German Order of Battle

Contributed by Peter Lienau

Command

SKL (Naval High Command) exercised command for all naval operations. SKL split command authority into two areas:

BALTICS
Naval Group Command East (Marinegruppenkommando Ost), under Admiral Rolf Carls, covering the Baltics up to the Skagerrak Mine fields.
NORTHSEA
Naval Group Command West, under Generaladmiral Alfred Saalwächter, covering Norway.

Units

Battleship Force

Battleship Force backed up Warship-Group 1 and Warship-Group 2.

  • Vice Admiral Günther Lütjens
  • Battleship GNEISENAU
    Commanding officer: KzS Harald Netzbandt
  • Battleship SCHARNHORST
    Commanding officer: KzS Kurt Caesar Hoffmann

Warship-Group 1

Narvik
  • KzS and Commodore Friedrich Bonte
  • Destroyer Z 21 (flagship)(flagship)
    Commanding officer: WILHELM HEIDKAMP, KK Hans Erdmenger
  • Destroyer Z 2 GEORG THIELE
    Commanding officer: KK Max-Ekkart Wolf
    Notes: Hosting Leader of 1. DD-Flotilla FK Fritz Berger.
  • Destroyer Z 9 WOLFGANG ZENKER
    Commanding officer: FK Gottfried Pönitz
  • Destroyer Z 11 BERND VON ARNIM
    Commanding officer: KK Kurt Rechel
  • Destroyer Z 12 ERICH GIESE
    Commanding officer: KK Karl Smidt
  • Destroyer Z 13 ERICH KOELLNER
    Commanding officer: FK Alfred Schulze-Hinrichs
  • Destroyer Z 17 DIETHER VON ROEDER
    Commanding officer: KK Erich Holthof
  • Destroyer Z 18 HANS LÜDEMANN
    Commanding officer: KK Herbert Friedrichs
    Notes: Hosting Leader of 3. DD-Flotilla FK H.-J. Gadow.
  • Destroyer Z 19 HERMANN KÜNNE
    Commanding officer: KK Friedrich Kothe
  • Destroyer Z 22 ANTON SCHMIDT

Warship-Group 2

Drontheim
  • KzS Hellmuth Heye
  • Heavy Cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER
    Commanding officer: KzS Hellmuth Heye
  • Destroyer Z 5 PAUL JACOBI
    Commanding officer: KK Hans-Georg Zimmer
    Notes: Hosting Leader of 2. DD-Flotilla FK Rudolf v. Pufendorf.
  • Destroyer Z 6 THEODOR RIEDEL
    Commanding officer: KK Gerhardt Böhmig
  • Destroyer Z 8 BRUNO HEINEMANN
    Commanding officer: KK Hermann Alberts
  • Destroyer Z 16 FRIEDRICH ECKHOLDT
    Commanding officer: KK Alfred Schemmel

This Group hosted the Naval Spec.Ops.Group, commanded by KK Wilhelm Hornack.

Warship-Group 3

Bergen
  • Rear Admiral Hubert Schmundt
    Position: B.d.A. (Leader of Scouting Forces)
  • Light Cruiser KÖLN (flagship)(flagship)
    Commanding officer: KzS Ernst Kratzenberg, flagship of B.d.A
  • Light Cruiser KÖNIGSBERG
    Commanding officer: KzS Heinrich Ruhfus
  • Artillery-Schoolship BREMSE
    Commanding officer: FK Jakob Förschner
  • T-Boat LEOPARD
    Commanding officer: KLt. Hans Trummer
  • T-Boat WOLF
    Commanding officer: Olt. Broder Peters
    Notes: Hosting Leader of 6. T-Boat-Fl. KK Hans Marks.
  • 1. S-Boatflotilla
    Commanding officer: KLt. Heinz Birnbacher
    • S 19
    • S 21
    • S 22
    • S23
    • S 24
  • S-Boat-Tender CARL PETERS
    Commanding officer: KLt. Otto Hinzke

Warship-Group 4

Kristiansand and Arendal
  • KzS Friedrich Rieve
  • Light Cruiser KARLSRUHE
    Commanding officer: KzS Friedrich Rieve
  • T-Boat LUCHS
    Commanding officer: KLt. Karl Kaßbaum, hosting KzS Hans Bütow (F.d.T. = Leader of T-Boats)
  • T-Boat GREIF
    Commanding officer: KLt. Wilhelm-Nikolaus Freiherr von Lyncker, hosting KK Wolf Henne, Leader of 5. T-Boat-Fl.)
  • T-Boat SEEADLER
    Commanding officer: KLt. Franz Kohlauf
  • 2. S-Boat-Flotilla
    Commanding officer: KK Rudolf Petersen
    • S 7
    • S 8
    • S 17
    • S 30
    • S 31
    • S 32
    • S 33
  • S-Boat-Tender TSINGTAU
    Commanding officer: KzS Carl Klingner

Warship-Group 5

Oslo and Oslo-Inlet
  • Rear Admiral Oskar Kummetz
  • Heavy Cruiser BLÜCHER (flagship)(flagship)
    Commanding officer: KzS Heinrich Woldag
  • Heavy Cruiser LÜTZOW ex. DEUTSCHLAND
    Commanding officer: KzS August Thiele
  • Light Cruiser EMDEN (III)
    Commanding officer: KzS Werner Lange
  • T-Boat MÖWE
    Commanding officer: KLt. Helmut Neuss
  • T-Boat ALBATROS
    Commanding officer: KLt. Siegfried Strelow
  • T-Boat KONDOR
    Commanding officer: KLt. Hans Wilcke
  • 1. Minesweeper-Fl.
    Commanding officer: KLt. Gustav Forstmann
    • R 17
    • R 18
    • R 19
    • R 20
    • R 21
    • R 22
    • R 23
    • R 24
  • Whale catcher RAU 7
  • Whale catcher RAU 8

Warship-Group 6

Egernsund (Cablestation)
  • KK Kurt Thoma
    Position: Leader of 2 Minehunting-Fl.
  • Minehunter M 1
    Commanding officer: KK Kurt Thoma
  • 2. Minehunting-Fl.
    • M 9
    • M 2
    • M 13

Warship-Group 7

Nyborg and Korsör
  • KzS Gustav Kleikamp
  • Schoolship SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN
    Commanding officer: KzS Gustav Kleikamp
  • Six Fishingtrawlers
    Commanding officer: FK Dr. Oskar Dannenberg
    Notes: School-Fl. of CIC Baltic approaches
  • Testvessel CLAUS VON BEVERN
  • Testvessel PELIKAN
  • Testvessel NAUTILUS
  • Transportsteamer CAMPINAS
  • Transportsteamer CORDOBA
  • Two Tugs
    Notes: Assisted CAMPINAS and CORDOBA.
  • Minesweepingship MRS 12
    Commanding officer: KK Carl Bünte
    Notes: Attached as Vanguard.

Warship-Group 8

Copenhagen
  • KK Wilhelm Schroeder
  • Minelayer HANSESTADT DANZIG
    Commanding officer: KK Wilhelms Schroeder
  • Icebreaker STETTIN
  • 13. Patron-Flotilla
    Commanding officer: KLt. Dr. Walther Fische
    Notes: Provided assistance in the waters of the Belt.

Warship-Group 9

Middelfart and Bridge over Belt
  • KzS Helmut Leißner
    Position: F.d.V.O (Leader of Patron Flotillas Baltics)
  • Steamer RUGARD
    Notes: Leaderboat of F.d.V.O
  • Minehunter-Group
    • Testvessel ARKONA (M 115)
    • TestvesselOTTO BRAUN (M 129)
    • Testvessel M 157
    • Patron 102 (CRESSIDA)
    • Patron 103 (SILVIA)
    • Minesweeper R 6
    • Minesweeper R 7
    • Subhunter 107
    • Navytug PASSAT
    • Navytug MONSUN

Warship-Group 10

Esbjerg and Nordby (Fanö)
  • KzS and Commodore Friedrich Ruge
    Position: F.d.M. West (Leader of Minehunters/-sweepers west)
  • Escortship KÖNIGIN LUISE (F 6)
    Notes: Leaderboat
  • 12. Minehunter-Fl.
    Commanding officer: KK Karl Marguth
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1201
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1202
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1203
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1204
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1205
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1206
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1207
    • Large Fishtrawler M 1208
  • M 4
  • M 20
  • M 84
  • M 102
  • 2. Minesweeper-Fl.
    Commanding officer: KK Gert von Kamptz
    • R 25
    • R 26
    • R 27
    • R 28
    • R 29
    • R 30,
    • R 31
    • R 32

Warship-Group 11

Thyborön (westinlet of Limfjorden)
  • KK Walter Berger
  • 4. Minehunter-Fl.
    Commanding officer: KK Walter Berger
    • M 134
    • M 111
    • M 136
    • M 61
    • M 110
    • M 89
  • 3. Minesweeper-Fl.
    Commanding officer: KLt. Hagen Küster
    • R 33
    • R 34
    • R 35
    • R 36
    • R 37
    • R 38
    • R 39
    • R 40
  • R-Boat-Tender VON DER GROEBEN
    Commanding officer: OLt. Gustav Czycholl

Other

  • Schoolship SCHLESIEN
    Commanding officer: KK Walter Berger
    Notes: Backup-force for the Minesweeper working the south of the Belt, after this she assisted SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, which ran aground.
Minelayers

These ships laid and and later prolonged in the Skagerrak to secure supply lines.

  • KzS Kurt Böhmer
  • Minelayer ROLAND
    Commanding officer: KK Karl von Kutzleben
  • Minelayer COBRA
    Commanding officer: KLt Dr. Ing. Karl-Friedrich Brill
  • Minelayer PREUSSEN
    Commanding officer: KK Karl Freiherr von der Recke
  • Minelayer KÖNIGIN LUISE,
    Commanding officer: KLt Kurt Foerster
  • Minehunter M 10
  • Minehunter M 6
  • Minehunter M 12
  • Minehunter M 11

U-boats

Uboat-Group 1
Narvik-Harstad-Westfjord-Vagsfjord
  • U 25
  • U 46
  • U 51
  • U 64
  • U 65
Uboat-Group 2
Drontheim-Namsos-Romdalsfjord
  • U 30
  • U 34
Uboat-Group 3
Bergen-Aalesund-Shetlands
  • U 9
  • U 14
  • U 56
  • U 60
  • U 62
Uboat-Group 4
Stavanger
  • U 1
  • U 4
Uboat-Group 5
Shetlands-Vagsfjord-Drontheim
  • U 37
  • U 38
  • U 47
  • U 48
  • U 49
  • U 50
  • U 52
Uboat-Group 6
Pentland-Orkneys-Shetlands
  • U 13
  • U 57
  • U 58
  • U 59
Uboat-Group 7

Cancelled.

Uboat-Group 8
Lindesnes-Egernsund
  • U 2
  • U 3
  • U 5
  • U 6
Uboat-Group 9
Shetlands-Bergen
  • U 7
  • U 10
  • U 19
Other
Operating in Orkneys-Shetlands-Bergen waters
  • U 17
  • U 23
  • U 24
  • U 61
Transports to Drontheim
  • U 26
  • U 29
  • U 32
  • U 43
  • U 101
  • UA

Landing-Groups

By destination
Narvik
  • Steamer BÄRENFELS
  • Steamer RAUENFELS
  • Steamer ALSTER
Drontheim
  • Steamer SAO PAULO
  • Steamer LEVANTE
  • Steamer MAIN
Stavanger
  • Steamer RODA

Tanker-Groups

By destination

Some of these ships were deployed to arrive at their destinations before the Warship-Groups.

Narvik
  • Tanker JAN WELLEM
  • Tanker KATTEGAT
Drontheim
  • Tanker SKAGERRAK
  • Tanker MOONSUND
Oslo
  • Tanker SENATOR
  • Tanker EUROLAND
Stavanger
  • Tanker DOLLART
Berger
  • Tanker BELT

Transport-Groups

First Echelon
By destination
Oslo
  • ANTARES
  • JONIA
  • MUANSA
  • ITAURI
  • NEIDENFELS
Kristiansand
  • WIEGAND
  • JONIA
  • KRETA
  • AUGUST LEONHARDT
Stavanger
  • TÜBINGEN
  • TIJUCA
  • MENDOZA
Bergen
  • MARIE LEONHARDT
  • CURITYBA
  • RIO DE JANEIRO
Second Echelon
Oslo
  • FRIEDENAU
  • KELLERWALD
  • HAMM
  • WIGBERT
  • ESPANA
  • ROSARIO
  • TUCUMAN
  • HANAU
  • WOLFRAM
  • WANDSBEK
  • SCHARHÖRN

Sources

  • Kommandierender Admiral östliche Ostsee (BA/MA RM 7/90)
  • KTB M.O.K. Ostsee (BA/MA - M 523/38786)
  • Geh. NTB Nr. 46/1940
  • Geh. NTB 157/1940
  • O.K.M. Skl Qu A II Org (BA/MA-RM 7/160)
  • Geh. OTB 110/1940
  • Geh. NTB 82 v. 23.06.1940
  • Geh. NTB 115/1940
  • Geh. NTB 148/1940
  • Geh. OTB 102/1940

Individual Engagements

Michal Kopacz

Hipper vs. Glowworm

8 April 1940

German Forces

  • Admiral Hipper
    Commanding officer: Capt. Hellmuth Heye
    Notes: Damaged.
3flotte
  • Cmdr. Hans-Joachim Gadow
  • Brend von Arnim
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Kurt Rechel
  • Hans Ludeman
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Herbert Friedrichs

British Forces

  • Glowworm (sunk)(sunk)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Roope (killed)

Renown vs. Gneisenau and Scharnhorst

9 April 1940

German Forces

  • Rear Admiral Gunter Lutjens
  • Gneisenau
    Commanding officer: Capt. Harald Netzbandt
  • Scharnhorst
    Commanding officer: Capt.Kurt Hoffmann

British Forces

  • Rear Admiral W.J. Whitworth
  • Renown

Battles off Narvik

10 & 13 April 1940

German Forces

Task Force "Narvik"
Destroyer Group
  • Capt. Friedrich Bonte
  • Wilhelm Heidkamp (flagship)(flagship)
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Hans Erdmenger
1st Flotilla
  • Cmdr. Friedrich Berger
  • Georg Thiele (2nd flagship)(2nd flagship)
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Max-Eckart Wolff
3rd Flotilla
  • Cmdr. Hans-Joachim Gadow
  • Hans Ludeman (2nd flagship)(2nd flagship)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. Herbert Friedrichs
  • Herman Kunne
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Friedrich Kothe
  • Diether von Roeder
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Erich Holtorf
  • Anton Schmitt
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Friedrich Bohme
4th Flotilla
  • Cmdr. Erich Bey
  • Wolfgang Zenker (2nd flagship)(2nd flagship)
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Gottfried Ponitz
  • Brend von Arnim
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Kurt Rechel
  • Erich Giese
    Commanding officer: Lt.Cmdr. Karl Smidt
  • Erich Koellner
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. Alfred Schultze-Hinrichs
Submarines
  • U-25
  • U-46
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. Sohler
  • U-51
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. Knorr
  • U-64
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. Wilhelm Scholz
  • U-65
  • U-48

Norwegian Forces

Coast Defense Vessels
  • Norge
    Commanding officer: Capt. Per Askim
  • Eidsvold
    Commanding officer: Capt. Odd Isaksen Willoch
  • Patrol boats
    • Michael Sars
    • Kelt
      Commanding officer: Lt. Rasmussen
    • Senja
Submarines
  • B-1
  • B-3

British Forces

2nd Destroyer Flotilla
  • Hardy
    Commanding officer: Capt. Bernard A.W. Warburton-Lee
  • Hotspur
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. H.F.H. Layman
  • Hostile
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. J.P. Wright
  • Havock
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. Rafe E. Courage
  • Hunter
Force B
  • Warspite
    Commanding officer: Adm. W.Jock Whitworth
  • Eskimo
  • Punjabi
  • Bedouin
  • Hero
  • Cossack
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. R.St.V. Scherbrooke
  • Icarus
  • Kimberley
  • Foxhound

Operation Juno

8 June 1940

German Forces

  • Adm. Wilhelm Marschall
  • Gneisenau
    Commanding officer: Capt. Harald Netzbandt
  • Scharnhorst
    Commanding officer: Capt. Kurt Hoffmann
Reconnaissance Forces
  • Rear Admiral Hubert Schmundt
  • Admiral Hipper
    Commanding officer: Capt. Hellmuth Heye
  • Destroyers
    Commanding officer: Capt. Erich Bey
    • Hans Lody
      Commanding officer: Cmdr. Hubert Freiherr von Wangenheim
    • Hermann Schoemann
      Commanding officer: Cmdr. Theodor Detmers
    • Erich Steinbrick
      Commanding officer: Cmdr. Rolf Johannesson
    • Karl Galster
      Commanding officer: Cmdr. Theodor Freiherr von Bechtolsheim
Support Units
  • Juniper
  • Oilpioneer
  • Atlantis
  • Orama

British Forces

  • Glorious
    Commanding officer: Capt. G. D'Oyly-Hughes
  • Acasta
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. C.F. Glasfurd
  • Ardent
    Commanding officer: Cmdr. J.F. Barker

Source

  • "Burza nad Atlantykiem", t1, Andrzej Perepeczko