Kapitänleutnant Johannes-Martin Döpper DKIG holder

[JamesT]

Good day Gentlemen,

I realise that this isn't quite the right place to post this as it isn't an award but it doesn't fit the Paper section either.

Basically I just want some more information about this album that appears to have been presented to Kapitänleutnant Döpper by his crew. My German is not up to any more than the most basic of translations. The album consists of 15 pages of hand written & drawn content which appear to be various stories or incidents relating to his command. The pages are held together by cord between two thin wooden covers.

I assume that the design on the front refers to the boat / ship. 624 or perhaps a letter (S?)64. Any thoughts?

Cursory research says that he was awardee the DKIG 9 Sep 43.

I think it is a lovely thing.

Best

James

[JamesT]

There are references to Bolzen (Bolt) and Bolzenschmiede (screw forging). Is Bolzen German navy slang for something?

[JamesT]

A friend with some more knowledge of german with me suggested some of the stories are pretty raunchy.

I wonder why the hat is being bashed?

[JamesT]

Two more pages. Presumably some time was spent in North Africa.

I wonder why he is floating above the table. That is the last page.

This is all hand drawn and hand written.

What do you folks think?

[compressore]

Hello James,
very nice pages.

A "Bolzen" is the navy name for "to play a trick on someone", a "prank".

During the training of officer candidates, the crews were split up in sections.
It was a "sport" that the sections were thinking about a "Bolzen" and tried to overtrump each other with a good one.
A good "Bolzen" was an part of the tradition and very well accepted and encouraged by the commanding officers.

The "Bolzenschmiede" referred in post no 2 is the "think-tank" were the cadets sitting by night in conspiracy to create a good idea for a prank.

When I saw the pictures, I recognized parts of the stories.

The "Bolzen" described herein were done by the crew X/1944 as described in their yearbook, issued 1997.
They created a theater play, placed in the environment of the stories of "Tales of the 1000 and one night, Arabian Nights" where the officers had to play harem women and other weird roles (not related in any kind to service in Africa).

The last picture is describing a bet. The cadets proposed to collect 10000 Reichsmark for the "Winterhilfswerk" in a short given time.
If they would win, the price was that the cadets could changed roles with their commanding officers for one day. The officers agreed and.... the cadets won.

Results: As seen in the picture.

The cadet is commanding the officer to make some famous 'push-ups". He is floating as he has to clap his hands during the push-ups.

I will look later today if I can find the school and training section as well as Doeppers relation to this.

Wonderful Album !

Regards
Christian

[compressore]

Crew x/43

Hello,

I stand corrected: Its Crew X/43, the bet was 6000 RM (but they achieved 10000 RM)


Facts:

Marinekriegsschule Heiligenhafen (Navy War School)
Course for ensigns of the engineer career from 1st August 1944 until 31st December 1944

Divided in two divisions
Commander 1st division KKapt. Ing Klemm
Company Chief of 2nd company of the 1st division: KpLt Ing. Doepner

Each company had groups which were numbered.
You album is from group G 24 (Group leader Lt. Brockmeyer) as shown on the cover page.

Pictures from you album are in the Crew Book "Chronik of the Crew X/43"
I am sure it was a gift from G24 to their commanding officer.

[compressore]

Commander

Commander KKpt. Klemm, accompanied by his "harem" from the "thousand and one night"

[JamesT]

Hi Christian

You are an absolute star. Thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to find out so much about this album.

This is definitely hand drawn and painted so it is really interesting to see some of the pictures reproduced in "Chronik of the Crew X/43"

Am I correct in thinking that the X designation is for a mine layer?

All the best

James

[compressore]

Hello James,
Nothing to thank for, its fun to research and find out something.

KM officers courses were numbered with roman numbers.

X/43 stands for the 10th officers course 1943.


Regards
Christian