Martienssen, Ekkehard

Date of birth:: August 4th, 1916 (Leipzig, Germany)
Date of death:: April 25th, 1995 (Neuwied-Feldkirchen (Rhein), Germany)
Nationality:: German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Oberleutnant zur See (1st Lieutenant at Sea)
Unit:: Kommandant "Vp. 203" / 2.Vorpostenflotille
Awarded on:: June 29th, 1944

On the night of the 27-28.06.1944 Martienssen and two other R-Boats engaged a British destroyer force south of the island of Jersey. Ultimately only Martienssen’s R-Boat succeeded in escaping destruction, but in the battle the British destroyer HMS Eskimo was badly damaged by the R-Boats as well.

Up until this time Martienssen had shot down at least 8 enemy aircraft, and participated in the destruction of further enemy aircraft and light ships. He also distinguished himself in multiple minesweeping operations. For the sum of his successes he would be decorated with the Knight’s Cross.

Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boots-, Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)

Sources

Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
Photo: Willi Schumacher collection
- DÖRR, MANFRED, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehmacht 1939–1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1996.
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9