Unknown U-boat Photo Album Help!

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by wilhelmgustloffmuseum, Jul 10, 2010.

  1. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    I recently joined the site in the hopes others can help me with some identification. I have a Wilhelm Gustloff photo album that mostly features a u-boat and crew training in Gotenhafen during the war. The dragon emblem on the u-boat no one has been able to identify, and after toggling around the U-97, U-982, and others - I am beginning to think it is an unknown emblem. There is also an image of the emblem on the hat of one of the crew.

    I have the entire album posted to the site, and I would hope anyone could identify anything - u-boat, commander, crew, rankings, etc. I know little about this topic, but want the details to be as accurate as possible. Many thanks in advance.

    Eddie
    My website
    Accomodation Ship page
    The Wilhelm Gustloff Story
     
  2. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    Found the date December of 1942 on the back of 3 images. :D
     
  3. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I can't help with your query I'm afraid Eddie - Boats not really my thing.
    But that's a damned fine website.

    Cheers,
    Adam.
     
  4. James S

    James S Very Senior Member

    Excellent website - Eddie could you tell me where the photos are , I seem to be missing them.
    ( Which album are they in).
     
  5. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    They are on the Accomodation Ship page - just under the first set of random photos. All 113 photos are in thumbnail form.
     
  6. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    welcome to the forum

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  7. Kiwiguy

    Kiwiguy Member

    I recently joined the site in the hopes others can help me with some identification. I have a Wilhelm Gustloff photo album that mostly features a u-boat and crew training in Gotenhafen during the war. The dragon emblem on the u-boat no one has been able to identify, and after toggling around the U-97, U-982, and others - I am beginning to think it is an unknown emblem. There is also an image of the emblem on the hat of one of the crew.

    I have the entire album posted to the site, and I would hope anyone could identify anything - u-boat, commander, crew, rankings, etc. I know little about this topic, but want the details to be as accurate as possible. Many thanks in advance.

    Eddie
    My website
    Accomodation Ship page
    The Wilhelm Gustloff Story

    Hi Eddie,

    This appears to be a photo from U-71 with U-Flotte 24 which was based at Gotenhafen from October 1944 to February 1945 when it evacuated to Eckernforde and finally was scuttled at Wilhelmshaven.

    She was damaged at sea in the Atlantic in 1943 in collision with the U-boat which sank my father's ship U-653. Then U-71 was returned to the Baltic for repairs. U-71 was a type VIIC U-boat under the command of Ob.Lt Emil Ranzau whailst at Gotenhafen.

    It is possible to obtain the names of all crew on U-71 if you wish?

    Regards
     
  8. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    As of last night - I have 2 people (both who run uboat websites) thinking it may be the U-78. She was part of the 22nd Flottille - which was the unit that worked with the 2 ULD, and the 2 ULD was stationed on the Gustloff. The U-78 was also in Gotenhafen during December of 42. U-boat.net lists the emblem as being a side of die with the 6 on it, but the owner of the site, and another said my emblem could be an undocumented one that was used on the u-boat just during her training time with the yellow stripe.
     
  9. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    The crew members hat badge in the album still comes closest to the dragon on the U-71. I think the only way to know for sure is to have a pictures of her officers and compare them to the albums.

    Regards, Eddie
     
  10. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Both U71 and U78 have crew members with forenames Willi, Walter and Hans (as you might expect!). Any chance one of the photos of the boat is peeling off the page without causing any damage?
     
  11. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    Yes, there are some photos of the u-boat coming off. The creator only put a small dab of glue in each corner of the photo and as they are falling off, it feels like sand rather than dried glue. I did not see anything on the backs of the others, the 3 that do have writing are all the same format on that page... some photos in the album have 'chipped' edges, and most are straight edge.

    Do you know the full names of those 3 members? Maybe I can search that way as well. I believe that Hans is the other name only by what someone on feldgrau had said - as I cannot make it out in the top left corner of the photo.
     
  12. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    Yes, there are some photos of the u-boat coming off. The creator only put a small dab of glue in each corner of the photo and as they are falling off, it feels like sand rather than dried glue. I did not see anything on the backs of the others, the 3 that do have writing are all the same format on that page... some photos in the album have 'chipped' edges, and most are straight edge.

    Do you know the full names of those 3 members? Maybe I can search that way as well. I believe that Hans is the other name only by what someone on feldgrau had said - as I cannot make it out in the top left corner of the photo.

    Also, I asked another this question: "Kapitänleutnant (Crew 35) Helmut Sommer is listed as being the commander at the time, He would be 28 years old. Does the man in the white hat - or does the white hat itself, fit the decsription of what the Captain would have been wearing?" I was told that the hat in the album matches the one the KL would wear, and the man could pass for 28 I'd say.
     
  13. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Do you know the full names of those 3 members? Maybe I can search that way as well. I believe that Hans is the other name only by what someone on feldgrau had said - as I cannot make it out in the top left corner of the photo.


    Some years ago, I found a work colleague had an uncle who served on a U-boat. We found some crew lists here:

    U-Boat Crew Lists

    Sorry don't know much about uniforms.

    Have you tried the U-boat museum, I think it is at Wilhelmshaven.
     
  14. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Have you tried the U-boat museum, I think it is at Wilhelmshaven.

    Cuxhaven ?
     
  15. wilhelmgustloffmuseum

    wilhelmgustloffmuseum Junior Member

    I found the names of those on the list and added them to the site to see if anyone else may match them. Based on the various opinions I have gotten, it seems to be a good case for the U-78 with the thought her dice logo was used during war, and the dragon for training.

    I have yet to look at the u-boat museum, but I will have to look into it. Thanks again!:D
     

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