Though not really my collecting area, this Soldbuch sure caught my attention.
Herbert Kownatzky entered the Kriegsmarine in May 1942. After basic training he joined the 22. U-Jagdflottille in Marseille, France. In April 1943, the Flottille moved to Genova, Italy. There, Kownatzky became a crew member aboard the U-Jäger 2223, also known as Marangone - it was an ex-Italian corvette. Patrolling with this vessel, he earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse in May 1943, and the Minensuch-Abzeichen in December 1943.
On 18th of April 1944, Kownatzky and his comrades succeeded in sinking an allied submarine south of Rapallo. But in the night of the 23rd of May 1944, things went very wrong for the crew of the Marangone. The ship was attacked by American motor torpedo boats PT 202, PT 213 and PT 218 off the coast of Vada, part of Rosignano Marittimo, in the Livorno province (Tuscany). This MTB group commanded by Lt. Cdr. R. A. Allan (RNVR) succeeded in sinking the Marangone and two smaller vessels. The Marangone broke into three parts by the American torpedoes and now rests at a depth of 68 metres, with a crew of 41 casualties inside. By some miracle (I am not familiar with the number of survivors, but there could not have been that many!), Kownatzky lost his original Soldbuch, but not his life that night. Perhaps he was picked up by the UJ 2222 'Tuffeto', which was badly damaged in the same attack, but succeeded into getting back to the Livorno coast. Either way, Kownatzky was wounded in the attack and earned the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. A lengthy youtube video of a diving investigation of the Marangone can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-kVxzTVr7M
As he made it back ashore, Kownatzky spent three weeks in hospital, and then within a few days was issued this new Zweitschrift Soldbuch, awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, issued a whole new set of tropical clothing, and sent on a last leave home. A few months later, he was also paid 150 RM. in compensation of his personal belongings lost aboard the Marangone. When he returned to the 22. U-Jagdflottille, he was asigned to a new ship, the U-Jäger 2227, also known as Persefone, very similar to the lost Marangone. With this ship, he finished the war patrolling in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, until the ship was finally sunk by its commander in the port of Genova, on April 24rd, 1945. Three days later, on April 27th, 1945, around 19 hours in the evening the Americans had catched up with the Flottille in Genova and Kownatzky was taken POW.
After his release from captivity, Kownatzky returned to his peaceful life in his birth town Gustavsburg, where he passed away earlier this year. Unfortunately the Soldbuch only made his way to me when his house was cleared; I was not able to talk to him about his war experiences.
The grouping has a number of photos as well, but I will stick to the Soldbuch. Hope you enjoy the scans.
Herbert Kownatzky entered the Kriegsmarine in May 1942. After basic training he joined the 22. U-Jagdflottille in Marseille, France. In April 1943, the Flottille moved to Genova, Italy. There, Kownatzky became a crew member aboard the U-Jäger 2223, also known as Marangone - it was an ex-Italian corvette. Patrolling with this vessel, he earned the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse in May 1943, and the Minensuch-Abzeichen in December 1943.
On 18th of April 1944, Kownatzky and his comrades succeeded in sinking an allied submarine south of Rapallo. But in the night of the 23rd of May 1944, things went very wrong for the crew of the Marangone. The ship was attacked by American motor torpedo boats PT 202, PT 213 and PT 218 off the coast of Vada, part of Rosignano Marittimo, in the Livorno province (Tuscany). This MTB group commanded by Lt. Cdr. R. A. Allan (RNVR) succeeded in sinking the Marangone and two smaller vessels. The Marangone broke into three parts by the American torpedoes and now rests at a depth of 68 metres, with a crew of 41 casualties inside. By some miracle (I am not familiar with the number of survivors, but there could not have been that many!), Kownatzky lost his original Soldbuch, but not his life that night. Perhaps he was picked up by the UJ 2222 'Tuffeto', which was badly damaged in the same attack, but succeeded into getting back to the Livorno coast. Either way, Kownatzky was wounded in the attack and earned the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. A lengthy youtube video of a diving investigation of the Marangone can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-kVxzTVr7M
As he made it back ashore, Kownatzky spent three weeks in hospital, and then within a few days was issued this new Zweitschrift Soldbuch, awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, issued a whole new set of tropical clothing, and sent on a last leave home. A few months later, he was also paid 150 RM. in compensation of his personal belongings lost aboard the Marangone. When he returned to the 22. U-Jagdflottille, he was asigned to a new ship, the U-Jäger 2227, also known as Persefone, very similar to the lost Marangone. With this ship, he finished the war patrolling in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, until the ship was finally sunk by its commander in the port of Genova, on April 24rd, 1945. Three days later, on April 27th, 1945, around 19 hours in the evening the Americans had catched up with the Flottille in Genova and Kownatzky was taken POW.
After his release from captivity, Kownatzky returned to his peaceful life in his birth town Gustavsburg, where he passed away earlier this year. Unfortunately the Soldbuch only made his way to me when his house was cleared; I was not able to talk to him about his war experiences.
The grouping has a number of photos as well, but I will stick to the Soldbuch. Hope you enjoy the scans.
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