Kriegsmarine Some photo's

[Laurence Strong]

I rec'd these from VtwinVince today.

The first one had his name on the back so it was easy to ID

Engelbert Endrass

Kapit?nleutnant (Crew 34)

Successes

19 ships sunk for a total of 81.164 GRT

2 auxiliary warships sunk for a total of 35.284 GRT

4 ships damaged for a total of 25.491 GRT

1 ship a total loss for a total of 2.080 GRT

Born 2 Mar, 1911 Bamberg

Died 21 Dec, 1941 Northeast of Azores

Ranks

1 Jul, 1935 F?hnrich zur See

1 Jan, 1937 Oberf?hnrich zur See

1 Apr, 1937 Leutnant zur See

20 Apr, 1939 Oberleutnant zur See

2 Jul, 1941 Kapit?nleutnant

Decorations

6 Jun, 1939 Spanish Cross

25 Sep, 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class

17 Oct, 1939 Iron Cross 1st Class

19 Dec, 1939 U-boat War Badge

5 Sep, 1940 Knights Cross

10 Jun, 1941 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves

18 Jul, 1941 U-boat War Badge with Diamonds

U-boat Commands

U-46 22 May, 1940 - 24 Sep, 1941 8 patrols (187 days)

U-567 15 Oct, 1941 - 21 Dec, 1941 (+) 2 patrols (35 days)

Engelbert Endra? began his naval career in April 1935. Like Prien and Metzler, he had previously spent some years in the merchant navy. After some months on the cruiser Deutschland and some escort ships, he was assigned in October 1937 to the U-boat force. He joined U-47 in December 1938 as Leutnant z. See. Endra? was IWO when G?nther Prien made his famous Scapa Flow attack and sank the HMS Royal Oak.

It was Endra? who painted the famous snorting bull emblem on U-47's conning tower before they returned.

He remained on U-47 until December 1939, when he left the U-boat and after some training courses took over command of U-46, another type VIIB U-boat, in May 1940 from the luckless commander Herbert Sohler.

His first patrol with U-46 was very successful. Endra? sank five ships for a total of 35,347 tons, including the British auxiliary cruiser Carinthia of 20,277 tons. His second patrol on U-46 was also a great success. Although the main (attack) periscope was damaged, he sank five ships for a total of 27,038 tons, including another British auxiliary cruiser, the Dunvegan Castle of 15,007 tons. After returning from this patrol Engelbert Endra? received the Knights Cross. Five patrols later he received the Oak Leaves. In September 1941 he left U-46 and a month later took over the Type VIIC U-boat U-567.

Endra? was killed on 21 December, 1941, when U-567 was sunk with all hands (47 men) by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Deptford and the corvette HMS Samphire northeast of the Azores at 44.02N, 20.10W.

On 31 March, 1942 (three months after his death) the daily Wehrmachtsbericht announced:

".....The U-boat under command of Kapit?nleutnant Endra?, recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, has not returned from patrol. An outstanding U-boat commander is on an eternal patrol with his brave crew...."

All info copied from http://uboat.net/

Edited June 14, 2007 by Laurence Strong

[Laurence Strong]

Next is a Kommodore

[Laurence Strong]

Last is an RKT, I cant tell the rank, though the braid on the cap indicates Admiral rank.

Any help IDing these 2 gents would be appreciated.

[Guest Rick Research]

#2 Friedrich Bonte

born 19 October 1896 Potsdam, killed in action 10 April 1940 at Narvik harbor aboard destroyer "Wilhelm Heidkamp." Posthumous Knight's Cross. Kommodore (of destroyers) 1 November 1939.

#3 is a familiar shot but I missed him flipping through the admirals' biographies.

[Laurence Strong]

Thanks Rick. Greatly appreciated.

[Gordon Williamson]

Number 3 is Generaladmiral Otto Schniewind, head of the fleet (Flottenchef) from 41 to 44.

[Laurence Strong]

Thanks for your help Gordon