Kriegsmarine Feldpost number

[StuGIII]

Hi,

I recently acquired a portrait photo of a member of the Kriegsmarine. On the back is stamped a feldpost number that I assume was the sailor's number. Unfortunately, there is no date, so I was wondering if someone could still help me identify what ship or base this man served on despite the lack of a date.
The number is M-01158. Thanks for any help that is given.

John

[Joe Slavick]

Befehlshaber der Sicherung Ostsee

Joe

[StuGIII]

Kriegsmarine

Hi Joe,

What does that mean exactly? I have it roughly traslated as Commander Baltic Sea, but would that mean this sailor worked for the CO of the Baltic Sea fleet or he served on a ship in that fleet?

John

[Joe Slavick]

John:

four-stripe or flag rank always has a fairly substantial staff of planners, logisticians, administrative and sundry other support functions.

Your man was assigned to the staff.

Joe

[Simon O.]

Hang on a second. To start with that Fp.number was only used by the Befehlshaber der Sicherung der Ostsee until around October 1940, secondly this was not the commander of the baltic sea but the commander of security forces in the baltic sea. In other words he was in charge of the minesweepers, subhunters, escorts and other small coastal security forces. Thirdly, there's no way you can assume the man was assigned to the staff based on the info given, he could be from a flottilla or other unit under the authority of this command.

We're going to have to see front and back shots of the photo to get anything more.

[Joe Slavick]

Outstanding clarification Simon! Thanks for putting the brakes on before I lead John down an incorrect path. Yikes!

Joe

[StuGIII]

Kriegsmarine feldpost

Hi Joe, Simon,

Here is the front of the photo in question.

[StuGIII]

Kriegsmarine feldpost

Here is the back of the photo.

[Daniele C]

01158



(Mobilmachung-1.1.1940) Befehlshaber der Sicherung der Ostsee,

(15.9.1940-31.1.1941) gestrichen,

(15.7.1942-24.1.1943) GKA-Mot. Nebenwerk 8 Eisenbahn.

[StuGIII]

Kriegsmarine feldpost number

Hi,

I'm not sure what the following mean. I understand the dates are the dates when the number was used, but the rest I don't understand.


(15.9.1940-31.1.1941) gestrichen,

(15.7.1942-24.1.1943) GKA-Mot. Nebenwerk 8 Eisenbahn.

[Larry deZeng]

You don't need to because they have absolutely nothing to do with your question. Feldpostnummern were re-used. Your M 01158 was stricken (deleted, cancelled) between 15 Sep 1940 and 31 Jan 1941 and allowed to lay unused until between 15 Jul 1942 and 24 Jan 1943 when it was reissued to what appears to be a railway workshop unit that belonged to the Heer (Army).

--Larry

[Simon O.]

Lelez should have read previous posts

The dates within brackets simply refer to a timeframe within which numbers were taken into use, went out of use or indicate a unit's change in name. Sometimes a specific date is given but often not. However, if you look closer at a unit's history you can often discover why a change occured, in this case it turns out that the Befehlshaber der sicherung der Ostsee was transferred to the West in October 1940 (ie. within the timeframe that number went out of use) and this will account for the change.

Im Oktober 1940 wurde der B.S.O mit seinem Stab als Befehlshaber der Sicherung des Westraums (BSW) nach Frankreich verlegt

http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/km/bsn-bso.htm

As to the photo. Very little we can say really other than the sailor had some connection to this authority. The lack of rank, decorations or trade patches might suggest a recruit fresh out of basic.

[Daniele C]

sorry i was miles away and i didnt even notice the posts above as when i opend the page i was at the bottom so i just answered quick

[StuGIII]

Kriegsmarine feldpost

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your help with this. I have to agree with Simon about this guy being a new guy fresh out of basic. Though you would think he'd have some sort of trade patch on his sleeve. Also, if I'm understanding you right, this photo would've been taken sometime between Jan 1, 1940, - Sept 15, 1940, and this guy was probably just some staff worker. Is that about right?