U-Boot stuff

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here are 2 EK1 docs to 2 different U-Boot flottilles.

The first one is a reminder tha the "heroes" of our collections were in fact involved in some pretty untasteful actions.

Our man served on Lt Wilhelm Werners U55.
On April 8th 1917 Werner sank the Steamship Torrington. The survivors were ordered out of the lifeboats and onto the deck of the U55, the lifeboats destroyed. The captain of the steamer was sent down below, the life jackets were taken from the survivors.... then Werner submerged, leaving the 20 crewmen still standing on his deck...there were no survivors.
4 days later he did the same to the crew members of the steamer "toro".

In January 1918 he torpedoed the Clearly marked hospital ship "Rewa", luckily all 279 patients were saved.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I have posted this one before, but just for comparrison

[Rick Research]

The infamous Pour le Merite war criminal and later SS officer Wilhelm Werner may be found here

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...24&postcount=6

and a couple of other posts as well in that thread. He commanded U-55 from March 1915 through the end of the war, so your Petty Officer was STILL under his command when his EK1 came through, and may well have been present aboard during Werner's earlier murders.

The signature is that of Erich "von Rosenberg"-Gruszczynski, who apparently got tired writing all that out and was afraid he might flub the spelling. Born 20.9.1881 and died between 1939 and 1960 (out of navy or zV by 1944). Imperial navy 7.4.00-20.8.19, receiving the Hohenzollern HOX as sub commander--

CO "U30" (4/II) August 1914-July 1915
CO "U 67" (IV) July 1915-March 1916 and
Commander IInd Submarine Flotilla March 1916 to end of the war, at which point it was based on Helgoland island with steamer "Sophie" as HQ, tender and fishing trawler "Seelöwe," torpedo-boats T36, T161, T142, and T159 as base security, and submarines

U: 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 60, 62, 100, 101, 102 and

UB: 62, 64, 89 (accidentally run over and sunk by SMS "Frankfurt" 21.10.18, 7 dead), 90 (torpedoed by RN sub "L12" 16.10.18, all 38 killed), 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, and 97. Except UB 89 and 90, all subs survived to be surrendered.

Von R was promoted KKzS 28.4.18 S so he had a lot on his hands.

He was the son in law of General der Artillerie Constanz von Heineccius. Von R's widow Barbara remained active in the MOHeV after his death.

[Rick Research]

The second document, implausible as it "reads" was signed by KKzS (17.3.18) Georg PRAUSE, born 22.5.1881, navy 1900-1919 and again as an (E) officer of the Kriegsmarine, reaching Kapt zS (E) 1.4.39 #13, still that rank as of September 1944, and retired in that rank. Alive 1963, but dead by 1980.

He was already commanding the pre-war 4th Uboat half Flotilla in 1914, then commanded the IVth Uboat Flotilla throughout the entire war, receiving a HHOX.

Based in Emden, with steamer "Rugia," torpedo boats T164 and T44 at war's end, with the following submarines, all of "U" prefix--

69, 70, 82, 86, 94, 96, 97, 98, 105, 107, 108, 111, 112, 113, 114, 160, 161, 162 and 163. NONE of these submarines was lost in action. All were surrendered.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Rick,

You are a star.

I am assuming that a certain team spirit was fostered in Uboot crews and that crews stayed together for longer periods. Also that the men in question served on the boots for longer periods of time to warrent an EK1 (EK1s not being standard fare for other ranks in WW1).

Of course, it sounds a bit morbid to hope my guy was indeed serving onboard when Werner did the naughties, but the history adds to the interest of the document.

You forgot to mention Werners favourite colour.....

[Dave Danner]

The signature is that of Erich "von Rosenberg"-Gruszczynski, who apparently got tired writing all that out and was afraid he might flub the spelling. Born 20.9.1881 and died between 1939 and 1960 (out of navy or zV by 1944). Imperial navy 7.4.00-20.8.19, receiving the Hohenzollern HOX as sub commander--

Von Rosenberg is the grandfather of one of my best friends. Small world.

[Rick Research]

And someone from the family, recently deceased, was, I believe, the "senior" officer picked up from the "Bismarck."

[Gerd Becker]

Very interesting and sad story. I have never heard about this U-boot and its war-crimes.

Thanks for sharing, Chris.

best,
Gerd

[rhudspith]

IV U-Flott

Posted before but added for interest,

Doc for U-boat badge to the IV U-Flott date of the award just before the end of the war on the 6th Nov but the doc issued after on the 20th. Note rference to the T-164, presumably all the U-boats had been siezed by then.

Rob.

[Rick Research]

"T164" was the "Flotilla Leader" vessel, so = the "St.Qu." of an army unit.

Kaptlt zS Heinrich "Middendorff" (b. 1884 d. 1963-80) served in the navy 1902-20, being discharged as a KorvKapt zS. He had been Adjutant of Marinekorps Flandern November 1914 to June 1917, then transferred to submarine training, where his rank started him out as a Uboat commander. He was the CO of "U 82" in the IVth Submarine Flotilla from March 1918 until the end of the war.

Hans Arps was born 13 July 1896 and served in the navy 18.8.14 to 18.6.19, being commissioned Leutnant zS 20.2.17/12.10.16. He went to Uboat School April-May 1916, and then served as a Watch Officer aboard U's 30, 53, 96, and finally U 90. As of February 1918 he was shown with the EK2.

My elephant notes indicate that THIS document was up for sale in Manion's, September 1995.

Arps lived in Asuncion, Paraguay (I know what you're thinking! Hold it....)





between 1928 and 1935 (ha!),


then back Germany to serve in (where else would a SUBMARINE officer go?)


the AIR FORCE,

as Hauptmann (E) and Signals Chief at the Jever, Oldenburg military airfield in 1937, a Major (E) on staff of the Jever Airfield Commander by 1939, and retired at the end of WW2 as a Luftwaffe Oberst, remaining in retirement in Jever. He died between 1963 and 1980, and his widow Käthe was still living in 1983, on the rolls of the Naval Officers Association (MOHeV, formerly MOV), where Arps had been a founding member (#13 in the original MOV).