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The Scharnhorst

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
  • Start date Start date
It wasl 22 Feb 1941, when the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau sank 5 ships including the Lustrous. Only the Lustrous and the Kantara were sunk by the Scharnhorst on that date and as far as I know there were no casualties on either of those ships. The Scharnhorst website does not have details on the Kantara, but nothing I have seen indicates there were casualties. I have the Kantara crew list on my website.

During the whole of Operation Berlin only the Chilean Reefer actually fired at the Germans -with no results. Ernie Shakleton (https://www.murrayarmstrong.com/tm/eshakleton/es2.htm) claimed that the AD Huff fired on the Gneisenau and killed 20 men, but none of the other four stories from AD Huff crewmen that I refer to or have on my site including that of Fred Hutson the gunner back him up. The German history says they had no fatalities. (A member of the Gneisenau's crew fell overboard and drowned early in the operation.)

It is possible a member of the crew died on that date in 1940, but Operation Berlin was a year later.
 
Is it possible to get the chaps name who fell overboard ? then I can check it against the one I have
 
From the Scharnhorst website:

"The German battleships met up with the tanker Adria on 30 January and refuelled which due to bad weather wasn't completed until 2 February. Both ships took on about 3.400 tons of fuel.

Immediately after having refuelled the German battleships began their journey through the Denmark Strait. A tragic incident happened when a seaman named Liske fell overboard from the Gneisenau and was never found again. "

This was Jan. 30, 1941.
 
Different chap different time, so it looks like a jigsaw puzzle as their must be a lot of misinformation as well as the facts that are known
 
Murray, I some how feel that the Rawalpindi photo has great historical significance in the episode that when on at that time, but it needs a person who knows more about the subject than you and I to work things out regarding that photograph....which I hope someone can do
 
Wonderful newspaper photo of the British crews at Brest going to a POW camp 1941
 
O.C. said:
This Second World War article about The Scharnhorst tells the story of the run for cover by the two German battleshipswhich I stress should be seen with a clear mind as many of us lost family and relatives in WW2 on both sides German and English, it consists mainly of photographs that to my knowledge have never been seen before or published so all my material will be copyrighted. With just Rod and John allowed to show it on this website and anyone showing an interest in the photographs will have to make a donation to this website
If anyone has had a relative that was taken prisoner on the Scharnhorst or her sister ship the Gneisenau please let me know as I have photographs of the men who were taken prisoner on board who can be identified and I would hate to upset anyone.
I also have photos and will be showing the sinking of the following ships.
Lustrous, Marathon, British Strength, Athelfoam, Mangkai, Demetrion, Silver Fir and the Sardinian Prince
It will be a very interesting article showing what the British Merchant sailors went through in running the gauntlet across the ocean to keep Britain from Starving during WW2
If enough interest is shown I will then follow it with
7 days in Westerplatte September 1939
If anyone can help with deciphering a few words of German it would be great
Click to expand...
Can copies of the prisoners from SilverFir please be shared as I have a family member who survived the war
 
Bobby,

A couple of years ago he was still on a Birmingham channel on Facebook, but sorry, I can't remember the name of the channel.

Maurice :cool:
 
My grandmother‘s first cousin - John Thompson was captained of the Silverfir when it was sunk. He and the crew were captured and taken to Germany. I would be interested in seeing these photos and accounts. Can anyone tell me how. Much obliged - this is fantastic. L
 
O.C. said:
This Second World War article about The Scharnhorst tells the story of the run for cover by the two German battleshipswhich I stress should be seen with a clear mind as many of us lost family and relatives in WW2 on both sides German and English, it consists mainly of photographs that to my knowledge have never been seen before or published so all my material will be copyrighted. With just Rod and John allowed to show it on this website and anyone showing an interest in the photographs will have to make a donation to this website
If anyone has had a relative that was taken prisoner on the Scharnhorst or her sister ship the Gneisenau please let me know as I have photographs of the men who were taken prisoner on board who can be identified and I would hate to upset anyone.
I also have photos and will be showing the sinking of the following ships.
Lustrous, Marathon, British Strength, Athelfoam, Mangkai, Demetrion, Silver Fir and the Sardinian Prince
It will be a very interesting article showing what the British Merchant sailors went through in running the gauntlet across the ocean to keep Britain from Starving during WW2
If enough interest is shown I will then follow it with
7 days in Westerplatte September 1939
If anyone can help with deciphering a few words of German it would be great
Click to expand...
Hi. My grandmothers cousin was captain of the Silverfir and taken prisoner on board the scharnhorst. Please let me know how I can view your photos. Thanks in advance.
 
Hello and welcome. The images you refer to are no longer available because this forum was the victim of a serious hacking in September 2011. So much was lost at that time and we’ve since been trying to replace the images we are able to trace. OC is no longer a member so we’re unable to obtain replacements.

The best we can offer is to appeal to any other members who may have by chance have saved the images. If there is anyone out there who can help please do. Thank you.

Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Hello and welcome. The images you refer to are no longer available because this forum was the victim of a serious hacking in September 2011. So much was lost at that time and we’ve since been trying to replace the images we are able to trace. OC is no longer a member so we’re unable to obtain replacements.

The best we can offer is to appeal to any other members who may have by chance have saved the images. If there is anyone out there who can help please do. Thank you.

Viv.
Click to expand...
thankyou for your prompt reply. What a shame. Regards.
 
I am also looking for any information regarding the sinking of the Silver Fir by the Scharnhorst as both my dad and his brother were crew on the ship. Luckily both survived and spent the duration of the war in Milag POW camp until repatriation in 1945. He never spoke much about his time at sea or his time in the camp so any info would be very much appreciated thank you.
 

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The Royal Navy camps are Marlag "o" and Marlag" m", the merchant marine camp Marlag Nord.
Close together between Bremen and Hamburg at the village of Westertimke.

Campletown Courrier 1945
 
June 1943 111 British merchant seamen arrive Lisbon from Germany for repatriation. All from Malag Nord Milan section, one and a half miles from Bremen, where they were interned about 3 years ago.
(Western Mail)

(Looks like a prisoner exchange)
 
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