Gordon Williamson

The Erich Koellner is part of the Destroyer fleet which is sent in to Narvik. Here she is active in both the First Battle of Narvik, which she survives. In the Second Battle however she is attackled by both British Destroyers and the Battleship Warspite and sunk with heavy loss of life.

Weyel ends up a POW in Norwegian captivity, but not for long as Norway surrenders. He then ends up for a while on Minesweeping duties around the Norwegian coast before moving to new duties.

Weyel is posted to the Destroyer "Erich Koellner" and by the outbreak of war has reach the rank of Maschinenobergefreiter

Military Service commences 1 December 1937.

He does his basic infantry training, like all sailors, with the rifle, qualifying on the G98, and is trained as an engine room mechanic.

Did his 6months service with the RAD, then volunteered for the Navy.

One of my favourite sets.

Erich Weyel, Born 13 July 1918. Ordinary lad, no special education, just Volksschule, registered for military service just before his 18th Birthday, on 3 July 1936.

Reverse Close Up.

Close up obverse. Design as for 8th Class but inlaid with green enamel on the leaves and purple on the flowers.

Seventh grade.

Reverse. Design identical to 8th Class

Close up obverse. Gilded finish except for silver mirror in centre.

Here is the 7th Grade.

No problems here, case and cross both OK

The KMST marked EK1s are amongst the most desirable 1914 pieces. The one you have is extremely rare. I have heard it suggested that this particular fitting was designed to somehow fit on the Cuirasse breastplate worn by elite units such as the Garde-du-Corps.

I have seen this particular type fetching insane prices.

Korvettenkapit?n Felix Zymalkowski. 8 S-Boot Flotille

Oberleutnant Siegfried Wuppermann, 3 S-Boot Flotille

Oberleutnant Karl-Friedrich Kunzel. 2nd Pattern E-Boat Badge.

Kapit?nleutnant Kurt Fimmen, 1st Pattern E-Boat Badge

Nice colour photo of Oberleutnant Klaus Feldt, with 1st Pattern E-Boat Badge

Kapit?nleutnant Birnbacher 1 S-Flotille

Some of the Ritterkreuztr?ger of the E-Boats.

First, Kapit?nleutnant Hermann B?chting, 1-S-Flotille.

Nice view of 1st Pattern E-Boat badge

Michel,

Here is the reverse view of the hand made badge from U-377.

Posted for Christophe

Very nice and interesting document indeed !

Very nice ! I believe L-W was one of the "old-school" officers, a true sailor who learned his craft, as they say " before the mast " on sailing ships.

Craig,

I'm afraid its not an early one. Early pieces used left over wartime parts and will have a backplate with recessed portions for the hinge block and retaining hook. They also have wider pins, more reminiscent in shape of an Iron Cross pin.

Early 57 pieces may well have been issued in leftover wartime cases, but the cases made specifically for 57 pieces were actually horrible things made in plastic and with foam inserts, just like you'd see with cheaper jewellery.

The point about smaller acorns set further down the stem of the twig is really only particularly usefull at dating 57 Knights Crosses, not the other grades.

Kapit?nleutnant (Ing) Otto Erich Z?rn

L.I. U-48

Knights Cross 23 April 1941