Horst Weber
Encyclopedia
Horst Weber was a German
Schnellboot commander in World War II
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
Horst Weber survived the war and died in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in the Rhineland on the 8th January 2007 aged 87.
Schnellboot S-55, technical details
Built: F. R Lurssen Bootswerft at Bremen-Vegesack and commissioned during August 1940 (at Kiel) to form part of Third Flotilla.
Captain: Kommandant (later Oberleutnant) Horst Weber
Displacement: of 100 tons, 115 ft x 16.5 ft x 6.5 ft.
Powered: by three Daimler Benz 16 cylinder engines, each of 2000 HP, giving a maximum speed of 42 knots
Endurance: 700 miles @ 30 knots
Armament: 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes, 2 single 20 mm guns, spare torpedoes on deck or depth charges
Crew: 21
for a thorough refit. When this work was finished, the journey to the Mediterranean began on the morning of 7 October 1941. Divided into two groups of five (S-55, 35, 61, 31, 34) and (S-56, 54, 57, 58, 59) they set out from Wilhelmshaven for Rotterdam
. Rough weather was encountered in the North Sea and S-54 and 57 suffered damage which necessitated a delay in Rotterdam for repairs.
From there the journey down the Rhine was carried out at an average speed of 15 knots and in daily stages until reaching Strasbourg
. From here the route led through the Rhine-Rhône canal, through 167 locks, down to the Burgundian Gate, along the River Doubs to the estuary where it joins the Saone
river at St Sinforien, thence down the Saone and finally into the Rhone at Lyon
. From here the boats proceeded down river to the Mediterranean. The first group of boats completed the journey quite quickly and by December 1941 they were ready to undertake their first operations from Sicily on the night of 16 December 1941, when they laid mines off the entrance to the Grand Harbour
, Malta.
The second group required somewhat longer to complete the journey to the Mediterranean, the low level of water in the Rhone holding them up for six weeks, so that it was 10 January 1942 before they could move on. They reached La Spezia
in northern Italy on 15th January 1942, and from there continued to Augusta in Sicily, where the first group had already started their operations. The journey from Germany was extremely difficult due to narrow locks and low bridges. Because the S-Boats with the 20 cylinder engines were too large for the Rhine-Rhone canal locks, the 3rd Flotilla, whose boats had the smaller 16 cylinder engine, was chosen. Even with these boats, extensive modifications were still found to be necessary. In addition alterations had to be made for reasons of camouflage, e.g. the aft 20 mm AA gun was removed and the torpedo tubes covered with sheet metal plating. A thick funnel was placed over the forward engine fanlight. The bridge house was reduced to about half its height and the cut away top placed on the after deck. This meant that the helmsman had to stand in the open. Finally the boats were painted pitch-black and the Reich Service Flag flown (as worn by fleet auxiliaries). The intention was to give them the appearance of air-sea-rescue vessels. The crews wore civilian clothes and all military talk in front of strangers was strictly forbidden. Throughout the journey to the Mediterranean there was a total clampdown on mail and leave.
S-55 and the Third S-boat Flotilla moved to the port of Bizerte
on 8th November 1942 (just as HMS Lightning
was completing her refit), and left when Tunisia was taken by the Allies in May of 1943, two months after the sinking of Lightning. She later took part in the capture of the island of Leros
(Dodecanese Islands, Aegean Sea) in the autumn of 1943 and was finally sunk on 10 January 1944 by allied bombing at Korcŭla
(Croatia) on the Adriatic Sea.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Schnellboot commander in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Awards
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class (20 April 1940)
- 1st Class (28 July 1941)
- Fast Attack Craft War BadgeFast Attack Craft War BadgeThe E-Boat War Badge is a German military decoration awarded to Kriegsmarine members for service on fast attack craft or torpedo boats worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the naval service tunic, underneath the 1st class Iron Cross if awarded, or equivalent grade award...
(30 December 1940) - German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (21 November 1942) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(5 July 1943) as commander of Schnellboot ‘’S-55’’
Brief biography - Oberleutnant Horst Weber
was born on 8th August 1919 in Münster Germany, and joined the German Navy (Deutsche Kriegsmarine) in 1937. From December 1939 to June 1940 he served with the 1st S-boot flotilla, in the English Channel and North Sea. The same year he transferred to the 3rd S-boot flotilla serving on S-13 and S-35 in the Baltic in action around Leningrad. Later in July 1941 he served on S-55 as Kommandant in the Mediterranean, until January 1944. He was appointed Oberleutnant at Sea and awarded the Knight’s Cross on 5th July 1943, and in January 1945 he was appointed Kapitänleutnant on S-191, of the 10th Flotilla. S-191 was subsequently sunk in collision with S-301 on 7th May 1945 in the Fehmarnsund (Baltic Sea off Kiel) the day before the war ended.Horst Weber survived the war and died in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler in the Rhineland on the 8th January 2007 aged 87.
German Schnellboots
The Schnellboot or S-boot ("fast craft") was a German small, fast torpedo boat, which saw service during World War II. The S-boats were approximately twice as large as its British and American counterparts. By comparison with the Allied craft, the S-boats were better suited for the open sea and had a substantially longer range at approximately 700 nautical miles. The allies called these small, fast torpedo boats "E-boats" whereas to the Germans they were "S-boats" – Schnellboots.Schnellboot S-55, technical details
Built: F. R Lurssen Bootswerft at Bremen-Vegesack and commissioned during August 1940 (at Kiel) to form part of Third Flotilla.
Captain: Kommandant (later Oberleutnant) Horst Weber
Displacement: of 100 tons, 115 ft x 16.5 ft x 6.5 ft.
Powered: by three Daimler Benz 16 cylinder engines, each of 2000 HP, giving a maximum speed of 42 knots
Endurance: 700 miles @ 30 knots
Armament: 2 x 21 inch torpedo tubes, 2 single 20 mm guns, spare torpedoes on deck or depth charges
Crew: 21
Short History of S-55, part of the 3rd S-Boat flotilla ('Penguin insignia')
The Third S-boat Flotilla (10 boats) at the time of entering the Mediterranean comprised: S-55, S-35, S-61, S-31, S-34, S-56, S-54, S-57, S-58, S-59 On completion of its service in the Baltic the Third S-Boat Flotilla had been moved to WilhelmshavenWilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
for a thorough refit. When this work was finished, the journey to the Mediterranean began on the morning of 7 October 1941. Divided into two groups of five (S-55, 35, 61, 31, 34) and (S-56, 54, 57, 58, 59) they set out from Wilhelmshaven for Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Rough weather was encountered in the North Sea and S-54 and 57 suffered damage which necessitated a delay in Rotterdam for repairs.
From there the journey down the Rhine was carried out at an average speed of 15 knots and in daily stages until reaching Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. From here the route led through the Rhine-Rhône canal, through 167 locks, down to the Burgundian Gate, along the River Doubs to the estuary where it joins the Saone
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
river at St Sinforien, thence down the Saone and finally into the Rhone at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
. From here the boats proceeded down river to the Mediterranean. The first group of boats completed the journey quite quickly and by December 1941 they were ready to undertake their first operations from Sicily on the night of 16 December 1941, when they laid mines off the entrance to the Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
, Malta.
The second group required somewhat longer to complete the journey to the Mediterranean, the low level of water in the Rhone holding them up for six weeks, so that it was 10 January 1942 before they could move on. They reached La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
in northern Italy on 15th January 1942, and from there continued to Augusta in Sicily, where the first group had already started their operations. The journey from Germany was extremely difficult due to narrow locks and low bridges. Because the S-Boats with the 20 cylinder engines were too large for the Rhine-Rhone canal locks, the 3rd Flotilla, whose boats had the smaller 16 cylinder engine, was chosen. Even with these boats, extensive modifications were still found to be necessary. In addition alterations had to be made for reasons of camouflage, e.g. the aft 20 mm AA gun was removed and the torpedo tubes covered with sheet metal plating. A thick funnel was placed over the forward engine fanlight. The bridge house was reduced to about half its height and the cut away top placed on the after deck. This meant that the helmsman had to stand in the open. Finally the boats were painted pitch-black and the Reich Service Flag flown (as worn by fleet auxiliaries). The intention was to give them the appearance of air-sea-rescue vessels. The crews wore civilian clothes and all military talk in front of strangers was strictly forbidden. Throughout the journey to the Mediterranean there was a total clampdown on mail and leave.
S-55 and the Third S-boat Flotilla moved to the port of Bizerte
Bizerte
Bizerte or Benzert , is the capital city of Bizerte Governorate in Tunisia and the northernmost city in Africa. It has a population of 230,879 .-History:...
on 8th November 1942 (just as HMS Lightning
HMS Lightning
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Lightning.*The first Lightning was an 8-gun fire ship launched in 1691 and captured by the French in 1705....
was completing her refit), and left when Tunisia was taken by the Allies in May of 1943, two months after the sinking of Lightning. She later took part in the capture of the island of Leros
Leros
Leros is a Greek island and municipality in the Dodecanese in the southern Aegean Sea. It lies 317 km from Athens's port of Piraeus, from which it can be reached by an 11-hour ferry ride . Leros is part of the Kalymnos peripheral unit...
(Dodecanese Islands, Aegean Sea) in the autumn of 1943 and was finally sunk on 10 January 1944 by allied bombing at Korcŭla
Korcula
Korčula is an island in the Adriatic Sea, in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia. The island has an area of ; long and on average wide — and lies just off the Dalmatian coast. Its 16,182 inhabitants make it the second most populous Adriatic island after Krk...
(Croatia) on the Adriatic Sea.