Korvetenkapitan Meyhoeffer's Tunic

[Norm F]

A few other details on Franz Meyhoeffer from the internet:

Date of Birth: Jan 14, 1910 in Berlin
promotion to Korvettenkapitän: June 1, 1943

28 May 1940-21 Jun 1940 he was 3. Admiralstabsoffizier to the Kommandierender Admiral West (Kapitänleutnant)

June 1940- August 1940 3. Admiralstabsoffizier to the Kommandierender Admiral Frankreich (Kapitänleutnant)

(gap in the timeline: Maybe he qualified for the Krim Shield in this time but it's quite a detour from the other postings? Maybe that was an add-on to the tunic along with the Admiral's stripes?)

From Ron's info he must have become a Sperroffizier and Waffenleiter of the light FLAK artillery in 1942 and/or early 1943 and he must have been still a Kapitänleutnant at that time.

March 1943 - Mar 1944 he was Kommandeur of the 17. Schiffsstammabteilung (Korvettenkapitän)

Mar 27, 1944 until the end of the war he was in charge of the 2. Schiffsstammabteilung (training cadre) first in Stralsund and then in Mürwik. (Korvettenkapitän)

Unless of course there were two officers by the same name confusing things...

Best regards,
---Norm

[JustinG]

Would be interesting to know where his medal bar went?

Regards,
JustinG

[Norm F]

Hi Ron,

Just a thought. Since you know you have a nice original tunic of Korvettenkapitän Meyhoeffer with spuriously applied Admiral's stripes, why not at least remove those wide stripes, thus leaving the presumably original 3 Korvettenkapitän's stripes to restore its honest look? If further research can rule out any service in the Crimean, then you could remove that Krim Shield as well. It's also quite possible that it originally had a nicer bullion eagle - perhaps you can tell with closer scrutiny of the material. Just my thoughts, but I think there's nothing to lose and it would look better and better serve the memory of this officer?

Best regards,
---Norm

[Leroy]

Mar 27, 1944 until the end of the war he was in charge of the 2. Schiffsstammabteilung (training cadre) first in Stralsund and then in Mürwik. (Korvettenkapitän)

The Rangliste shows him as "Verstorben" (deceased), so he must have died at some point during his last posting. No cause stated and he would only have been in his mid-30's.

He was commissioned in 1930 and so would have had at least a Naval long service ribbon on his ribbon bar.

Seeing this uniform being sold in 1989 as an Admiral's tunic, with the original name tag still inside, should show how little anyone really researched anything then (or how few resources were available). Glad that's changed.......

[km-spain]

Hi Ron,

Just a thought. Since you know you have a nice original tunic of Korvettenkapitän Meyhoeffer with spuriously applied Admiral's stripes, why not at least remove those wide stripes, thus leaving the presumably original 3 Korvettenkapitän's stripes to restore its honest look? If further research can rule out any service in the Crimean, then you could remove that Krim Shield as well. It's also quite possible that it originally had a nicer bullion eagle - perhaps you can tell with closer scrutiny of the material. Just my thoughts, but I think there's nothing to lose and it would look better and better serve the memory of this officer?

Best regards,
---Norm

Norm, I agree with you but IMO the problem is that Ron would have to move all the rank stripes, all were moved to placed the Admiral one.

[Norm F]

Norm, I agree with you but IMO the problem is that Ron would have to move all the rank stripes, all were moved to placed the Admiral one.

Hi Eduardo,

I thought of that but I'm not convinced the three narrow stripes were moved. When you look at other examples they were often set that high. Someone may have simply added the broad stripe below?

Best regards,
---Norm

[PaulChep]

His career details are highlighted in the book "Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939-1940" by Lohmann/Hildebrand. This book is the third volume in the series and has over 3000 bios. The book has been reprinted and I have several copies if anyone is interested. This book is a must for serious KM collectors.

[48RMC]

Hi Eduardo,

I thought of that but I'm not convinced the three narrow stripes were moved. When you look at other examples they were often set that high. Someone may have simply added the broad stripe below?

Best regards,
---Norm

I thought the same Norm
Christian

[RonR]

Will try to post some more detailed photos of the sleeves as time permits...

Best regards,

[RonR]

Sleeve details......




........................

[RonR]

,.,.

[km-spain]

Ron thanks for these new pics, IMO all of the rings were sewned at same time, so you had to move all of them to restore it.

[Leroy]

Ron thanks for these new pics, IMO all of the rings were sewned at same time, so you had to move all of them to restore it.

I agree. Interesting that this would be the case with a "promoted" tunic.

[dcdefend]

Naval Tunic

If you are looking to remove the Admiral stripe and get the Korvettenkapitan stripes right, the bottom stripe needs to be 7.5cm from the end of the sleeve and the stripes separated by 3mm. Angolia, Kriegsmarine, Vol 1, p. 164. A tailor will have to open the sleeve lining to do it right. That's what I'd do. John

[Richard P]

The rank on the sleeves looks professionally tailored. Is it possible another officer purchased this uniform and had the rank upgraded for himself? Just honestly asking.

Richard