Kriegsmarine navy officer Hermann Friese

[GODISHIGH]

hello, i acquired a medal bar that belonged to Hermann Friese. he was an officer in the Navy as he recieved the prussian 25 year service cross. is there any way to research him? where could i find any information about him?

thanks

john

[hucks216]

Hildebrand & Lohmann Vol III does not list any 'Friese' with the forename of Hermann. The closest match is a Heinz Friese who was born on 24th June 1902 in Wilhelmshaven and he was an engineer. He held various posts in WW2 to do with construction and repair including two in Marinegruppenkdo West with his final posting being Techn. Beschaffungsamt der KM from August 1944 to wars end.

[GODISHIGH]

here is somemore information translated from the documents that come with the medal bar:

The first document details the award of the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer (Cross of Honour / Hindenburg Cross) for serevice in WW1 to a former member of the Navy who was currently employed as an official of the Reichsbank in Munchen Gladbach. Due to the millions of these medals being awarded it took years for them all to get processed.

The second sheet covers his actual service.,taken from his paybok details in order to prove his entitlement. As you will see, he joined the Navy as a young man in 1906 as part of the Ship's Youth detachtment. It goes on to list all the ships he served on, the Charlotte, the Medusa, the Burgermeister, the Seeadler, the Dfr Prinzregent u. Brandenburg, the Von der Tann, u. Schwaben, the Konig Wilhelm, the Viktoria Luise. These will be fairly easy to research. It then goes on to list his ranks and finally his awards, EKII, Long service cross etc.

He served throughout WW1 and was discharged in 1921

[GODISHIGH]

is there any information regarding these ships and there service? are there any photos of them or any of the crews?

he served on the Battlecruiser Derfflinger during WW1, which saw a lot of action in the North Sea during that time, including the Battle Of Jutland. She was the second ship in the battlecruiser line and was hit 21 times during that great sea battle and 157 men were killed on the ship, the highest number of casualties on any ship that wasnt sunk.

The second sheet covers his actual service.,taken from his paybok details in order to prove his entitlement. As you will see, he joined the Navy as a young man in 1906 as part of the Ship's Youth detachtment. It goes on to list all the ships he served on, the Charlotte, the Medusa, the Burgermeister, the Seeadler, the Dfr Prinzregent u. Brandenburg, the Von der Tann, u. Schwaben, the Konig Wilhelm, the Viktoria Luise. These will be fairly easy to research. It then goes on to list his ranks and finally his awards, EKII, Long service cross etc.

He served throughout WW1 and was discharged in 1921

[hucks216]

I am sure that there will be plenty of information on SMS Derfflinger on the web and in books as she was a well known ship for her raids on the British coast in the years prior to Jutland.

As for the others if you try a Google search (using SMS before the ships name) then you will obtain at least some basic details of them (Charlotte was a support vessel for SMS König Wilhelm). Wiki has some information on at least König Wilhelm, Von der Tann & Victoria Louise.