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Wolff, Max-Eckart (Z 2)

Date of birth:
December 19th, 1902 (Wernigerode, Germany)
Date of death:
November 9th, 1988 (Bremen, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 6th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 12th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
May 13th, 1940
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
Commander, destroyer, Z-2 'Georg Thiele'
Awarded on:
August 4th, 1940
Korvettenkapitän Wolff distinguished himself as a destroyer captain in the battles around Narvik during the German invasion of Norway. His destroyer, "Georg Thiele", sank the British destroyers "Hardy" and "Hunter" on the 10.04.1940. It then torpedoed another British destroyer ("Eskimo") on the 13.04.1940. Later that day his destroyer covered the disembarkation of the crews of 3 German destroyers and was then scuttled, having been trapped by the British navy.

Despite the overall German defeat during these two battles, Wolff and his crew had put up such a good account of themselves that he would be awarded the Knight's Cross.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 9th, 1940
Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
November 10th, 1940
Narvikschild
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
March 1963
Großkreuz des Verdienstordens der BRD

Sources

Photo