Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger (Wilhem Otto Walther Schwieger) (7 April 1885 – 5 September 1917) was a U-boat commander in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) during First World War. In 1915, he sank the passenger liner with the loss of 1,198 lives. Military career In 1903 he joined the Imperial German Navy and from 1911 onwards he served with the U-boat Service. In 1912 he took over the command of the . After the outbreak of World War I in 1914 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant and given command of the . On 7 May 1915, Schwieger was responsible for U-20 sinking passenger liner leading to the deaths of 1,198 people, an event that played a role in the United States' later entry into World War I. He also torpedoed SS Hesperian on 4 September 1915 and on 8 May 1916. On 31 May 1917, his U-boat sank the Miyazaki Maru during that ship's voyage from Yokohama to London, causing the loss of eight lives. Schwieger was killed in action on 5 September 1917. His U-boat was sunk by the British Q-Ship HMS Stonecrop. It sank north of Terschelling at with the loss of all hands. During his wartime career, Schwieger captained three different submarines, on a total of 34 missions. He sank 49 ships, measuring . Schwieger was represented in the docudrama "Lusitania: Terror At Sea" in 2007, where he was played by actor Florian Panzner. References External links Maritimequest U-20 Photo Gallery 1885 births 1917 deaths Military personnel from Berlin People from the Province of Brandenburg U-boat commanders (Imperial German Navy) RMS Lusitania Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914), 1st class Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (military class) German military personnel killed in World War I People who died at sea Imperial German Navy personnel of World War I