Kriegsmarine in Spain during SCW.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new topic..........................

German Naval units (ships and submarines) in Spanish waters and ports.

Sailing in the web I've stumbled with the picture of a German Torpedoboat moored in a Spanish port circa 1937.

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Das-Torpedo ... anien-1937

Any idea Where? TIA. Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Glückliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; thanks to my Spanish friends .................

The Latin word circa, abbreviated c., ca. or cca., means around or near.

thus appears to be correct the possibility that the Jaguar's visit in the picture, was in late 1936 at the port of Pasaia / Pasaje. Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Glückliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

German Naval units in Spanish ports.

Source: http://www.die-marine.de/_deutsch/sonstiges/ww2.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more.................

The Admiral Scheer Pocket Battleship in port.

Source: http://www.uboatphotos.net/uploads/1/9/ ... 1370751462

Cheers. Raul M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Glückliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

U bootwaffe in Spanish waters and ports.

Source: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Deut-U-Boot ... 1971685091

Any idea Where? TIA. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Kriegsmarine in the SCW. First movements.

When the revolution broke out in July 1936 the Kriegsmarine had as operational means 3 pocket battleships, 6 cruisers and 12 torpedo boats. Already on July 22, 1936 AH authorized Admiral Raeder to dispatch a naval formation to Spanish waters. This force under the command of Admiral Carls consisted of the pocket battleships Deutschland and Admiral Scheer. This naval group named maneuver sailed on July 24, 1936.

On July 25, 1936 the decision of France and Italy to collaborate in the conflict (republican and national side respectively) was known. On July 26, 1936, in Bayreuth, AH confirmed to the delegate of General Franco his decision to support the national side. That same afternoon a special General Staff (Sonderstab W) was established in Berlin, at the RLM, under the orders of General Wilberg, in order to plan the help promised to the Spaniards; by the Kriegsmarine the representative was the Kapitän z. S. Coupette, Head of the Department of Maritime Traffic.

On July 28, 1936, the Cruise Köln sailed with four torpedo boats of the 2nd Flotilla, followed on July 30 by the tanker Hansa (21,131 trb) and on July 31, 1936 the steamer Usaramo (7,775 trb) sailed from Hamburg.

The mission entrusted to Admiral Carls was to protect German interests in Spain and control the evacuation of all nationals. But it was also a more than propitious occasion to show the pavilion and the new Navy.

Due to the rapid deterioration of the situation, additional units were deployed and on August 5, 1936, another tanker, the Wollin (3,249 tpb), sailed. On August 12 three torpedo boats from the 3rd Flotilla sailed and on August 14 the battleship Admiral Graf Spee. On August 20, three torpedo boats from the 4th Fleet sailed, followed on August 27 by the Cruiser Nürnberg. The German ships that operated in the north moved between Bilbao, Santander and San Sebastián with bases in La Coruña and El Ferrol. While the fleet operating in the Mediterranean was between Malaga, Almeria, Cartagena, Valencia, Palma and Barcelona with bases in Cadiz and Tangier.

Source: Kriegsmarine and the Spanish War. rhn 14.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Kriegsmarine in the SCW.

Source: Kriegsmarine and the Spanish War. rhn 14.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Kriegsmarine in the SCW. First movements.

Numerous merchant ships were placed under the orders of Admiral Carls to ensure the repatriation of the German citizens surprised by the conflict in Spain such as Monte Sarmiento, Bessel, Bellona, ​​Hermes, Wigbert, Saturn, Hansa, Hamburg among others, in total were 27 units. Simultaneously contacts with the national side were developed, for example on August 3, 1936 during a stopover of Deutschland in Ceuta, General Franco had breakfast on board invited by Admiral Carls.

Meanwhile, at the international level, the situation continued to evolve, and on August 1, President Blum launched a call for no intervention in Spain. On August 4, Hitler sent Admiral Canaris to Italy to meet General Roatta, while the first Italian freighter arrived in Melilla on August 3 with 3,000 tons of weapons and ammunition. A second arrived on August 14 with 12 fighters and a third arrived on August 23 to Vigo with 3,000 tons of aviation fuel. On August 23, the Prince of Hesse met with Mussolini to propose the sending of liaison officers to the national side and on August 26, Ciano informed General Roatta about the Italian-German agreement to send a joint mission to Spain.

Meanwhile in meetings held between August 19 and 24, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, Germany, Italy and Portugal approved the Principle of Non-intervention to which 27 countries adhered in a short time; This committee took its first measure already on September 8. However, at sea the situation did not improve for the nationals since the bulk of the Spanish fleet (one battleship, three cruisers, six destroyers and 12 submarines) remained in the hands of the Republican side.

Despite all the precautions taken by the Germans, on August 4 the Republican destroyer Almirante Valdés shelled for 45 minutes the freighter Sevilla leaving Larache, although she managed to get to Tangier without damage. On August 7 the Usaramo was intercepted by the same destroyer and had to enter Lisbon. On August 19 the freighter Kamerun was intercepted by the submarine B-2 and shelled by the cruiser Libertad and also headed to Lisbon. On August 22, the same thing happened to the vessel Lahneck when she was intercepted by the submarine C-1.

On August 28 Hitler authorized the participation of troops in combat and on August 31 Oberstleutnant Varlimont was detached to Spain (via Rome) with the mission of:

- Verify all Wehrmacht assistance to the national side.
- Advise the Spanish command.
- Enforce German interests
- Work with the Italians in Spain.

From this point on, the Italian-German military collaboration began, who clearly had taken the initiative.

Source: Kriegsmarine and the Spanish War. rhn 14.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Kriegsmarine in the SCW.

Since then the Germans decided to permanently maintain a force of three cruisers and two flotillas of destroyers to ensure their presence on the north and south coasts and a naval base in Cádiz. On September 2, Admiral Boehm, who had relieved Admiral Carls, received new instructions aboard the cruiser Nürnberg about his mission in Spain: to support Franco's forces and cooperate with the Italians.

Portugal, which had adhered to the Principle of No Intervention, decided to close its borders as of September 24, so the German ships with shipments of material were directed to both Vigo and Seville, always escorted by a German warship. For the reception of the material, the firm HISMA (Hispano-Moroccan) was subsequently established with headquarters in Seville, under the command of Major von Scheele with the Kapitänleutnant Plass as deputy of the Navy.

Since his arrival at Franco's General Headquarters, Warlimont sent the most indispensable list of material for the nationals, such as airplanes, guns and ammunition. As for the Navy, antiaircraft artillery was required to reinforce the national vessels, torpedo boats to compensate for the absence of destroyers and submarines to attack enemy traffic. The petitions were granted in a gradual way, except submarines because their sale was prohibited by the Treaty of London.

After establishing contact in Mérida, the national troops directed their efforts towards Madrid, which they hoped to take in October. This success forced President Azana to form a new government that included the communists, being the first time that this party was part of the cabinet in a Western country. This turnaround and the increase of the Italian-German shipments decided to Stalin to offer direct aid to the republicans. The Neva (3,113 ton), the first Soviet freighter arrived in Alicante on September 25, followed in rapid succession by the Kuban (6,113 tons), Zyrianine (2,593 tons), Bolchevik (3,974 tons) Komsomol (5,109 tons), etc. ...

During the month of September the German fleet had a decisively military intervention in favor of the nationals, although they had contributed to the evacuation of more than 1,500 people, among them the sister and sister-in-law of Primo de Rivera; an attempt to buy his life for three million pesetas failed. His continuous presence in front of the republican ports allowed him to inform the nationals about all movement of both Spanish and foreign ships.

On September 26 the republican fleet left the Mediterranean to try to hold the northern front and the cruiser Leipzig received the order to follow the movement from Vigo to Bilbao. Taking advantage of the fact that the republican heavy units were deployed in the north, on September 27 a national fleet with the Canarias and Cervera cruisers went to the Strait of Gibraltar, watched by two Republican destroyers. On September 29, at 05:00 hours, the alarm of combat ready was ordered and at 06:20 hours the Canarias opened fire on Admiral Ferrándiz, who went down. The Cervera did the same on the destroyer Gravina, that although damaged could arrive at Casablanca. There the commander went over to the nationals, who now had the maritime supremacy in the Mediterranean.

Source: Kriegsmarine and the Spanish War. rhn 14.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

The Kriegsmarine in the SCW. First movements.

On October 1st it was entrusted to Admiral Carls, who returned to Spain with the Scheer and the Deutschland, the escort of the freighters destined to the nationals, the defense of the German interests and the search of information on the republican traffic. From September 30 all freighters sent to Spain were escorted by a German warship. The ships Girgenti, Eisenach, Pasajes, Helios, Procida, among others transported 389 men and 2,268 tons of material from Stettin to Ferrol and Seville between September 25 and October 06.

During the month of October, the flow of material continued; Sevilla was received by Köln, Genua by Seeadler, Hercules by Albatros, Capri by Seeadler and so on. On October 14 Warlimont requested five torpedo boats to supplant the lack of destroyers and were sent five units planned for China. The boats were armed with two torpedo tubes and had a range of 250 miles at 35 knots. By October 20, 100 German and 90 Italian aircraft had already been sent by sea.

But the most important decision was to enlist members of the German and Italian armed forces directly as volunteers (legionaries). On October 21 the Italians detached two destroyers to control the republican traffic in the Strait of Sicily. On October 30 Hitler decided to send the Condor Legion and ordered that two submarines be sent to the Mediterranean (the famous Operation Ursula). The Italians for their part designated two submarines where two Spanish officers would also embark to act as commanders if the occasion required. These officers went to La Magdalena on October 28 under Argentine nationality to embark on the smg Topacio and smg Nayade; the boats sailed on November 8.

On November 17, in Rome, Admiral Pini and Fregattenkapitän Lange signed a cooperation agreement, while on the 20th the U 33 and U 34 sailed from the Elbe to the Mediterranean. Previously on November 4, Franco accepted the Legion Condor, whose chief General Sperrle flew to Rome on 05 and arrived in Spain on November 9. On November 10, in Bremerhaven, the first two torpedo boats were embarked into the Uhlenfels, destined for Ferrol under the command of the Kapitänleutnat Furke. The boats made their sea trials at their destination between November 24 and 26 and then sailed to Cádiz where they arrived on December 9. Meanwhile the freighter Capri had landed there spare parts and eight G-7 W torpedoes on November 18.

Meanwhile a large air operation was decided against the republican fleet, of which the Legion Condor would participate. Three actions were planned: against Cartagena, the night of 25-26 or 26-27, against Alicante 28-29 and Barcelona. At the same time the Italians would attack Valencia from Palma de Mallorca. The Kriegsmarine had to prepare two surveillance units in front of Melilla (torpedo Leopard) and Cartagena (cruise Nürnberg). The Canary and Cervera cruises would remain on the high seas. The attack with 11 planes against Cartagena did not have the expected result and the Operation was abandoned. Instead of attacking the ports where the Soviet material landed, Franco decided to use the aviation on the land front to accelerate the offensive on Madrid.

Source: Kriegsmarine and the Spanish War. rhn 14.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a complement.........................

The torpedoes also killed Jürgen Jensen.

During the Spanish Civil War, the "Baleares" was the most important ship that the rebellious military around General Franco knew to be on their side. When their putsch took place in the summer of 1936, the ship was almost complete at the shipyard in Galicia. Get into working order in early 1937, it took part in the shelling of civilians fleeing Málaga along the winding coastal road towards Almería, vulnerable to fire from the sea. Later, the “Baleares” secured convoys between the Francoist regions of Cadiz and Mallorca. The largest of the Balearic Islands was in the Francoist camp from the beginning of the war. Mallorca lay like a giant aircraft carrier in the western Mediterranean, from where the republican east coast of Spain and the "red" sister island of Menorca were regularly bombed.

The Condor Legion, Hitler's military aid to Franco, had been stationed at the airfield in Pollensa in the north of Mallorca since mid-1937. In Palma, on the other hand, the Condor Legion maintained a liaison office with the Spanish Navy. This naval service was part of the "North Sea Group", which included sailors as well as German technicians and specialists in order to increase the combat effectiveness of the Spanish comrade-in-arms. The German naval mission helped out in the Spanish Civil War with combat troops, weapons, ammunition and technical equipment, for example for radio transmission. At the same time, it meticulously kept a diary of all tactical measures and events. On the day of the sinking of the warship, a chronicler stated:

German civil engineer Jensen, who was on board "Baleares" and had to hand over the Horch system he had installed, was also a victim of the disaster.

The reference "civilian" may be misleading. In fact, the 31-year-old Jensen had not only installed a high-tech instrument for detecting enemy submarines and torpedoes, which was innovative at the time, but also trained the Spanish crew on the listening system - under real wartime conditions. This emerges from a second entry in the naval mission diary:

An officer of the "Canarias" who had directed the rescue work was the first to give us the definite news that Jensen was dead, as he was at the battle station with the other listeners. Not a single one of these came out.

What happened then? The "Baleares" and her sister ship "Canarias" left the port of Palma on March 5, 1938 to secure a freighter convoy bound for Cadiz. On the night of March 6, a Saturday, the convoy encountered naval units of the Spanish Republic, which, coming from Cartagena, had intended to attack Mallorca and now, to the surprise of both parties, met the enemy convoy halfway. During the battle on the dark night, the "Baleares" was finally hit by two torpedoes. As the German naval mission later meticulously noted in its records, one of the hits set the ship's oil storage facility on fire. The subsequent explosion in the ammunition chamber of the second turret literally tore it and the command bridge away from the ship's hull. The "Baleares" was ablaze with fire, while water broke into the hull at various points. Many of the crew of more than 1,200 burned to death or drowned in the water. Ultimately, the “Canarias” and other ships were only able to fish out 435 men alive, many of whom died from burn injuries.

According to the documents, Jürgen Jensen, whose listening system could not prevent the ship from being torpedoed, was not recovered even from among the dead. His body disappeared into the Mediterranean Sea.

Source: https://www.mallorcamagazin.com/nachric ... ensen.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more..........................

U bootwaffe in Spanish waters and ports.

Source: https://picclick.de/U-Boot-Krieg-Foto-U ... id=1&pid=1

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!