Kapitän z.S. Michahelles

[Oldenburg]

Hello all
I'm having a searh on Kapitän z.S. Michahelles, "seekommandant festung Gironde", if anyone can help me with photos, documents or story of him, it wil be very helpfull.
Thanks in advance
Best regards
Eric

[Denis]

Hello
Here is some info :

MICHAHELLES HANS
DoB : 18/05/1899
DoD : 14/06/1975
Last rank : KONTEADMIRAL
LAst position : KDT. Festung GIRONDE-NORD
DKiG : Not awarded
RK : 30/04/1945 (309th) as K.Adm. KDT. FST GIRONDE-NORD

Regards
Denis

[Oldenburg]

Michahelles

Hello Denis
Thank you for these informations. they are very helpfull.
I hope someone can put some photos of him.
Regards
eric

[Denis]

Bonjour
I'll have a look this evening in my Biblio Verlag book to see if more info is available. Maybe there will be a photo but I have no scanner.
Bonne soirée
Denis

[Rick Research]

Here is an unpublished photo from my collection of an "anonymous" uncaptioned coastal flak commanders' conference which I can date between 26 August and 17 December 1943 from officers I can identify.

Michahelles is standing in front row far right as Kapt zS and Commander of Sea Defenses, Gascogny (Seeverteidigung Gascogne) 26.8.43-17.4.45. He was named Festungskommandant Girondemündung-Süd (Fortress Commandant, Mouth of the Gironde, South) 29.9.-8.10.44, and same only "North" 9.10.44-17.4.45. He was a prisoner of war in France until 2 August 1950.

You are welcome to use this for your own personal use but contact me if any other use is intended please.

[Oldenburg]

Hello rick
Thank you for the photos, nice to see that kind of unpublished photos.
Is the conference situated in France?
Regards
Eric

[Rick Research]

It must have been. The officers who are identifiable by me were all from Norman, Channel Islands, and west coast of France flak assignments under the Luftwaffe CO looking annoyed in the middle there.

[Denis]

Hello
Nice photo, Rick. Thanks for sharing it.
Here are some details about Michahelles

Promotions
15/02/18 Fänhrich zS
30/07/20 Lt. zS
01/04/23 Oblt. zS
01/04/30 Kaptlt.
01/01/36 Korv.Kapt.
27/08/39 Freg.Kapt.
01/04/41 Kap. zS
01/10/44 K.Adm.

Assignments (prewar assignments are not included but can be provided if you really need them, I was too lazy to rewrite them)
06/05/38-23/08/43 : OKM, Marinewehramt, Generalreferent für den Offiziernachwuchs
05/41-07/41 : AOK 12, Marineverbindungsoffizier (Athen)
23/08/43-17/04/45 : Seeverteidigung Gascogne, Kommandant
29/09/44-08/10/44 : zugleich Girondemündung-Süd, Festungskommandant
09/10/44-17/04/45 : zugleich Girondemündung-Nord, Festungskommandant
17/04/45 : Französische Kriegsgefangenschaft

Awards
10/12/25 : Chilenischer Verdienstorden 3. Kl.
07/11/34 : Ehrenkreuz f. Frontkampfer
02/10/36 : Dienstauszeichnung IV. Kl.
02/10/36 : Dienstauszeichnung III. Kl.
02/10/36 : Dienstauszeichnung II. Kl.
20/04/42 : Bulgarischer St. Alexanderorden IV. Kl. m. Schwertern am ring, Bulgarischer Miltärverdienstorden III. Kl. m. Kriegsdekoration
He also was awarded the following awards but no date is provided for them :
Kriegsabz. für die Marineartillerie
KVK II. Kl. m. Schwertern
KVK I. Kl. m. Schwertern

He was present at the German forces surrender meeting in Royan and Le Verdon at the end of April, 1945.

2 photos are displayed in Biblio Verlag's "Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht - Surface Fleet" volume 2 (one with the KM blue jacket, the other with the KM Feldgrau Coastal Art. uniform) but I have no possibility to scan them. Maybe another fellow forum member might do that.
Regards
Denis

[polux]

Michahelles

Bonsoir Eric,

Voici deux images relatives à votre recherche sur Michahelles. Ces images ont été publiées dans un superbe article écrit par M. Alain Chazette, "1944-1945 Les redditions des poches allemandes sur les côtes françaises", 39-45 Magazine n° 149, novembre 1998.

La première image présente le Konteradmiral Michahelles peu après sa reddition le 17 avril 1945 dans son PC de Pontaillac près de Royan. Il est surveillé par des gendarmes français et interrogé par un journaliste. Il est encore vêtu d'un uniforme de Kapitän. Compte tenu de l'encerclement de la Festung Royan, il n'a pas pu se faire envoyer un uniforme digne de son nouveau grade. (photo ECPA).

Cordiales salutations.


Good evening Eric,

Here are two images relative to your research on Michahelles. These images were published in a magnificent article written by Mr. Alain Chazette, "1944-1945 The surrenders of the German pockets on the French coasts", 39-45 Magazine n° 149, in November, 1998.

The first image presents the Konteradmiral Michahelles after its surrender on April 17, 1945 in its Pontaillac PC near Royan. He is watched by French policemen and interrogated by a journalist. He is still dressed in a Kapitän zur See feldgrau uniform. Considering the encirclement of the Festung Royan, he was not able to be sent a dignified uniform of the new rank. (Photo ECPA)

Cordial greetings.

Polux
______________

Post Tenebras Lux

[polux]

Michahelles

La seconde image présente la première page du Soldbuch du Konteradmiral Michahelles. On peut noter sa nomination au grade de Konteradmiral en date du 1 octobre 1944. (coll. Genet)

The second image presents the front page of the Soldbuch of the Konteradmiral Michahelles. One can note its appointment in the rank of Konteradmiral on October 1, 1944. (Coll. Genet)

Polux
_______________

Post Tenebras Lux

[Oldenburg]

Michahelles

Cher Pollux
Merci pour ces deux photos quim'aident dans mes recherches.

Dear Poluux
Thank you for these photos which helpme for my search.
Does someone else has photo of Michahelles in front of a car?
Regards
eric

[Denis]

et moi, j'ai pas le droit à mon merci ???!!!


One of the photo I previously mentioned was taken in the same time that the one shown by Polux, just afer his surrender. It's however in bad quality and shows less details.
Regards
Denis

[Oldenburg]

Merci Denis

Thanks for all these informations, they are very helpfull.
If you have more photos or any informations which can help me , they will be welcome.
Thanks
Best regards
eric