Interesting KC picture lifted from the wartime Kriegsmarine magazine. We don't often see naval EMs wearing the KC. This pic looks to have been taken shortly after the awarding of the KC by Adm. Donitz.
Enjoy!
Tony
Enjoy!
Tony
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An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it.
"First ponder, then dare." von Moltke -
Great photo, thanks Tony.
Do you know if there was any caption or other info on it in the magazine?
Best regards,
---Norm -
That´s a great pic. It shows Walter Gerhold after he received his KC after sinking the ORP ( former HMS) Dragon with his Neger ( small battle unit ).
After the war he was a police officer and passed away on 2. march 2013.Comment
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Fascinating, thanks Rüdiger.Originally posted by Seewolf View Post I really wish we could have seen what was sewn on to his other sleeve!
Best regards,
---NormComment
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Hi Guys,
Indeed this is Walter Gerhold. He was the only one out of 21 Neger pilots that came back from the night mission in Normady on 7/8 July 1944 when Polish light cruiser ORP Dragon was hit and seriously damaged but not sunk - it was sunk later by the crew in "Mulberry" port to create additional breakwater.
But it was not Gerhold who hit ORP Dragon, it was done by Oberleutnant zur See Karl Heinz Potthast who was taken POW after he fired his torpedo at ORP Dragon.
Cheers,
HubertComment
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Many thanks, Hubert.
In my sources it was always told that Gerhold sunk the Dragon or at least fired his torpedo towards the ship. Where do you have your information from? Would be interesting for me
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Hi,
I've read it in Polish language sources but after checking they are all based on a book "K-Men: The Story of the German Frogmen and Midget Submarines", author C.D. Bekker where Potthast's report is cited describing the full action against ORP Dragon
But when I browse English wikipedia it says Gerhold...
Cheers,
HubertComment
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Hi again Rüdiger,
Walter Gerhold received KC for hitting and sanking the british frigate HMS Trollope on the night between July 5 and 6 but ORP Dragon was damaged by Potthast.
Few more images of Gerhold enclosed. Images come from Polish National Digital Archive.
Cheers,
HubertLast edited by BubbaZ; 05-30-2014, 01:09 AM.Comment
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more images of Gerhold.Comment
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Hi Tony,Originally posted by Tiger 1 View Post
Gerhold did not get his KC from Donitz so your picture must have been taken some time later?
The picture from his KC presentation ceremony that I posted above was described as: "Walther Gerhold German naval seaman (single-pilot craft torpedo) receives Ritterkreuz from the hands of Admiral Hellmuth Heye, July 1944".
Cheers,
HubertComment
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Note Imperial U-boat badge on the Admiral. JohnComment
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Interesting too that Gerhold wears no Kampfabzeichen der Kleinkampfverbände, not even a proficiency badge. Just his Destroyer badge presumably from previous service.
Guess they weren't worn much.
Best regards,
---NormComment
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Also look at his wiry, and probably very strong, body type. I would not think too many men could fit into that contraption. Even in the last photo as an old man, not very tall. Not fat.
JohnComment
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He sure looks like Nicholas Cage in profile, post 8.Comment
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