Wilhelm Zahn
German U-boat commander
Died when: 66 years 108 days (795 months)Star Sign: Leo
Wilhelm Zahn (29 July 1910 – 14 November 1976) was a German Kriegsmarine officer during the Second World War.He was U-boat First Watch Officer, then became U-boat commander and was finally promoted to Korvettenkapitän on 1 April 1943.
As commander of U-56 he was able to avoid detection by the destroyers surrounding HMS Nelson and came in close proximity to the British flagship, launching three torpedoes against her whilst she was carrying Winston Churchill and the high military command of the British Navy.
Following that incident he became widely known as the "Man who almost killed Churchill" amongst the U-boat submariner corps.He was one of the commanding officers during the sinking of MV Wilhelm Gustloff which has been described as "Adolf Hitler's Titanic".
