lütjens, a merchant. Growing up in Freiburg im Breisgau, he graduated from the Berthold-Gymnasium with his diploma (Abitur) aged 17.
He entered the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) as a Seekadett (Cadett) on 3 April 1907 at the German Imperial Naval Academy in Kiel, where he received his initial infantry training. He spent his initial year on Freya (9 May 1907 – 1 April 1908) for his practical training on board and his first world cruise, before attending an officers course at the German Imperial Naval Academy in Kiel. His comrades nicknamed him "Pee Ontgens" after a character from the book Das Meer (The Sea) by Bernhard Kellermann, which was one of his favourite books. Lütjens graduated 20th of 160 cadets from his "Crew 1907" (the incoming class of 1907), and was thereafter promoted to Fähnrich zur See (Midshipman) on 21 April 1908. Starting on 1 April 1909, he underwent naval artillery training at the Naval Artillery School in Kiel-Wik and then participated in a torpedo course on board Württemberg on 1 July 1909.
Lütjens then attended another infantry course with the 2nd Sea-Battalion and boarded Elsass on 1 October 1909. After receiving his commission as Leutnant zur See (Ensign) on 28 September 1910, he served on board König Wilhelm (26 September 1910 – 1 April 1911), a harbour ship, and then Hansa (1 April 1911 – 1 April 1913). He then returned to the König Wilhelm (1 April 1913 – 1 October 1913), where he served as an instructor of cabin boys and later as an instructor of cadets. König Wilhelm at the time was a barracks ship based in Kiel and used as a training vessel for naval cadets. He then completed two further world cruises on Hansa. Following these assignments, he was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See (Lieutenant Junior Grade) on 27 September 1913.
Lütjens' next assignment was with the 4th Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla, where he served as a watch officer. On 1 October 1913, he was appointed company officer with the I. Torpedodivision, and served as a watch officer on torpedo boat G-169 of the 2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla from 1 November. On 24 December 1913, he returned to his position as company officer with the I. Torpedodivision, before becoming a watch officer on G-172 of the 2nd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla on 15 March 1914.
Shortly after World War I had begun, Lütjens was transferred to the Harbour Flotilla of the Jade Bight on 1 August 1914, followed shortly by his first command: torpedo boat T-68 of the 6th Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla on 4 September 1914. On 7 December 1914, he returned to the I. Torpedodivision, before attending a minesweeping course on 2 January 1915. After completion of this course, he was sent back again to the I. Torpdedivsion, where he took command of the training torpedo boat T-21 on 16 January. He served in this position until 14 March 1915, when he was posted back to the I. Torpedodivsion. On 5 May, he was transferred to the Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla "Flandern", serving as commander of torpedo boats A-5 and A-20. He was appointed chief of the A-Demi-Flotilla in the II. Torpedo-Boat-Flotilla "Flandern" in February 1916, and at the same time commanded torpedo boat A-40. He held this position until the end of World War I on 11 November 1918, when he returned to Antwerp and Kiel.
On 24 May 1917, Lütjens was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (captain lieutenant) during this assignment. As commander of torpedo boats along the Flanders coast, he led raids against Dunkirk on 23 March 1917. He was in combat with four British torpedo boats on 2 May 1917 and led five of his boats in actions against four French destroyers on 19 May 1917.
For his service in World War I, he received the Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords and the Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class, among other decorations and awards.
After the war, Lütjens served as head of the Warnemünde (1 December 1918 – 24 January 1919 and 8 February 1919 – 10 March 1919) and Lübeck (24 January 1919 – 8 February 1919 and 8 July 1919 – 15 September 1919) Sea Transportation Agency. He was ordered to the German Imperial Naval Office on 10 March 1919 and started serving with the Sea Transportation Agency in Lübeck on 8 July 1919.
As a result of the Treaty of Versailles (signed on 28 June 1919) the German Navy was downsized to 15,000 men, including 1,500 officers. On 1 January 1921, the German Imperial Navy was renamed the Reichsmarine in the era of the Weimar Republic.
On 15 September 1919, LÜtjens' posting with the Sea Transportation Agency ended and he was posted to the Coastal Defence Department III and later IV in Cuxhaven-Lehe as a company leader. As of 1 January 1921 he was also subordinated to the Staff of the North Sea. Lütjens was posted to the Fleet Department of the Naval Command on 7 June 1921. His commanding officer here was Admiral Paul Behncke. Here Lütjens served as the head of the Fleet Department until the end of September 1923.
In this position, Lütjens dealt with strategic and naval policy issues. This included the observation and analysis of the Washington Naval Conference and its disarmament agreements. On 4 October 1923 he returned to the torpedo force, taking command of the 3rd Torpedo-Boat-Demi-Flotilla.