Wasn't exactly sure where to post this but here seemed reasonable since it's about floaty things - German mini-sub attacks on the Rhine crossing bridges 1945

[John Tapsell]

I've spent a lot of time researching the use of CDL tanks by British and American units along the Rhine in March and April 1945. Their role by then was river defence - identifying and destroying water-borne attempts to destroy the pontoon bridges.

 

There are references to some of those attacks being made by Neger-type mini-subs, small boats packed with explosives and frogmen. I could leave my research at that point, but I'm interested to know whether any material exists from the German perspective - which units might have carried out (attempted to carry out) the attacks for example? These were concerted and organised attempts to destroy the bridges so that makes me think there were specific units/groups involved.

Any help or assistance would be much appreciated!

 

Thanks,

John

[Flintstone]

Try uboat,net

[Jochen Barett]

How fluent is your German? (do you have google translate at hand?)

 

A starting point:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampfschwimmer_(Kriegsmarine)

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleinkampfverbände_der_Kriegsmarine

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_der_Kleinkampfverbände_der_Kriegsmarine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biber_(submarine)

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprengboot_Linse

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unternehmen_Bruno

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Bartels_(Marineoffizier)

 

It seems Marder and Neger were rather used against ships.

 

The corresponding English versions are not as elaborate in some cases.

 

[Danny L]

Hi,

At  Kew  there  is  HW 11/27  -  Vol. XIV  The German Navy - Small Battle Units by Lieutenant Commander L A Griffiths, RNVR.  -  01/01/1943  -  31/12/1945.

 

M.E.K.  60  &  65

During  October  made  at  least  two  sorties  against  the  Nijmegen  bridge.  Later  carried  out  further  attacks  on  the  Nijmegen  and  Moerdijk  bridges.  Operated  in  the  Rhine  area  into  1945.

 

M.E.K.  -  Marineeinsatzkommando  -  Naval  Special  Operation  Unit.

 

Kapitaenleutnant  Helmers  -  Head  of  the  group  taking  part  in  operations  against  the  Rhine  bridges,  March – April  1945.

Oberleutnant  Prinzhorn  -  In  command  of  MEK 60,  Involved  in  the  attempts  on  the  Nijmegen  and  Moerdijk  bridges.

 

Two  books  that  cover  the  operations  in  more  detail  are  “Hitler's Secret Commandos Operations of the K Verband”  -  Helmut Blocksdorf  and  “Weapons  Of  Desperation  German  Frogmen  and  Midget  Submarines  of  the  Second  World  War”  -  Lawrence  Paterson.

 

In  a  document  at  Kew,  RE  War  Diary ?,  there  are  details  of  the  booms/barriers  installed  on  the  river.

 

There  is  also  ADM 1/30133  -  Awards to 3 officers and men of Naval Boom Party R for services during operations in Holland  -  1945.  This  only  has  a  few  lines  on  each  award  though.

 

Regards

 

Danny

Edited March 23 by Danny L

[John Tapsell]

Hi Jochen and Danny,

 

Thanks very much for the useful links and references

 

Jochen - my German is very poor but Google translate is fairly helpful. Your links are much appreciated.

 

Danny - I visit Kew on a semi-regular basis so your document references are very useful. I will check them out next time I visit. The two book titles are also really useful.

 

A post-war Royal Engineers report (1947) suggests that the tank crews' claims of destroying mines and maybe mini-subs were highly unlikely, but just the fact that you've identified comparable German references for units operating in the same locations means that I might be able to tie down some better evidence.

 

Many thanks again,

John