After many months searching I finally have a name in relation to the German officer, who's report led to award of the Victoria Cross to Sgt Durrant on the St Nazaire in 1942. Durrant was hit 25 times whilst manning a pair of lewis guns on motor launch ML-14 whilst under attack by the German boat Jaguar. Captain Paul was either serving on the Jaguar or a medical officer in St. Nazaire.
I know its a long shot since given his lowly rank but can anyone shed any light on this character Paul.
Andy
Kriegsmarine-officer Paul
Andy,
Nice bit of research! There was a Paul aboard the torpedo boat Jaguar...the commander! Per M.J. Whitley's Destroyer! German Destroyers in World War II (The Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1983) Kapitänleutnant Friedrich-Karl Paul commanded the Jaguar from March 1941-May 1942. I checked Scheibert and a Kapitänleutnant Friedrich-Karl Paul received the German Cross in Gold on 30 October 1943 for commanding of a torpedo boat (no name/number given). Per Fellgiebel, a Korvettenkapitän Friedrich-Karl Paul received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 March 1945 as Chief of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla. That’s about all I have on him…could this be the same man who submitted the VC recommendation for Sergeant Durrant?
Regards,
Shawn
Note: To avoid any confusion, there was at least one other German destroyer commander named Paul: Whitley/Sheibert note a Korvettenkapitän Karl Paul commanded the destroyer Z 31 from December 1943-8 May 1945. This particular Paul received the German Cross in Gold on 1 June 1945 for his Z 31 command.
Nice bit of research! There was a Paul aboard the torpedo boat Jaguar...the commander! Per M.J. Whitley's Destroyer! German Destroyers in World War II (The Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1983) Kapitänleutnant Friedrich-Karl Paul commanded the Jaguar from March 1941-May 1942. I checked Scheibert and a Kapitänleutnant Friedrich-Karl Paul received the German Cross in Gold on 30 October 1943 for commanding of a torpedo boat (no name/number given). Per Fellgiebel, a Korvettenkapitän Friedrich-Karl Paul received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 4 March 1945 as Chief of the 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla. That’s about all I have on him…could this be the same man who submitted the VC recommendation for Sergeant Durrant?
Regards,
Shawn
Note: To avoid any confusion, there was at least one other German destroyer commander named Paul: Whitley/Sheibert note a Korvettenkapitän Karl Paul commanded the destroyer Z 31 from December 1943-8 May 1945. This particular Paul received the German Cross in Gold on 1 June 1945 for his Z 31 command.
Andy,
BTW, I seem to recall a previous discussion about the identity of the German naval vessels present in the vicinity of St. Nazaire during the raid. After looking at the career summary of the Jaguar in Whitley, it appears this might not have been the Paul in question. My apologies, I should have checked more closely!
Torpedo Boat Jaguar
Type 24
Builder: Wilhelmshaven Navy Yard
Launched: 13 March 1928
Completed: 15 August 1929
Commanding officers:
Kapitänleutnant Kohlauf, April 1939-October 1939
Kapitänleutnant Hartenstein, October 1939-March 1941
Kapitänleutnant F-K. Paul, March 1941-May 1942
Kapitänleutnant Strecker, May 1942-October 1942
Kapitänleutnant Loerke, October 1942-October 1943
Oberleutnant zur See Sonnenburg, November 1943-June 1944
Career summary:
September 1939 to December 1939: North Sea & Skaggerak
December 1939 to March 1940: Dockyard, Seebeck (Wesermünde)
April 1940 to August 1940: Skaggerak & home waters
September 1940 to March 1941: France
April 1941 to May 1941: Norway & repairs at Rotterdam
June 1941 to October 1941: Skaggerak
November 1941 to May 1943: Mainly non-operational in Baltic or in dockyard hands
May 1943 to June 1944: Western France
Fate:
Destroyed in air raid on Le Havre, 14 June 1944
Regards,
Shawn
BTW, I seem to recall a previous discussion about the identity of the German naval vessels present in the vicinity of St. Nazaire during the raid. After looking at the career summary of the Jaguar in Whitley, it appears this might not have been the Paul in question. My apologies, I should have checked more closely!
Torpedo Boat Jaguar
Type 24
Builder: Wilhelmshaven Navy Yard
Launched: 13 March 1928
Completed: 15 August 1929
Commanding officers:
Kapitänleutnant Kohlauf, April 1939-October 1939
Kapitänleutnant Hartenstein, October 1939-March 1941
Kapitänleutnant F-K. Paul, March 1941-May 1942
Kapitänleutnant Strecker, May 1942-October 1942
Kapitänleutnant Loerke, October 1942-October 1943
Oberleutnant zur See Sonnenburg, November 1943-June 1944
Career summary:
September 1939 to December 1939: North Sea & Skaggerak
December 1939 to March 1940: Dockyard, Seebeck (Wesermünde)
April 1940 to August 1940: Skaggerak & home waters
September 1940 to March 1941: France
April 1941 to May 1941: Norway & repairs at Rotterdam
June 1941 to October 1941: Skaggerak
November 1941 to May 1943: Mainly non-operational in Baltic or in dockyard hands
May 1943 to June 1944: Western France
Fate:
Destroyed in air raid on Le Havre, 14 June 1944
Regards,
Shawn
Shawn
Thanks as ever for your help on this matter. I still think your Paul could be the guy, though as you say the boat itself wasnt there, but undergoing repairs. Which may suggest that Paul himself stayed behind?.
Also I thought I would see if Paul had any other medals so I went to the following site, but I think its gone, can anyone translate the message on the website thanks. Also is there a website about German Cross in Gold winners?
http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/
Andy
Thanks as ever for your help on this matter. I still think your Paul could be the guy, though as you say the boat itself wasnt there, but undergoing repairs. Which may suggest that Paul himself stayed behind?.
Also I thought I would see if Paul had any other medals so I went to the following site, but I think its gone, can anyone translate the message on the website thanks. Also is there a website about German Cross in Gold winners?
http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/
Andy
The Kriegsmarine Rangliste 1 Sept 1944 has 6 officers named PAUL,
a Fleet Medical Officer Dr.Paul (thats a very senior chap)
Korvettenkpt. Karl PAUL
Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Karl PAUL
Oberleutnant (Ing.) (Engineer) Wilhelm PAUL
Oberleutnant (Marine Artillery) Otto PAUL (probably coastal defences)
Leutnant z. See Ottomar PAUL
Pete
a Fleet Medical Officer Dr.Paul (thats a very senior chap)
Korvettenkpt. Karl PAUL
Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Karl PAUL
Oberleutnant (Ing.) (Engineer) Wilhelm PAUL
Oberleutnant (Marine Artillery) Otto PAUL (probably coastal defences)
Leutnant z. See Ottomar PAUL
Pete
Hauptmann Paul
There is a good book out by Ken Ford. The title is "St Nazaire 1942
The grat commando raid" The publisher is Osprey ISBN 1 84176 231 8.
On page 84 the author is talking about Sgt. Durrant on board ML306 versus the Jaguar with Kapitänleutnant Paul.
The grat commando raid" The publisher is Osprey ISBN 1 84176 231 8.
On page 84 the author is talking about Sgt. Durrant on board ML306 versus the Jaguar with Kapitänleutnant Paul.
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Re: Kriegsmarine-officer Paul
Andy,
Are you still interested in finding out more about Friedrich- Karl Paul ?
I have known him.
KPA
Are you still interested in finding out more about Friedrich- Karl Paul ?
I have known him.
KPA