Otto Kretschmer Autographs

Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912 – 5 August 1998) was a German naval officer and submariner in World War II and the Cold War.
From September 1939 until his capture in March 1941 he sank 44 ships, including one warship, for a record total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards. He earned the nickname "Silent Otto", both for his successful use of the "silent running" capability of U-boats and for his reluctance to transmit radio messages during patrols. After the war, he served in the German Federal Navy, from which he retired in 1970 with the flag rank of commodore.
Kretschmer was born in Heidau near Neisse, then in the German Empire on 1 May 1912 to Friedrich Wilhelm Otto and Alice (née Herbig) Kretschmer. His father was a teacher at the local Volkschule (primary school), which Otto attended from 1918 to 1921. He then moved to a Realgymnasium (secondary school). In the aftermath of World War I the Kretschmer family remained aloof from the political turbulence of the Weimar era. Kretschmer indulged in sporting pastimes and scientific interests. Kretschmer achieved good results in mathematics and chemistry and passed his Abitur (school-leaving certificate) at 17. The report contained the remark, "Kretschmer demonstrated his extraordinary courage in many instances. He wants to be a naval officer." Kretschmer was too young to enlist at 17 and his father sent him to England to broaden his horizons. He enrolled at Exeter University (then University College of the South West of England) and studied under Professor Jacob Wilhelm Schopp (b. 1871), a German–born naturalised Briton. He mastered the English language and came to respect British education: its practical focus complemented his scientific and theoretical–based German background. His time in England shaped his view of them during the war. He was quick to believe in rumours of new British inventions during the war at sea. He returned home when his mother died of tetanus because of medical malpractice. He did not return to England, but travelled through France, Switzerland and Italy.
Read more about Otto Kretschmer on Wikipedia

Affiliate disclosure: When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Traded items with a signature of Otto Kretschmer

The most expensive item with a signature of Otto Kretschmer (OTTO KRETSCHMER KC + SWORDS 47 SHIPS SUNK ** signed 12 x 16 montage display) was sold in July 2018 for $299.95 while the cheapest item (Scarce U-Boat ace Admiral OTTO KRETSCHMER signed index card - choice specimen) found a new owner for $17.27 in February 2012. The month with the most items sold (3) was December 2025 with an average selling price of $37.50 for an autographed item of Otto Kretschmer. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in July 2018 with $299.95 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $17.27 was February 2012. In average, an autographed item from Otto Kretschmer is worth $68.00.

Most recently, these items with a signature of Otto Kretschmer were sold on eBay - click here for more items.

Picture	Item Title	Price	Store
	Life Magazine Copy Cover WWII German U-boat 35 signed Commander Otto Kretschmer	$106.90
	OTTO KRETSCHMER - #1 U-Boat ace - Knight's Cross & Swords winner - signed photo	$125.00
	OTTO KRETSCHMER - Knight's Cross / U-Boat ace of aces - IN-PERSON signed photo	$125.00
	Otto Kretschmer Signed 8×10 Photo Top WW2 SubAce U99 Knight's Cross Leaves&sword	$37.50
	Otto Kretschmer signed award photo. THE KING!! Cpt U-23.99.Kriegsmarine.-U-Boat	$99.95
	Otto Kretschmer Signed FDC Envelope Top WWII U-Boat Ace U99 Nice Historic Auto!!	$33.33
	Signed photo of U-Boat Commander Otto Kretschmer/Oakleaves and Swords winner.	$50.00
	TOP U-BOAT ACE Otto Kretschmer signed 8x10 - Sank 44 ships, 262,203 tons	$35.00
	U-boat ace of aces OTTO KRETSCHMER, IN PERSON signed photo	$149.00
	U-Boot ace of aces Knight's Cross & Swords winner OTTO KRETSCHMER signed photo	$125.00
	WWII German Commander Otto Kretschmer U-Boat U-99 Signed Photo Knight’s Cross	$29.95
	WWII German Commander Otto Kretschmer U-Boat U-99 Signed Photo Knight’s Cross	$31.00
	WWII German Commander Otto Kretschmer U-Boat U-99 Signed Photo Knight’s Cross	$29.95
	WWII German U-Boat U-99 Commander Otto Kretschmer Knight’s Cross Signed Photo	$45.00
	WWII German U-Boat U-99 Commander Otto Kretschmer Knight’s Cross Signed Photo	$45.00