Monsun

commission of U 178 (picture 1)

another picture of Kapit?n z.S. Ibbeken (look the position of the u-boat badge)

reverse (what manufacturer?)

the only u-boat badge with screw back I know...

reverse

Kapit?n zur See Ibbeken likes screw backs...

Hello, today I want to show you some interesting awards, belonged to Kapit?n zur See Hans Ibbeken (Crew IV/18) He was born on 20 Sep. 1899 in Schleswig. Died on 1 Sep, 1971. From 08.36 - 10.37 he was commander of U 27, from 10.37 - 09.39 cdr. of the u-flotilla Saltzwedel and F.d.U. West. From 09.39 - 11.41 he was cdr. of the "Unterseebootsschule in Pillau" (U.L.D.). Later he was cdr. of U 178 (02.42-02.43), cdr. of the Torpedoschule M?rwik and 1945 "Wehrmachtskommandant Kiel" and "Seekommandant Seeverteidigung Schleswig Holstein". comments welcome.... first a picture of Kapit?n zur See Hans Ibbeken

U 219 left Bordeaux under the command of Walter Burghagen on 23rd Aug 1944 and after more than fifteen weeks arrived at Batavia on 11th Dec 1944. U 219 was a late monsun-boat! But Mechanikerobergefreite Helber must leave the boat before and goes to the u-boat school in Pl?n. There he was awarded at the 9. Nov. 1944 with the "U-Boots-Frontspange in Bronze". Interesting is, that Helber never get the EK 1 or EK 2 befor he get the u-boat clasp!

Here are an other document for the same contest, a little smaller then the first, but with the emblem of the 12. u-boatflotilla on top!

But here are the really rare document! The 1. place in "100m Brustschwimmen" at a swimming competiton at the 12. Uflo. in bordeaux! Please look at the date (25.6.1944). The Invasion in france are going on and the german navy make swimming contests?

U 219 arrived the 12. Uflo. at Bordeaux on 1st Jan 1944, after a over ten weeks patrol under Korvettenkapit?n Walter Burghagen. This was the third patrol of U 219 and Mechanikerobergefreite Helber get the "Ubootskriegsabzeichen".

This photo shows U 219 with camouflage in Stettin. I think the photo was taken from the deck of the german aircraftcarrier "Graf Zeppelin". The carrier was at this time also in the harbour of Stettin.

In the year 1942 he enter the german navy. After his navy basic training he get a crew member of U 219. U 219 was commissioned by Korvkpt. Walter Burghagen at the 12th Dec 1942.

He was also the winner of a swimming competition in the "Hitlerjugend" in the year 1941

Kurt Helber was a very good swimmer! First his document from the "Jugendwettk?mpfe 1939", the 2. place in "100m Brustschwimmen" (1 min 34 sec).

Hello, today I want to show you a new u-boat group from my collection. Mechanikerobergefreiter Kurt Helber from U 219.

...with signature at the rear side of the photo.

And a large framed photo from U 37 - a christmas present 1940 from the cdr. Nico Clausen...

ship sunk...

tankship hit...

action...

Here are a few examples from the album... Paul Denkner in leather clothes...

Hello Mike, no, there where no Awards available. But a very nice and rare "U 37 Westward Ho"-photo album with over 200 photos from the boat and the crew.

Hello Simon, congratulations for your U 37 - U 107 "Hans Hempel"-group! Please look at my post "U-boat grouping U 37, U 508" Here are also a early U-Boat badge award document belong to "Paul Wirtz", a member of U 34. The document was framed behind glass, so the sun had "lightend" the "D?nitz" signature. On the 17th Oct 1939, U-34 left Wilhelmshaven under the command of Wilhelm Rollmann and returned to Wilhelmshaven on 12th Nov 1939 after more than three weeks on patrol. It was the second war patrol of U 34. Wilhelm Rollmann hit five ships on this patrol, two of these ships were in convoy: One was from convoy HX-5A and one was from convoy OB-25.

And this was the end only two months later. U-508 left St. Nazaire under the command of Georg Staats on 9th Nov 1943. The boat was sunk at the 12 Nov 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Ortegal, Spain, by depth charges from a US Liberator aircraft (VB-103/C). 57 dead (all hands lost).