Kriegsmarine Destroyer Document Set

[Gordon Williamson]

Nice set to a crewman on Erich Steinbrink.

Judging by the date of the Destroyer Doc, it would appear that his qualifying sortie for the badge was an operation in the Bristol Channel along with Friedrich Ihn , Hans Lody , Karl Galster, Falke , Greif , Jaguar , Kondor , Seeadler and Wolf in which the German force engaged a force of British cruisers and destroyers.

[Gordon Williamson]

His EK doc

[Gordon Williamson]

Here he is, with his destroyer.

[Gordon Williamson]

It appears that he survived the war and went on to serve with the German Minesweeping Administration from 1945-1947 under British control. Here are his discharge papers.

[nesredep]

Hello!

Gordon

Amazing.

All the best

Nesredep

[Paul R]

Great set of documents, Gordon. That last one from his service with the British is the best piece, IMHO. I wonder what he did exactly, if his closest civilian skill was that of a Locksmith?

[Guest Rick Research]

:rolleyes: It says right on it he was an auto mechanic for them...

which would have been MUCH better duty than bobbing around in the ocean fishing out rusty old mines! :cheeky:

[Brian R]

Here's one to a Friedrich Ihn crew member who could have qualified for his badge on the same mission. It is tough to say though, as he won his EK2 in January, 1940. He could have won it for any earlier mine laying mission etc., and received his destroyer badge in the months after its ultimate creation.

Edited January 8, 2009 by Brian R

[Laurens Q]

Instead of opening a new thread, I show my example from Z8 Bruno Heinemann here. After a repair/refit of 5 months in Weserm?nde, Z8 left the NDL shipyard October 19, 1940. This document was probably awarded for minelaying actions around May 1940.

What puzzles me is the meaning of the letter (F) behind Stabsmaschinisten. I think it is some kind of specialisation, but I don't know which one. Meanings such as Funker, Fernsprecher, F?hrer or Fahrer are probably inappropriate.

Laurens

[Brian R]

Laurens -

Do you have any other docs from this guy? Although your doc could have been awarded as result of the mine laying operations in May, it could also be an award based on Bruno Heinemann's particpiation in the invasion of Trondheim (escorting the Admiral Hipper and unloading troops of 3.Gebirgs-Division).

Here is a doc awarded on the same day as yours - included in the group is an EK2 doc dated April 16, which I'm sure is the result of the actions at Trondheim.

Edited March 2, 2009 by Brian R

[Laurens Q]

Hello Brian,

I only have this single award document and there is no more from this sailor. I hinted at minelaying operations, although you could be correct too. Wish I had another document to tell more

Laurens

[Gordon Williamson]

The (F) after the rank indicates that the individual was promoted to that rank for long service ( in this case 12 years) instead of having passed specific qualification tests to advance to that rank.

It doesn't relate to a trade speciality I'm afraid so won't help determine exactly what this guy did. Most likely, as his rank suggests, he was engine room personnel.

[nesredep]

Hello!

Interesting information.

All the best

Nesredep

[storage133]

Hello!

here is my little konvolut from

a "Masch. Gefr. Herman Maas".

served at "Hermann Schoemann".

Best regards

Sto

[Gordon Williamson]

Very nice indeed !

[storage133]

Thank you Gordon.

Best regards

Sto

[Brian R]

Here is the EK2 doc mentioned above - probably given for actions in April, 1940... Z8 participated in the invasion of Norway as part of Group 2. Bruno Heinemann, along with three other destroyers, escorted the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper to Trondheim. The group came into contact with Norwegian guns in the approaches of the town. Admiral Hipper engaged the guns while the four destroyers ?ran the batteries? and were able to reach the city, landing the troops of 3.Gebirgs-Division.