WW2 German Death Card of Johann Sergl. (Killed in Japan)

[Heartfeltzero]

Johann was born on January 3rd 1922 in Aschach. During his military career he was a private in the Kriegsmarine. On November 30th 1942, Johann was at a Harbor in Yokohama, Japan. There were a few vessel next to each other. Auxiliary Cruiser Thor (HSK 4), Oil Tanker/ Supply Vessel Uckermark, Nankin/Leuthen and the Japanese freighter Unkai Maru. Uckermark was used as supply tanker for the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during Operation Berlin before sailing to Japan in September 1942 as a blockade breaker. Thor and Uckermark were moored alongside each other. That day while the crew was at lunch, Uckermark suffered an explosion and fire which spread to the Nanking resulting in a larger explosion that sunk the Uckermark, Thor, and Nankin, Unkai Maru and destroyed a portion of the docks. Overall about 66 people were killed, Johann being one of them.

FD0DBC4F-1EB2-4F0D-827F-F9D26E5C38D2.jpeg (162.09 KiB) Viewed 1781 times

Photo of the Uckermark ^
Photo of Thor \/

[Hans1906]

Hi Heartfeltzero,

a very nice research on your part, here is the entry in the Wikipedia about the "Altmark", later "Uckermark".

Altmark (Schiff) https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altmark_(Schiff)

The seaman's obituary only stated, that he met his end at sea, just 21 years young, but gave no further details.
A young Austrian, one of very many...


Hans