Oberleutnant zur See Reinhold Saltzwedel (23 November 1889 – 2 December 1917) was a successful and highly decorated German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I. He sank a total of 111 merchant vessels for 172,824 gross register tons (GRT). On 1 September 1936, his name was given to the 2nd U-boat Flotilla of the Kriegsmarine in Wilhelmshaven to honour him.
Reinhold Saltzwedel was born on 23 November 1889 in Rosenberg, Upper Silesia.[1] His father was a parson.
Saltzwedel was a Leutnant zur See when World War I broke out and Adjutant on the SMS Kaiser. On 19 September 1914, he was promoted to Oberleutnant zur See.[1] In May 1915 he went to the U-boat school. Shortly afterwards, he served as commander of several U-boats. On 20 August 1917, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite for his achievements.
On 18 September 1917, he became the commanding officer of UB-81, aboard which he died on 2 December after UB-81 ran into a mine.[1] Twenty-nine men lost their lives.
