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U-boat
U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role (commerce raiding) and enforcing a naval blockade against enemy shipping. The primary targets of the U-boat campaigns in both wars were the merchant convoys bringing supplies from Canada and other parts of the British Empire, and from the United States, to the United Kingdom and (during the Second World War) to the Soviet Union and the Allied territories in the Mediterranean. German submarines also destroyed Brazilian merchant ships during World War II, causing Brazil to declare war on both Germany and Italy on 22 August 1942. The term is an anglicised version of the German word ''U-Boot'' , a shortening of ''Unterseeboot'' ('under-sea-boat'), though the German term refers to any submarine. Austro-Hungarian Navy submarines were also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ulrich Folkers
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of extreme gallantry. A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945. This number is based on the analysis and acceptance of the order commission of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR). Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force)—as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labour Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia). There were also 43 foreign re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flottillenadmiral
Flotilla admiral is the lowest flag rank, a rank above captain, in the modern navies of Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden. It corresponds to the ranks of commodore or rear admiral (lower half) in the navies of the United States, United Kingdom, and certain other countries. Germany Flottillenadmiral, short FltlAdm in lists FADM, (en: Flotilla admiral) is the lowest flag officer rank in the German Navy, corresponding to command of a US Navy Rear Admiral (lower half) or Commodore (Royal Navy). It is equivalent to '' Brigadegeneral'' in the ''Bundeswehr'' or to ''Admiralarzt/Generalarzt'', ''Admiralapotheker/Generalapotheker'' in the '' Zentraler Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr''. Its rank insignia, worn on the sleeves and shoulders, are one five-pointed star above a big gold stripe and a narrow one (without the star when rank loops are worn). It is grade B6 in the pay rules of the Federal Ministry of Defence. The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
German Mine Sweeping Administration
The German Mine Sweeping Administration (GMSA) was an organisation formed by the Allies from former crews and vessels of the Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' for the purpose of mine sweeping after the Second World War, predominantly in the North Sea and Baltic Sea, which existed from June 1945 to January 1948. History The GMSA was formed on 21 June 1945 under Allied supervision, specifically that of the Royal Navy, to clear naval mines in the North Sea and Baltic. It was made up of 27,000 former members of the ''Kriegsmarine'' on nearly 300 vessels. The Allied command was well aware of the problem caused for commercial shipping by the over 600,000 naval mines laid in the seas of Western, Northern and Eastern Europe and had asked that the German mine sweeping formations not be dismissed after the surrender in May 1945. For this reason, Vice Admiral Sir Harold Burrough, British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany, undersigned the instruction for the GMSA in June 1945. The British Adm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
25th U-boat Flotilla
25th U-boat Flotilla (german: 25. Unterseebootsflottille) was formed in Danzig in April 1940 as a training flotilla responsible for Firing Training. It moved bases several times throughout the war. Between June 1941 and September 1941 it moved to Drontheim. Then it was shifted to Memel and subsequently to Libau. At the end of 1944 it was shifted again to Gotenhafen and then finally in 1945 it moved to Travemünde. The Flotilla was originally called 2. Unterseebootsausbildungsflottille until July 1940 when it was renamed 25. Unterseebootsflottille. Flotilla commanders *Korvettenkapitän Ernst Hashagen (Apr 1940-Dec 1941) *Korvettenkapitän Karl Jasper (Dec 1941-Aug 1943) *Fregattenkapitän Karl Neitzel (i.V.) (Aug 1943-Dec 1943) *Korvettenkapitän Robert Gysae (Dec 1943-Apr 1945) *Korvettenkapitän Georg-Wilhelm Schulz Georg-Wilhelm Schulz (10 March 1906 – 5 July 1986) was a German U-boat commander of the Second World War. From September 1939 until retiring from front ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Gysae
Robert Karl Friedrich Gysae (14 January 1911 – 26 April 1989) was a German U-boat commander in the ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Gysae commanded and , being credited with sinking twenty-five ships on eight patrols, for a total of of Allied shipping. Career Gysae joined the ''Reichsmarine'' in 1931 and served on torpedo boats before transferring to the ''U-Bootwaffe'' ("U-boat force") in April 1940. In October 1940 he was appointed commander of the Type VIIC U-boat ''U-98'', unusually without serving any time as either 1.WO (''1. Wachoffizier'', "1st Watch Officer") or ''Kommandantenschüler'' ("Commander-in-Training") on any other U-boats. After six patrols in the north Atlantic in command of ''U-98'', in March 1942 he transferred to the Type IXD2 U-boat ''U-177'' for another two patrols, this time operating off South Africa and Portuguese East Africa. He sank a total of 25 shi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oberkommando Der Marine
The (; abbreviated OKM) was the high command and the highest administrative and command authority of the ''Kriegsmarine''. It was officially formed from the ''Marineleitung'' ("Naval Command") of the ''Reichswehr'' on 11 January 1936. In 1937 it was combined with the newly formed '' Seekriegsleitung'' (SKL). There were two major re-organisations, in November 1939 and May 1944. Organization The OKM was broadly divided into six sections: * At the top was the ''Oberbefehlshaber der Marine'' (OBdM) – the Commander-in-Chief and his staff, with responsibility for liaison with the OKW, and including planning, technical, engineering, medical, economic, research, propaganda and personnel departments. * The '' Seekriegsleitung'' (SKL) ("Naval Warfare Command") was formed on 1 April 1937. Originally closely linked with both the OBdM and the ''Marinekommandoamt'', with the Commander-in-Chief (OBdM) also the Chief of the SKL, and the Chief of the ''Marinekommandoamt'' doubling as the S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harald Gelhaus
__NOTOC__ Harald Gelhaus (24 July 1915 in Göttingen – 2 December 1997 in Bochum) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. As commander of and Gelhaus is credited with the sinking of 19 ships (including ) for a total of and further damaging one ship of . Awards * Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th Class (5 April 1939)Busch & Röll 2003, p. 328. * Iron Cross (1939) ** 2nd Class (31 October 1940)Busch & Röll 2003, p. 329. ** 1st Class (24 February 1941) * U-boat War Badge (1939) (31 December 1940) * U-boat Front Clasp in Bronze (1 October 1944) * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1943 as '' Kapitänleutnant'' and commander of ''U-107''Scherzer 2007, p. 331. * War Merit Cross The War Merit Cross (german: Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was a state decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. By the end of the conflict it was issued in four degrees and had an equivalent civil award. A " de-N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
K-Verband
The K-Verband (in English "small battle unit", derived from ''Kleinkampfverbände der Kriegsmarine'' "small battle units") was a World War II German naval unit that operated a mixture of midget submarines and explosive speed boats.Tarrant, pp.35–37 It was formed in April 1944 and operated until 26 April 1945.Tarrant, pp.222–223 The miniature submarines were a mix of one and two-man craft. The Linsen explosive motorboats were operated in units of three with two boats carrying 660-800 lb of explosives and a third tasked with remotely controlling them during their final attack run. References ;Notes ;Bibliography * External links Pickles, Graham, ''The K-Verband'', The Hemlington Nautical History Society Midget submarines Military units and formations of the Kriegsmarine Military units and formations established in 1944 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 {{Germany-mil-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
29th U-boat Flotilla
29th U-boat Flotilla ("29. Unterseebootsflottille") was formed in December 1941 in La Spezia in Italy under the command of Korvettenkapitän Franz Becker Franz Becker (1 March 1918 – 26 May 1965) was a German Association football, footballer. He played with 1. FC Köln for three years between 1951 and 1954 together with Hans Schäfer, Josef Röhrig and Fritz Herkenrath in the Western league. In .... The flotilla operated mostly various marks of the Type VII U-boat and it concentrated its efforts mainly in the Mediterranean Sea, against convoys. In August 1943, the flotilla moved to Toulon, but did also have U-boats in Marseille and Salamis. The flotilla was disbanded in September 1944, when was sunk on September 19 and the two last flotilla boats and were scuttled in Salamis. Flotilla commanders U-boats assigned to the flotilla References * * 29 Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations established in 1944 La ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
23rd U-boat Flotilla
''23rd U-boat Flotilla'' ("23. Unterseebootsflottille") was a unit of Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. The flotilla was first formed in Salamis, Greece, on 11 September 1941 under the command of ''Kapitänleutnant'' Fritz Frauenheim. It operated in the eastern Mediterranean and sank 12 ships for a total of . In May 1942 the flotilla was merged into '' 29th U-boat Flotilla'', based at La Spezia, Italy. The flotilla was re-founded in September 1943 as a Training Flotilla under the command of ''Korvettenkapitän () is the lowest ranking senior officer in a number of Germanic-speaking navies. Austro-Hungary Belgium Germany Korvettenkapitän, short: KKpt/in lists: KK, () is the lowest senior officer rank () in the German Navy. Address The offi ...'' Otto von Bülow, based at Danzig. It trained new U-boat commanders in attack techniques (''Kommandantenschiesslehrgang'', "Commanders shooting training course"). The flotilla was disbanded in March 194 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
