The German U-boat service of the Second World War was first formed in February of 1935 with the official laying of the hull for U-1, Germany's first post World War I submarine.   Prior to this time, the German Navy  was prohibited from manufacturing submarines or researching submarine technology, as outlined in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.  The provisions of the treaty were later disregarded by Adolf Hitler in his efforts to rearm the German military.

 

The First U-boat Flotilla, originally known as the Weddigen Flotilla was founded in September of 1935 under the command of the former First World War submarine captain Karl Dönitz.  Twenty nine separate U-boat flotillas, grouped into eight regions and one training group, would eventually be created.

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