PLM winner von Mellenthin

[Jody]

Hello folks,
Does anyone have any information on this individual? I know he was in the Austrian navy in WWI. I am rather sketchy about his WWII career and what did he exactly do to win the PLM?

Thank you,
Jody

[Jody]

von Mellenthin

Here is the reverse of the photo.

Thank you,
Jody

[Erickn]

Hi Jody,

According to David Edkins book on pg.140, KaptLt. Hans von Mellenthin,
PLM 25 Feb.1918. 18th winner of the Navy UB-49. Tonnage score almost
170,000 tons for a total of 40 ships.

E.

[Jody]

von Mellenthin

Hi Jody,

According to David Edkins book on pg.140, KaptLt. Hans von Mellenthin,
PLM 25 Feb.1918. 18th winner of the Navy UB-49. Tonnage score almost
170,000 tons for a total of 40 ships.

E.

Hi Erick,
Thank you, that is very interesting.

Regards,
Jody

[Glenn2438]

Mellenthin

Jody,

Hans-Joachim v. Mellenthin was not an Austro-Hungarian but a Kaiserliche Marine officer. Born 25 March 1887 in Schivelbein, Pomerania he died on 12 June 1971 in Kiel.

He was awarded the PLM for sinking around 170,000 tons (40 ships) within a twelve month period.

He served with the Kriegsmarine from 1939-31 December 1942 when his mobilisation appointment was annulled. From July 1940 to Jan 41 he was on the staff of the Naval Transport Chief "for Special Employment" and finally employed as the Chief of Staff of the Naval Arsenal at Gotenhafen.

Regards
Glenn

[Dave Danner]

Prior to the war, Mellenthin was an instructor on the training ship SMS Württemberg. He began the war in the Ottoman Empire. He served on the Ottoman Navy torpedo cruiser Berk-i Satvet at the beginning of the war and then on January 1915 commanded an Ottoman torpedo boat flotilla. He returned to Germany for submarine school and ended up skippering the UB 11, which I believe was a training boat, as it has no credits for missions. His first operational boat was the UB 43, which he commanded from 29 August 1916 to 8 April 1917. This was in the Mediterranean as this was one of the boats being transferred to the Austro-Hungarian Navy (which may be the source of confusion). He then commanded the UB 49 from 28 June 1917 to 12 June 1918, also in the Mediterranean. He then returned to Germany as an instructor at the U-Boot School and then commanded the U-120 from 31 August 1918 to the war's end.

Entered naval service: 1 April 1906
Commissioned Leutnant zur See: ?.?.1909
Promoted Oberleutnant zur See: 19 September 1912
Promoted Kapitänleutnant: 13 July 1916
Retired from the Reichswehr 31 July 1922 and char. as Korvettenkapitän

Decorations appear to be, besides the plM and Iron Cross 1st Class:

1st row:
1. Iron Cross 2nd Class
2. Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords
3. Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Military Merit Cross 2nd Class
4. Oldenburg, Friedrich-August Cross 2nd Class [not sure on this one]
5. Austria-Hungary, Order of the Iron Crown with War Decoration
6. Austria-Hungary, Military Merit Cross 3rd Class
7. Austria-Hungary, probably a Military Merit Medal (Signum Laudis)

2nd row:
8. Honor Cross for Combatants
9. Austrian World War I Commemorative Medal for Combatants
10. Ottoman Empire, Order of Osmania with Sabers
11. Ottoman Empire, Imtiaz Medal with Sabers
12. Ottoman Empire, Liakat Medal with Sabers
13. Ottoman Empire, War Medal ("Iron Halfmoon")

[Jody]

von Mellinthin

Hi guys,
Thank you so much for that information.

Regards,
Jody

[Diesel]

Hi

Leutnant zur See 30 September 1909

Regards

Joern

[Igor Starikow]

PLM winner von Mellenthin

Hello, dear Forum members!

As I know, full Name of this Men was Hans-Joachim Wilhelm Ernst von Mellenthin.

During First World War as a Commander of UB 43 and UB 49 he made 12 patrols and sunked 56 ships with 154.401 BRT.

His Wife name was Sophie (geb. Grafin von Boddien). When they married I don`t know.

In 1923 - 1939 and 1950 - 1960 years they lived in Columbia.

He was promoted in Fahnrich zur See in ? / 1909, Korvettenkapitan in 1920 (?) and Fregattenkapitan in 1942 (?). Help me with Info about this Data.

Thanks.
Igor