DDD777

Major Ernst Zorn * 30.10.1907 + 07.10.1943 DKiG - 23.02.1943 http://www.ww2awards.com/person/21410

Thank you Dan, my pleasure! A little be more info about GL : ,,During the Second World War, the Wehrmacht’s ethnic Georgian Legion was formed from émigrés living in Western Europe after the 1921 Soviet invasion of Georgia, combined with Soviet prisoners of war of Georgian origin who were enlisted, while facing certain death from starvation, disease, forced labor and brutality in POW camps. Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, though they never reached Soviet Georgia. The Georgian Legion was formed in December 1941. The Georgians trained in the western Ukraine and became operational in the autumn of 1942. At least 30,000 Georgians served in the Nazi armed forces. The Georgians served in thirteen field battalions of up to 800 men, each made up of five companies. Georgians were also found in the Wehrmacht's North Caucasian Legion and in other Caucasian ethnic legions. The Georgian military formations were commanded by Schalwa Maglakelidse, Michel-Fridon Zulukidse, Col. Solomon Nicholas Zaldastani and other officers formerly of the Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918-21). This venture was largely hampered by the intervention of Alfred Rosenberg. Adolf Hitler himself was greatly suspicious of the Georgian and other Soviet battalions. Across Europe, especially in Italy and France, many Georgian soldiers of the Wehrmacht deserted and joined local Resistance Movements. Eventually, some of the ethnic Georgian units were disbanded and their officers repressed. Many Georgians under Nazi domination were saved only by the intervention of Alexander Nikuradze, Michael Achmeteli, and some other Georgian scholars who were held in high esteem in Germany.[1] As a result of Hitler’s distrust of Osttruppen ("Eastern Troops"), the remaining Georgian battalions were moved west to occupation duties in the Netherlands. With the western allies driving into Germany, the Texel-based 822nd Georgian battalion rebelled against their German overlords. The resulting battle, sometimes described as Europe's last battle, continued from April 5, 1945 past the general German surrender, until May 20. This event is known as the Georgian Uprising of Texel.'' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrc7oOpqL8g

Claus Gustav Friedrich Louis Jacob http://www.ww2awards.com/person/14682

Georgian Uprising of Texel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Uprising_of_Texel

In this capacity he must have been involved in the surpressing of the 5th of April 45 uprising of the russian ( Georgian Legion ) troops on the island !.

Due to the allied invasion at Normandy, the unit was disbanded Sept.44. Sept.44-March 45 he served with the Staff of the Navy CO. in The Netherlands after which he became CO. of the dutch island Texel.

He served WW-1 a.o. aboard the Battleship "Schleswig-Holstein"and took aboard this ship part in the famous Dec.1916 Battle of Jutland. 1939-June 40 he served as CO. of M-1802 of the 1 S.M.S.Flott., then operating in the west. This former fishing trawler that was 19-6-40 destroyed by an exploding mine. After recovery from his injury he served with several Navy Staffs ( a.o. in France ). Febr.41-Sept.44 he served as Chief of Staff with the 4.Sich.Div., operating in french ( west) coastal waters ( a.o. based at Lorient and La Rochelle ).

Navy Signals Service telegram by the CO. of the 4.Sich.Div., congratulating him with the award of the German Cross in Gold, 5-7-44.

12) Navy Signals service telegram by the C.in C. of the Navy, Admiral Donitz, announcing the award of the German Cross in Gold to him, 5-7-44.

German Cross in Gold, 3-7-44

Together with covering letter, 29-10-42.

Italian Military Valor Cross, 10-9-42. "Sul Campo"( "in the field Award ).

Minesweepers Badge , 1 5-12-40. Signed by the CO.of the Minesweeper Forces "North", Captain Kurt Bonnier ( Kn.Cr.: 6-10-40 ).

Minesweepers badge, Nov.40. Signed by the CO. of the Minesweeper Forces "West". Captain Friedrich Ruge ( Kn.Cr.: 21-10-40 ).

He was KIA 27-5-41 aboard the "Bismarck". http://www.battleshipbismarck.info/admiral_lutjens.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnther_L%C3%BCtjens http://www.kbismarck.com/crew/lutjens.html

Signed by the CO. of the Fleet, Admiral Gunther Lutjens ( Kn.Cr. : 14-6-40.)

Iron Cross 1st CL. 19-9-40.

Wound Badge in Black, 20-7-40. Signed by the CO. of the 18.M.S.Flott., Korvettenkapitan Anseim Lautenschlager.

... and the majority of the rest of the crew injured incl. himself.

... due to which 2 crew members were KIA ...

Report regarding the loss of his Minesweeper due to a mine-explosion on 19-6-40 ...

Vice-Admiral Otto von Schradcr

2 1939 Bar to the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Cl., 19-2-40. Signed by the CO. of the North Sea NavySecurity Forces, Vice-Admiral Otto von Schradcr ( Kn.Cr.: 19-8-43. 19-7-45 he comitted suicide ).

2 WW-1 Veterans Cross, 8-2-35.