Kriegsmarine K.Kptn.d.R. H. Drechsler,German Cross i.G. Escort & Minesweeping

[Bernhard H.Holst]

Hello readers.

Another of the Kriegsmarine officers who provided essential services throughout the waters Germany was able to utilize during WW II. Here the Black Sea.

K.Kptn. (Lt.Commander) Helmut Drechsler born in 1899 was in training in 1917/18 to become an officer in the Imperial Navy. After the war he served in formations which greatly assisted in the preservation of the eastern borders and the maintenance of law and order in 1919 and in the 1920's. Served in Upper Slesia and in his home town Bremen where he also had employment.

His Wehrpass unfortunately does not give many details so I used :

W.Lohmann and H.H. Hildebrand "Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939-1945" ( obtained from our Paul Chepurko) which gives the following data : commander of minesweeper in the 19. Minesweeping Flotilla Sep.1939 to June 1942; commander of 31.Escort Flotilla June 1942 to May 1944 in conjunction with command of escort matters to the Crimea and Caucasus. Commander of 2. Coastal Protection Flotilla based on Constanza, Romania June 1944 to Aug.1944 ( when Romania split from the Axis), Military liaison with German Army Sep.1944 to Dec.1944; command of 8.Sicherungs Fl.( Protection/Covering Flotilla) Jan.1945 to the end. Discharged from internment Nov. 1945.

Rick Research was so good to provide additional data as follows: married to Margret v.d.Heyde who was born 31.March 1905. H.Drechsler was employed in several yarn /cloth manufacturing companies before and following the war. He was a member of the Navy Officers Association residing in Hamburg with date of 1960.In 1991 only his wife is listed so he most likely passed on prior to that year.

I have in my care the military estate of this former officer and place for your view some pictures of him but unfortunately none of the war period and the more interesting documents including the document for the Pitschen Commemorative Cross which I understand to be rare and which cross is among his medals.

I believe his German Cross to have been awarded for his achievements in the Black Sea, the Kriegsmarine usually omitted the respective assignments on documents.

Bernhard H. Holst

[hucks216]

It is a pity that so little is known about the smaller units in the Kriegsmarine but that is a nice set indeed.