With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

German campaigns and battles 1919-1945.

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With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; despite starting with a ground unit (Heer), the main actions will take place in the sea................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Field Postal Number (Feldpostnummer) 04627 B.

On November 29, 1939, with the 2./I.E.Batl. 18 (Replacement Infantry Battalion) and a platoon from the 4./I.E.Batl. 18 was organized the unit Feldpostnummer 04627 B (1. / IR 340) and therefore joined the field army (Feldheer) from the replacement army (Ersatzheer). The unit remained in Danzig-Langfuhr, in Hussars Barracks II at Hochstrieß until January 6, 1940.

On January 6, 1940, the unit along with the entire I. Battalion (IR 340) moved to Neustadt, a city in the former Polish corridor. The new location was reached on foot, about 50 km west of Danzig / Gdansk in the direction of Lauenburg in Pomerania, with unfavorable roads and weather conditions: icy roads, quite cold. The company did not yet have any casualties.

Instruction in Neustadt was severely hampered by:

1.) The accommodation. The company was located in a former seminary where Polish Catholic clergymen were formed. Beds were not available, but there were thatch. In the crowded rooms, there were no closets or similar furniture.
2.) The weather. A rarely harsh winter lasted for weeks. Cold temperatures down to -35 ° were not uncommon. Snow accumulated up to 1.50 meters and more. By creating a fourth company, the Machine Gun Company, approximately 40 company members (including 1 Feldwebel, 3.Uffz.) Were transferred there. The company was completed with soldiers from the 4. Company and the Graudenz Replacement Battalion.

On March 9, 1940, the regiment was transferred to Danzig / Gdansk and its surroundings. The company received a new location in the Neufahrwasser. This site was also reached on foot in circumstances similar to that of January 6, 1940. The company also had no casualties this time. The accommodation was a school - gym and classroom - first sleeping on straw, then in beds. The office was approximately 1 km from the Kroll Inn. Training continued on time. The company and platoon troops participated in the signal training with blinking and reports with the battalion.

Image
Training and quartering area of the ​​1. / IR 340 .........................................................
https://www.wikiwand.com/de/L%C4%99bork

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /index.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

2.Seetransportstaffel.

The "Friedenau" (5,219 TRB), was a freighter that had been built by the Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes and was launched on February 21, 1920 and was delivered to the French shipping company Compagnie Maritime des Chargeurs Réunis de Le Havre as "Adrar". In 1937 it became the property of Bugsier Reederei & Bergungs AG and was renamed "Friedenau" based in Bremerhaven. In August 1939 she carried out troop transport tasks between Lübeck and Königsberg and in December 1939 repatriation transport from Riga to Danzig / Gdansk (750 emigrants from Latvia).

On March 8, 1940, at 10:00 hours she was registered for Operation "Weserübung" and assigned as transport within the 2. Seetransportstaffel. This transport echelon was composed as follows:

Friedenau, Destination Oslo
Kellerwald, Destination Oslo
Hamm, Destination Oslo
Wigbert, Destination Oslo
España, Destination Oslo
Rosario, Destination Oslo
Tucuman, Destination Oslo
Hanau, Destination Oslo
Wolfram, Destination Oslo
Wandsbek, Destination Oslo
Scharhörn, Destination Oslo

transports: Stab 196.Inf.Div., 2/3 Inf.Gesch.Kp., 1 Pz.Jg.mot., Inf.Rgt.340; Inf.Rgt.345, Inf.Rgt.362, Radf.Schw.233, 3 Kp./Pi.Btl.233, Tle.Nachr.Abt.233 tmot., 24x le.FH Art.Rgt.233;
8701 men, 945 horses, 453 vehicles, 4200 tons equipment.

Image
The freighter "Friedenau".....................................................................
https://www.wrecksite.eu/img/wrecks/friedenau_adrar.jpg

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /index.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

On April 6, 1940, the company was ordered to prepare a division exercise. At 16:00 hours, everything was ready to review. After the political situation, most members of the company realized that this division exercise meant leaving Neufahrwasser and that it would probably be carried out somewhere in Scandinavia as a fire exercise would take place. In the evening, which was Saturday, farewell was said in Neufahrwasser.

Sunday, April 7, 1940. Final configuration, packaging, reception and loading. At 12:30 hours, the battalion is ready to march in the courtyard of the Albrechtstraße school, 153 soldiers of the 1st Company. Parade to the Battalion Commander (I. / IR 340), then comes the order to march.

The population of Neufahrwasser lines the streets. At 15:00, Oliva was reached, where the regiment assembled (IR 340). At 16:00, we continue to Zoppot / Sopot. The backpack presses hard, everything is inside, in addition to the coat, blanket and tent canvas. The day is hot. The march became heavy, even if the feet after the regiment's exercise on Thursday April 4, 1940 were still not in order. From Sopot the march to Gotenhafen continued. We got there at 19:00 hours. Another hour through the city and the port facility, then the goal is reached.

The merchant ships lie on the quay, one of them is going to transport us, the "Friedenau". We receive food and ammunition in advance. Everything is tight on the boat, but there is a straw bag for everyone, a life jacket as a pillow. Equipment and weapons are quickly stored. We still ate and then fell asleep despite the noise of the cranes and the wind, vehicles, horses, trucks and infantry guns that were loaded throughout the night.

Image
German troops are shipped to Norway .................................................
https://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/40-04.htm

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

On Monday, April 8, 1940, at 09:00, the ship raised anchor and we left, as we suspected, we headed to Norway. The trip runs along the Pomeranian coast, which we see all day. Wonderful climate, very calm sea. The soldiers peeked out onto the deck one by one in a camouflaged manner. Friedenau with troops and cargo set sail from Gotenhafen towards Oslo.

On Tuesday April 9, 1940 at night we passed through Rügen, on the Mecklenburg coast. The Danish coast was sighted, passing Lolland, Langeland in the Great Belt. The convoy gathers, there are 15 transports, several patrol ships (Vorpostenboot), sub-chasers and torpedo boats are available for its protection. Some planes are circling above us. The weather is still sunny, the sea clear.

Occasionally, an anti-aircraft alarm goes through the ship, a precautionary measure, each man comes down from the deck. There are no other events. The battalion choir sang their songs of love, homeland and fighting on deck: quietly we are going to rest late at night. Our brave "Friedenau" at the head of the convoy stubbornly and forcefully makes its way through the drifting ice between the Danish islands.

Image
A German convoy sails for Norway.............................
https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict ... mo-bei.jpg

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
User avatar
tigre
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Posts: 6959
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:42 pm
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

On Monday, April 8, 1940, at 09:00, the ship raised anchor and we left, as we suspected, we headed to Norway. The trip runs along the Pomeranian coast, which we see all day. Wonderful climate, very calm sea. The soldiers peeked out onto the deck one by one in a camouflaged manner. Friedenau with troops and cargo set sail from Gotenhafen towards Oslo.

On Tuesday April 9, 1940 at night we passed through Rügen, on the Mecklenburg coast. The Danish coast was sighted, passing Lolland, Langeland in the Great Belt. The convoy gathers, there are 15 transports, several patrol ships (Vorpostenboot), sub-chasers and torpedo boats are available for its protection. Some planes are circling above us. The weather is still sunny, the sea clear.

Occasionally, an anti-aircraft alarm goes through the ship, a precautionary measure, each man comes down from the deck. There are no other events. The battalion choir sang their songs of love, homeland and fighting on deck: quietly we are going to rest late at night. Our brave "Friedenau" at the head of the convoy stubbornly and forcefully makes its way through the drifting ice between the Danish islands.

Image
A German convoy sails for Norway.............................
https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict ... mo-bei.jpg

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Wednesday, April 10, 1940. The "Friedenau" was in a convoy together with the "Antares", "Hamm", "Itauri", "Tucumán", "España", "Muansa", "Scharhörn" and "Wigbert", escorted by 7 ships of the Torpedo School Flotilla (3 of them torpedo retrievers) and the 15. V-Flottille on the way north.

The darkest day of our company (1. / IR 340) started again with a wonderful sun and a calm and soft sea. We entered the Kattegatt at night and arrived at the Skagerrak around noon. The atmosphere on board was still good, we had dropped the camouflage and were moving on deck like German soldiers.

To our right we see the Swedish coast. Around 14:30 hours, loud sounds spread through the water. An advanced ship was delayed and launched depth charges. What is happening there? We learn that an enemy submarine is said to have been seen and fought. The mood changes a little, but a danger is not yet considered. Life on board continues as usual, companies come and go.

At 17:10 hours, a torpedo boat approached and her commander reported on a megaphone that a failed attempt had been made to attack the "Hanau" and gave the order that the entire crew of the ship should put on life jackets. Perhaps this arrangement has been perceived by some as an excessive precaution.

At 18:00 hours, all platoon leaders and groups were ordered to report to the company chief. The Hauptfeldwebel Schöffel announced the orders for the landing in Oslo, which should be the following morning. 1. Gruppe recce command, 2., 3. and 4. Gruppe, unloading command, 1st Platoon anti-aircraft protection. Group leaders go to their groups and transmit orders.

Around 18:30 hours, a scream was heard across the ship warning that an outpost (Vorpostenboot) had been blown in front of us, either hit by a torpedo or struck by a mine. (We later heard that the valiant commander had deliberately crossed a torpedo's path, intercepting one that was heading toward a transport.)

Soon after, many rushed to the deck or were on the way there, a violent noise was heard, the "Wigbert" just a little to the right of our "Friedenau", had received a torpedo impact.

Image
A German convoy bound for Norway ..................................................
https://www.tracesofwar.nl/articles/430 ... BCbung.htm

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Before all of us, a large part of the company had already gone to bed to sleep, we could understand what was really happening, a torpedo hit our ship. A violent explosion, splinters and a crash, a tremor runs through the ship. The aft deck, where the torpedo hit, immediately sank a few meters. The violence of the explosion threw boards and hatches. Many comrades were thrown to the ground. Everything happened at once, a second torpedo hits us with great precision and tears the central part of the ship. Everything flies, the superstructure of the ship collapsed, the water entered through the rear hatch, which was underwater in a short time, flooded the aft deck, which will soon sink into the depths of the sea.

Many comrades are killed or injured by splinters. Despite this desperate situation, there is no panic. From the bridge, an order echoed on the deck: "All men on board, save yourselves!"

Then everything happens very fast. Inflatable boats, boards and planks are thrown into the water, lifeboats are driven away and now comrades jump into the North Sea, because that was the last possible resource, our "Friedenau" with two torpedoes could not last long. Around the sinking ship, brown dots with life jackets appear everywhere, swimming towards the inflatable boats, planks, hay bales and straw to hold on to. They scream for help over the freezing water.

Our "Friedenau", mortally beaten, rises, creaks and breaks, the great mast collapses. The bow deck rises abruptly in midair. Steam hisses, the boiler explodes. And you can still see comrades on the ship who may have lost their nerves or can't make up their minds or can't jump due to their injuries.

All those already in the water move away from the sinking ship so as not to be dragged by the suction. No one can really tell the scenes of camaraderie that took place in the water, how one comrade helped another, the swimmer to the non-swimmer, the strongest helping the weakest. It goes without saying that it was simply a duty of comrades and soldiers.

Six minutes after it was hit by the two torpedoes, our "Friedenau" plunges abruptly into the depths with all our equipment, our vehicles, 104 horses, our food and, what is more bitter, good companions. The "Wigbert" is still afloat and takes 21 minutes to sink.

Image
The "Friedenau" going down...........................................

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more.........................................

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

The rescue operation by torpedo boats and patrol ships was heroic. Even though they are still fighting against enemy submarines, even though they can take the devastating blow at any time, the crews do what they can to save us. They lower their lifeboats, row to the inflatable boats and planks full of soldiers, and get everyone on board as much as they can.

Without these brave naval comrades, many would not have been saved. Many comrades, including our captain and our lieutenant, our Uffz. Ernst Schöne, they arrive alive on board and collapse there; the tremendous effort and the icy water - we drifted between 1/2 - 1 hour, some even more - had put too much pressure on the heart, they couldn't last.

All rescued people unanimously report on the camaraderie of the crews. They gave us all the clothes and bedding they had, even their own suits, they gave us coffee, bread, sausages, brandy, cigarettes. They helped the comrades who had lost consciousness due to weakness, rubbing and reliving tirelessly, they gave us courage over and over again, they calmed us, in short what these comrades did to us, none of us will ever forget it.

At 5:26 p.m. in the Kattegat the steamer was hit by two torpedoes launched by the British submarine TRITON, one in the middle of the ship and the other at the stern, so that it sank aft in 5 minutes (Pos 57.27 N / 10.46 E). WIGBERT (aft impact) and Vp. V 1507 (sunk in 90 seconds) are also hit and sink. The transport "Friedenau" (3 officers and 496 men from IR 340 died) and the WIGBERT (serious losses in IR 345) suffered severe losses, 14 survivors of V 1507 were rescued by T 155. "Spain" rescued 210 castaways of the "Friedenau".

Image
Rescue operation after the sinking of the "Friedenau"......................................

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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tigre
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more..............

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

And then we sat tight in the engine room, in the cabins, in the common rooms, some small forward boats had rescued up to 150 men, the torpedo boats even more, sitting trembling when the depth charges exploded again, started again when a door was slammed shut. Every moment we expected a torpedo to hit us again or hit a mine, because we had realized that the ships, each independently, were sailing at full speed through the Skagerrak minefield.

In short, we were all nervous and those hours when we were wrecked sitting on the vanguard ships and the torpedo boats, those night hours were almost as exhausting and nervous as the sunset time. We sat on every corner, smoking cigarette after cigarette, poorly dressed, looking and meditating in front of us, all clinging to the life jackets that had once saved our lives.

No one could and did not want to sleep. And then the thoughts came by themselves: What are the comrades doing? Who will be safe? Are we the only company on our ship? Everyone thought of the comrades who were particularly close to us and we wondered about their fate. April 10, 1940 will remain unforgettable for all of us who survived.

Image
The Vorpostenboot (auxiliary patrol boats) were the workhorses in the Kriegsmarine coastal operations............................
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dirk_brui ... 4803965217

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
User avatar
tigre
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Posts: 6959
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Re: With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; more..............

With the "Friedenau" to Norway 1940.

Thursday, April 11, 1940.

Tonight too, which was unlikely to end, passed. It was a wonderful sunny day again. Only at dawn, you could see who was on the ship. The comrades whom we saw again and whom we knew were happily shocked. We all breathed a sigh of relief when comrades from the Navy told us we were out of the danger zone.

The entrance to the Oslofjord was soon reached. When we got on deck, we were all proud and happy to see how the convoy, which had been shaken the night before, whose ships had independently departed and continued at their own risk through the night, had regained its order on the line, therefore she reached the objective and brought the necessary reinforcements to the comrades who were already in Norway. Three transports were missing, including our "Friedenau" and that heroic patrol ship.

The Oslofjord is beautiful in terms of scenery, but we really couldn't enjoy this beauty because our thoughts were elsewhere. We saw the forts, which were very well adapted to the terrain and built on the rocks, we passed the place where our proud "Blücher" had been hit and then sank. When we heard this and then thought of our destiny and our comrades, there was probably a glowing hatred and irrepressible feelings of revenge against the Tommy in everyone and we thought of the salute that was used during the World War: God punish England!

Sources: https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... /graef.php
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/glied ... pril40.htm
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR340.htm
https://www.historisches-marinearchiv.d ... e_value=76

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
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