Are there any German naval officers who served aboard destroyers and torpedo boats during WWI that were recommended for the Pour le Merite but didn't get it?
Edward L. Hsiao
Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Officers Recommended For The Pour le Merite
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Edward L. Hsiao
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Edward L. Hsiao
- Member
- Posts: 2105
- Joined: 01 Aug 2003, 09:43
- Location: Flagstaff,Arizona
Re: Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Officers Recommended For The Pour le Merite
It's been over a year. Find anything?
Edward L. Hsiao
Edward L. Hsiao
Re: Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Officers Recommended For The Pour le Merite
The logical candidates are those who later had WW2 era German destroyers named after them. So check the bios on the namesakes for Z1 - Z22. Lody, Henemann, Zenker, Koellner Heidelkamp and Schmitt were not TB men. Reviewing the careers of the others there are a few candidates who could have been nominated. Flotilla commanders at Jutland and later battles against overwhelming odds.
PLM awarded for success not dying gallantly in battle in my opinion. Well at least the naval ones were. There were very few TB successes in the war. The Dover raids is the only one I can think of and their commander, Andreas Michelsen, was awarded a PLM May 31, 1918-after the raids.
Surprised Ludwig von Reuters not awarded after the 2nd Battle of Heligoland Bight. He did well there.
PLM awarded for success not dying gallantly in battle in my opinion. Well at least the naval ones were. There were very few TB successes in the war. The Dover raids is the only one I can think of and their commander, Andreas Michelsen, was awarded a PLM May 31, 1918-after the raids.
Surprised Ludwig von Reuters not awarded after the 2nd Battle of Heligoland Bight. He did well there.
Re: Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Officers Recommended For The Pour le Merite
Torpedo Boat Flottila Chief
Flottila Chief II KorvKapt. Oskar Heinecke awarded on -- 5 March 1918. For the raid on the Norwegian convoys.
Mine Flottila Chief
FregKapt. Hugo von Rosenbero awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. Gulf of Riga operation.
Were the only two light surface ship commanders or group commanders awarded the PLM.
Three cruising warship commanders were bestowed:
Cruise Commanders
Comdr. Aux. Cruiser MÖWE Korv. Kapt. Nikolas Burggraf & Count of Dohna Schlodien awarded on -- 7 March 1916.
Cmdr. Cruiser EMDEN FregKapt. Karl von Müller awarded on -- 19 March 1918.
Cmdr. Raider WOLF FregKapt. Karl August Nerger awarded on -- 24 Feb. 1918.
Otherwise senior and staff or individual Uboat commanders and Michelson already mentioned.
Flottila Chief II KorvKapt. Oskar Heinecke awarded on -- 5 March 1918. For the raid on the Norwegian convoys.
Mine Flottila Chief
FregKapt. Hugo von Rosenbero awarded on -- 4 Dec. 1917. Gulf of Riga operation.
Were the only two light surface ship commanders or group commanders awarded the PLM.
Three cruising warship commanders were bestowed:
Cruise Commanders
Comdr. Aux. Cruiser MÖWE Korv. Kapt. Nikolas Burggraf & Count of Dohna Schlodien awarded on -- 7 March 1916.
Cmdr. Cruiser EMDEN FregKapt. Karl von Müller awarded on -- 19 March 1918.
Cmdr. Raider WOLF FregKapt. Karl August Nerger awarded on -- 24 Feb. 1918.
Otherwise senior and staff or individual Uboat commanders and Michelson already mentioned.
Last edited by Felix C on 23 Oct 2022, 23:39, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Destroyer and Torpedo Boat Officers Recommended For The Pour le Merite
The partly successful Action off Lerwick on October 17, 1917 involved two commanders, Fregattenkapitäns Max Leonhardi and Siegfried Westerkamp. No candidates for PLM. SW received the RHOH for the action. Both were promoted to Kapitän after the action.
There was an order of award progression to earn a naval PLM. EK1, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, then PLM.
For Example the July 18 attack on S.S. Justicia earned the co. credited the RHOH. Same with the March 1918 attack on HMS Calgarian. Both had EK1 as their most senior award. Both important sinkings and none similar by the cos. afterwards.
Even Otto Weddigen to not receive the PLM for sinking three cruisers in one day. He received the EKII and EKI. He earned the PLM after sinking another cruiser in Oct 1914. No RHOH which was the buffer award issued later when submarine sinkings were common and expected.
There was an order of award progression to earn a naval PLM. EK1, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, then PLM.
For Example the July 18 attack on S.S. Justicia earned the co. credited the RHOH. Same with the March 1918 attack on HMS Calgarian. Both had EK1 as their most senior award. Both important sinkings and none similar by the cos. afterwards.
Even Otto Weddigen to not receive the PLM for sinking three cruisers in one day. He received the EKII and EKI. He earned the PLM after sinking another cruiser in Oct 1914. No RHOH which was the buffer award issued later when submarine sinkings were common and expected.