Kriegsmarine Divers ?

[jmitch3938]

Im looking for information, researching into German divers , of WW2, but unable to locate anything..if anyone has information on books, pictures, equipment, units, etc..please advise..Thanks !

[hucks216]

Hi,
There is a book available soon...

www.schiffermilitary.com/images/milfall2008.pdf

[Erik E]

This photo was taken onboard the seaplane tender "Karl Meyer" in Norway 1941, not sure if the diver belongs to Kriegsmarine or Luftwaffe?

From www.aftenbladet.no:


Erik

[Bernd R]

From the Kdre/personnel der Kriegs- und Waffenschulen der Wehrmacht sticky over at the ABR forum. Based on the book by Michael Jung also. He has written two or three books about frogmen in german, I see the last one obviously is available in english now (Schiffer link above).

Lehrkommando 700 , "Meeresjäger" / Kampfschwimmer [frogmen]

Meeresjäger-Abteilung "Brandenburg" (* dec 1943, Valdagno, Italy)
Kdr
00.12.1943 - 31.03.1944 Hptm Fritz Neitzert (Abwehr)
01.04.1944 - 21.06.1944 Hptm Friedrich Hummel
Ausbildungsleiter
00.12.1943 - 21.06.1944 Fw Alfred von Wurzian

redesignated / renamed on 21.06.1944 :

Kriegsmarine (KdK) - Lehrkommando 700 , Valdagno
Kdr
21.06.1944 - 31.01.1945 Marinestabsarzt Dr. med. Armin Wandel
01.02.1945 - end KKpt. (V) Hermann Lüdke
Ausbildungsleiter
21.06.1944 - 00.11.1944 Lt (MA) Alfred von Wurzian

within the Lehr-Kdo 700
"Einsatzgruppe Hellmers" (independent unit [half-official] for frontline action based on the special position of it's cdr.)
["Hellmers" = Deckname of Hptm Hummel ; representative and special operations officer of RSHA (Skorzeny)]

Lehrgangslager 701 , Insel Alga (San Giorgio), südl. Venedig :
[FP.-Nr. : M 10907 , Deckname : "Rothenburgsort" ; Meeres-Ausbildung]
Lagerkommandant
21.06.1944 - 00.08.1944 Olt (MA) Strenge
00.09.1944 - 00.11.1944 Lt (MA) Gerhart Kummer

Lehrgangslager 702 , Bad Tölz (SS-Junkerschule) , (Grundausbildung) :
Lehrgangsleiter
00.07.1944 - 00.09.1944 Olt z.S. Küsgen

Lehrgangslager 703 , List/Sylt (Tarnname : "´Weißkoppel") :
00.12.1944 - end Kdt wurde nicht benannt

Lehrgangslager 704 , Valdagno (Grundausbildung) :
Lagerkommandant
21.06.1944 - 00.11.1944 Olt (MA) Herbert Völsch
Ausbildungsleiter
Fw Ivo Haas

supplement :
Einsatzleitung Kampfschwimmer RSHA Abt. VI-S
01.09.1944 - end Hptm Friedrich Hummel

SS-Jagdkommando Donau
Chef : SS-Hstuf. Pfriemer
Leiter SS-Kampfschwimmergruppe :
01.09.1944 - 00.03.1945 SS-Ustuf. Walter Schreiber
[SS-Kampfschwimmerschule : Dianabad, Wien]
under command of :
/ SS-Einsatzgruppe Ungarn
/ SS-Jagdverband Südost (ex Streifkorps Karpaten/Abwehr)
Chef : SS-Hstuf. Alexander Auch (ex "Brandenburger" Major)

excerpt of a text I compiled in another context :

Bret(t)schneider, Heinz, 06.10.1944, Funkmaat, Einzelkämpfer bei einem Frontaufklärungskommando im Westen / K.d.K. / O.K.M.
Jäger, Walter, 06.10.1944, Matrosenobergefreiter d.R., Einzelkämpfer bei einem Frontaufklärungskommando im Westen / K.d.K. / O.K.M.
[...]
Bret(t)schneider participated (as a frogman) in the blow up of two Orne-Kanal bridges on 22./23. June 1944. He received the DKiG for another action : blow up of the NIJMEGEN brigdes on 29 Sept 1944 (with To-Minen). A group of 12 men (3 teams of 4) destroyed one and damaged one bridge at least. 10 of them didn’t return (all went into captivity ; other sources : 3 were killed, 7 were captured). Bret(t)schneider and Jäger who did belong to his group were the only ones who returned to their lines.
So, frogmen action here (“Kampfschwimmer”) which was a duty of the K-Verband.

sources :
Bernd Gericke, „Die Inhaber des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold, in Silber und die Inhaber der Ehrentafelspange der Kriegsmarine“
Cajus Bekker, „Einzelkämpfer auf See“, 1978 (containing a photo of Bretschneider ; spelling with „t“ only)

Hope this helps. If you use some words contained above for a search here in the forum as well as online generally I'm sure you will find some more info about divers / frogmen.

Bernd

[fanatyk6]

Hi,
what about Kampfwschwimmgruppe Ost? Are there any photo of those soldiers? What about theri equipment?

[Bernd R]

men of Kampfschwimmergruppe Ost , decorated with the German Cross in Gold
action : 25./26.04.1945 near SCHWEDT / Oder ; blowing up of the Pontonbrücken at NIPPERWIESE and FIDDICHOW

Keller, Alfred, 05.05.1945, Leutnant (MA), Einzelkämpfer in einer Kleinkampfflottille
Köneke, Siegfried, 05.05.1945, Funkmaat, Einzelkämpfer in einer Kleinkampfflottille
Lewandowski, Walter, 05.05.1945, Gef. d. Lw., Einzelkämpfer Kleinkampfverband

no pics or further detail in this work
Michael, Jung, "Sabotage unter Wasser" - Die deutschen Kampfschwimmer im Zweiten Weltkrieg , Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, Hamburg - Berlin - Bonn, 2004 , [ISBN 3-8132-0818-4]

eventually possible to go on digging with this very basic info.

Bernd

[jmitch3938]

Thanks for everyone's help so far, this is one of those areas that not much has been researched into. Does anyone know of a good source for a roster of German Naval officers or enlisted personnel ? Is there a " master " list of all Kriegsmarine personnel available ?

[fanatyk6]

Hi,
I wonder if there is any info about German divers action near Schwedt in book ,,German combat divers in world war II"? I'd like to add something about this operation, this time from the Russian side: ,, ... W rejonie autostrady poddodziały radzieckie wzieły do niewoli grupę dywersantów, którzy usiłowali wysadzić most. W czasie przesłuchania wyjaśniło się, że ukończyli oni szkołę podwodnych dywersantów w mieście Waldanio (Włochy). 16 kwietnia przybyli do Prenzlau, gdzie otrzymali rozkaz bojowy. Zadaniem ich było rozpoznanie mostów pontonowych na Odrze w rejonie Klucza i Schwedt i zerwanie przeprawy Armii Radzieckiej przez obie odnogi Odry drogą działań dywersyjnych. Oprócz tego mieli również poprawiać ogień artylerii do przepraw. Do wysadzania mostów używali min o opóźnionym działaniu. Do stawiania min pod wodą dywersanci byli wyposażęni w odpowiednie przyżądy. Od 20 do 24 kwietnia przy pomocy dywersantów nieprzyjaciel wysadził i rozbił ogniem artylerii trzy mosty pontonowe. ..."
P. Batow,,Operacja Odra"
Best regards

[Bernd R]

no pics or further detail in this work
Michael, Jung, "Sabotage unter Wasser" - Die deutschen Kampfschwimmer im Zweiten Weltkrieg , Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, Hamburg - Berlin - Bonn, 2004 , [ISBN 3-8132-0818-4]

If I'm correct the english version by Schiffer is this one. As said before... I have read this book some month ago.

fanatyk6,
can you give a short summary of the text in english ? This way the info is lost for the most of us not speaking ..it's Polish, or.

And, to add the newest version about this unit. Look in the thread about the diving watches ! Fascinating items.

Kampfschwimmergruppe Ost / "Einsatzgruppe Keller"
[consisting of volunteers around Lt. Keller ; action : 25./26.04.1945 near SCHWEDT / Oder ; blowing up of the Pontonbrücken at NIPPERWIESE and FIDDICHOW]

German Cross in Gold (4)
Keller, Alfred, 05.05.1945, Leutnant (MA) d.R., "Einsatzgruppe Keller" / K.d.K.
Köne(c)ke, Siegfried ("Siggi"), 05.05.1945, Funkmaat (E), "Einsatzgruppe Keller" / K.d.K.
Koizer, Ernst, 05.05.1945, Unteroffizier der Luftwaffe, "Einsatzgruppe Keller" / K.d.K.
Lewandowski, Walter, 05.05.1945, Gefreiter der Luftwaffe, "Einsatzgruppe Keller" / K.d.K.

sources :
Michael, Jung, "Sabotage unter Wasser" - Die deutschen Kampfschwimmer im Zweiten Weltkrieg , Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, Hamburg - Berlin - Bonn, 2004 , [ISBN 3-8132-0818-4]
evidence via a thread about diving watches - with two Panerai Radiomir from members of Einsatzgruppe Keller, Heinz Pape and Siegfried Könecke :
http://www.paneraiforum.de/wbb2/thread. ... eadid=4797

Bernd

[fanatyk6]

Here's my humble translation: ,, ... In the area of highway (I guess the one near Stettin - fanatyk6) soviet units have taken prisoner a group of saboteurs, who attempted to blow up the bridge. During interrogation it became clear, that they graduated from Underwater Saboteur School (literally translated) in Waldanio (Italy). On 16th of April they had arrived to Prenzlau, where they got their orders. Their task was to recognise pontoon bridges on Oder river in the area of Klucz and Schwedt and destroy Red Army river crossing on two arms of Oder river. Apart from this they were also supposed to correct artillery fire na river crossings. To blow up the bridges they used mines with delay-action. Saboteurs were equipped in proper devices to lay mines under water. from 20th till 24th of April using saboteurs enemy has blown up i destroyed by artillery fire three pontoon bridges. ..."

Yup, great watches.

[Bernd R]

Thanks fanatyk6 ! Seems to be confirmed that they still got a full training at Valdagno / Italy. And, used as forward artillery observers, too !

regards, Bernd

[fanatyk6]

Here are some photos of Kriegsmarine divers -> http://www.odkrywca.pl/kampfschwimmergr ... tml#640022 :
1. Guy from unit which taken part in attempt to blow up Remagen bridge; US POW,
2. No idea were and when it was taken.

[Bernd R]

For further material "in the house" see also this thread on Marine-Einsatz-Kommandos [M.E.K.] with further hints on references : http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=79412

Bernd

[PF]

link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_commando_frogmen

[PF]

Link http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... it=Garbers