Williamson - Kriegsmarine Coastal Forces

Aviso Grille

Understandably, when studying the surface fleets of most of the worlds navies the readers imagination is most readily captured by the capital ships such as aircraft carriers and battleships; due to their visual impression of massive strength, service in such vessels has always had an aura of glamour. This is shared by the much smaller but equally deadly submarines, whose dramatic operations have the added appeal of the intimacy of a small crew, in which we may find ourselves identifying with individuals.

However, the capital warships being extremely costly, not just in cash terms but also in material, industrial and manpower resources inevitably formed only a small proportion of any navys total order of battle. In terms of ship numbers and manhours, the great bulk of the hard daily sea-duty was to be found in the smaller, decidedly unglamorous world of support vessels. Without these ships no fleet could function, and the World War II Kriegsmarine was no exception. Germanys minesweepers alone formed a massive proportion of its total strength, and are very much the unsung heroes of the Kriegsmarine. Very little has been written of their wartime service, despite a significant number of their personnel being highly decorated. The award rolls of the German Cross in Gold, the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross and the Roll of Honour of the German Navy all contain the names of several members of the coastal forces, whose war was equally, if not more hazardous than that of comrades serving in branches better known to the public. In fact, many of these officers and seamen continued to carry out dangerous duties well after the war ended, clearing mines from around coastal waters under British supervision in the GMSA (German Mine Sweeping Administration).

A young Fhnrich (midshipman) in dress uniform, with dagger and portepee. His rank is indicated by his narrow shouldercords, and the lack of cuff rings below the star of the seamans branch on his sleeve. His combat experience is evidenced by the ribbon of the Iron Cross 2nd Class worn in the buttonhole; on his left breast, in the regulation position, he proudly displays the War Badge for Minesweepers, Sub-Chasers and other units of the Sicherungsverbnde. (Deutsches U-Boot-Museum)

Apart from essential minesweeping and minelaying tasks, smaller branches of the Kriegsmarine were responsible for escort duties, patrol services, fleet auxiliary roles such as refuelling, hospital and accommodation ships and sail training. The vast number of variants that existed (to say nothing of the wide range of captured enemy vessels pressed into service in such roles) precludes detailed coverage here of every type of ship; this work therefore concentrates on the main types, those that performed the bulk of the Navys work, predominantly in coastal or home waters.

The War Badge for Minesweepers, etc. It is an interesting departure from normal war badge designs in showing an action (the waterspout from an underwater explosion) rather than illustrating a specific type of vessel. This was perfectly logical, considering the wide range of vessels and duties associated with the Sicherungsverbnde. (Authors collection)

The award document for the Minesweeper badge, one of many variants that were produced. This document was issued to Bootsmannsmaat Karl Heesemann, a rating who went on to become a commissioned officer. Many sailors spent time on minesweepers before going on to serve in other branches of the surface fleet. (Authors collection)

In the simplest terms, the Navy under the Naval High Command (Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine) was split into three main operational commands: the Flottenchef, covering the major combat units of the Fleet, and the Kommandierender Admiral der Marinestationen der Nordsee and der Ostsee, the Commanding Admirals of the North Sea and Baltic Naval Stations.

Under these latter two senior commands came the Befehlshaber der Sicherung der Nordsee and der Ostsee, Commanders of Security in the North Sea and Baltic.

On the outbreak of war in September 1939 the position of Befehlshaber der Sicherung was held by a flag officer with the rank of Konteradmiral. As more and more territory, and thus coastal waters, fell under German control, so new senior naval commands were established (e.g. in Paris, Oslo, Sofia, etc), and each had a number of units of the Sicherungsverbnde under its control. In November 1944, as German-controlled waters rapidly shrank, Sicherungsverbnde units were grouped under the command of the Befehlshaber der Sicherungstreitkrfte or Commander of Security Forces. Below these senior levels in the chain of command came the positions of Fhrer der Minensuchboote and Fhrer der Vorpostenboote, Commanders of Minesweepers and of Patrol Boats.

For the greater part of the war those naval units (usually of flotilla size) responsible for minesweeping, minelaying, patrol and escort work were grouped into Security Divisions or Sicherungsdivisionen of which 11 were ultimately created, plus one training unit, the Sicherungslehrdivision. For example, in 1941, I. Sicherungsdivision comprised the following units:

15. Minensuchflottille

22. Minensuchflottille

32. Minensuchflottille

34. Minensuchflottille

13. Vorpostenflottille

A trio of minesweepers 66, 98 & 145 tied up in port before the war. Although they are finished in the old black colour scheme, under magnification one can still see the large bronze eagle-and-swastika mounted on the front of the bridges of 98 and 145. This dates the photo to 1935 at the earliest, when the Reichsmarine was re-formed as the Kriegsmarine. (Authors collection)

20. Vorpostenflottille

Minenrumschiff 12

Sperrbrecher 145, 147, 148 & 149

As early as 1940, a special badge was introduced to recognize the service of personnel involved in such essential duties. Designed by the respected Berlin graphic artist Otto Placzek, it was authorized on 31 August 1940 by Grossadmiral Raeder, and entitled the Kriegsabzeichen fr Minensuch-, U-Bootsjagd- und Sicherungsverbnde (War Badge for Minesweeper, Sub-Chaser and Security Units). Awards began on 11 September of that year, the badge being available to those who had completed a minimum of three combat missions. Like the other War Badges of the armed services, this was issued together with an award document; it was recorded in the individuals pay book and service records, and was worn on the left breast of uniforms.

The metal badge consisted of a vertical oval wreath of oakleaves topped by the eagle with a tiny swastika in its talons. In the centre of the wreath was a waterspout rising from the sea, which could indicate either a detonating mine in the mine-clearing role, or a detonating depth charge in the sub-chaser role. The wreath and eagle were gilded, surrounding a silvered waterspout on a toned silver sea. The reverse featured either a vertical or horizontal hinged pin fitting.