Kriegsmarine U-boat grouping U 37, U 508

[Monsun]

Hello,

here are some scans of my U 37 - U 508 "Paul Denkner"-group. Interesting to compare to Simons "very early U-boat grouping U 37, U 107" post!

U-37 left Wilhelmshaven under the command of Werner Hartmann on 30th Mar 1940 for operations around Norway and the Hebrides and returned more than two weeks later to Wilhelmshaven on 18th Apr 1940.

Werner Hartmann hit three ships on this patrol.

First his "Polartaufschein" from the 04.04.1940.

Edited September 5, 2006 by Monsun

[Monsun]

After that operation from U 37 he get his "U-Bootskriegsabzeichen" at the 18.04.1940....

[Monsun]

... and the EK 2 at the 20.04.1940.

[Monsun]

U-37 left Lorient under the command of Asmus Nicolai Clausen on 30th Jan 1941 for operations SW of Spain and returned to Lorient on 18th Feb 1941 after more than two weeks on patrol.

Asmus Nicolai Clausen hit three ships on this patrol and all of them were in convoy, all of them from convoy HG-53.

After that operation Maschinenobergefreiter Paul Denkner was awarded with the EK1. It was his 8. patrol on U 37!

[Monsun]

Later he change to U 508, Cdr. Georg Staats.

At the 29.06.1943 he was awarded with the german cross in gold!

[Monsun]

30.06.1943 - congratulations on sea from the "Oberbefehlshaber" and "F.d.U. West" (R?sing).

[Monsun]

13.07.1943 - again a "Taufschein" with the signature from "Staats".

[Monsun]

On the 7th Jun 1943, U-508 left Lorient under the command of Georg Staats and arrived back at Lorient just over fourteen weeks later on 14th Sep 1943.

Georg Staats hit three ships on this patrol, two of these ships were in convoy, both of them were from convoy ST-71.

Here are "Paul Denkner" in Lorient at the 14th Sep. 1943 just after he get his german cross in gold!

[Monsun]

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).

[Simon Orchard]

Very nice. I particularly like the Polartaufschein.

Ironic that he got his EKII and U-boat docs after the very next patrol to Hempel's EKII.

Edited September 5, 2006 by Simon Orchard

[Guest Rick Research]

After an extraordinary career, fate snatched him in the end... his luck just finally ran out.

I had not realized that Petty Officers that low in rank DID receive German Crosses-- an interesting thread!

[Mike]

Fantastic group ..it just proves again how valuable the Documents are in bringing a story to life.

Were you able to get his Awards as well ?

[Monsun]

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.

[Monsun]

Here are a few examples from the album...

Paul Denkner in leather clothes...

[Monsun]

action...

[Monsun]

tankship hit...

Edited September 6, 2006 by Monsun

[Monsun]

ship sunk...

[Monsun]

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

[Monsun]

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

Edited September 6, 2006 by Monsun

[Eric JB]

Hi Monsun,

The photo you placed on the Taufschein signed by Clausen is taken by PK.Mann Kempen.!

Once I did have the Wehrpa? and photo album of Max Henschler Obermaschinist on U-508, on the for-last warpatrol Kemper took a lot of photos, including the one you show us here.

yours

Eric-Jan Bakker

[Eric JB]

Sorry mistake......I ment signed by STAATS .!!!

[Eric JB]

Hi Monsun,

I too have such a blue "Westward Ho" album, Karl Donsbach (U-26, U-37, U-129, U-198, U-3524) he was a DCiG wearer too.

yours

Eric-Jan

[Michel]

Very nice group, thank you for sharing us.

[NOR_collector]

######.. Doubble post.

Sorry!

Edited September 9, 2006 by NOR_collector

[NOR_collector]

A real nice grouping you have there!

I had not realized that Petty Officers that low in rank DID receive German Crosses-- an interesting thread!

Privates could even receive the DK.

I have seen some pictures of privates with DK and RK,

If I can find them I will post them.

Best regards,

Andr