Mirbach, Freiherr von, Erich Werner Siegfried Götz
- Date of birth:
- September 12th, 1915 (Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany)
- Date of death:
- August 6th, 1968 (Hamburg, Germany)
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
Promotions:
April 1st, 1938: Leutnant zur See;
?: Oberleutnant zur See;
?: Kapitänleutnant;
September 1st, 1944: Korvettenkapitän.
Career:
1935: Entrance Kriegsmarine;
1939: Kommandant "S 18" / 1. Schnellbootsflottille;
1940; Kommandant "S 21" / 1. Schnellbootsflottille;
1941: Kommandant "S 29" / 1. Schnellbootsflottille;
?: Kommandant "S 48" / 4. Schnellbootsflottille;
April 1943 - May 1945: Chef 9. Schnellbootsflottille;
May 1945 - September 1945: British POW.
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Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant)
- Awarded on:
- April 5th, 1939
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Awarded on:
- April 30th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Awarded on:
- May 28th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Unit:
- Kommandant "S 21", 1 .Schnellbootsflottille
- Awarded on:
- August 14th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Awarded on:
- December 16th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberleutnant zur See
- Awarded on:
- December 21st, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Kommandant "S 48" / 4. Schnellbootsflottille
- Awarded on:
- November 10th, 1942
Cruz del Mérito Militar White Division
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- November 10th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Awarded on:
- April 28th, 1944
"German fast attack crafts under the leadership of Korvettenkapitän Klug and Kapitänleutnant von Mirbach sank three ships for a total of 9100 GRT, another one of 200 GRT was torpedoed, its sinking is assumed, from a convoy, defended by destroyers and numerous smaller combat vessels, in the early morning hours of 28 April at the English southern coast. During the course of the hard fought battles a destroyer was torpedoed, its sinking could not be observed due to the defensive that had commenced, but is assumed with certainty. Our units returned to their stations without damage nor loss of personnel."
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Chef 9. Schnellbootsflottille
- Awarded on:
- June 14th, 1944
The following press article describes how Mirbach would receive the Oakleaves to his Knight’s Cross…
“The Führer has bestowed the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross upon the Flottillenchef of a Schnellbootsflottille, Kapitänleutnant Götz von Mirbach, as the 500th soldier of the German Wehrmacht to be so honoured in light of his successes against the Allied invasion fleet. Kapitänleutnant von Mirbach has been at the head of his Flottille since the beginning of the Invasion, night after night, in missions against the vastly numerically superior enemy. Under the most difficult of conditions he and his ships have in 5 consecutive nights been able to sink 8 landing ships with 16750 GRT and torpedo a further 2. In addition his ships also participated in the torpedoing of an enemy cruiser formation escorted by destroyers.”
500th Award.
“The Führer has bestowed the Oakleaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross upon the Flottillenchef of a Schnellbootsflottille, Kapitänleutnant Götz von Mirbach, as the 500th soldier of the German Wehrmacht to be so honoured in light of his successes against the Allied invasion fleet. Kapitänleutnant von Mirbach has been at the head of his Flottille since the beginning of the Invasion, night after night, in missions against the vastly numerically superior enemy. Under the most difficult of conditions he and his ships have in 5 consecutive nights been able to sink 8 landing ships with 16750 GRT and torpedo a further 2. In addition his ships also participated in the torpedoing of an enemy cruiser formation escorted by destroyers.”
500th Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
- Unit:
- Chef 9. Schnellbootsflottille
- Awarded on:
- June 14th, 1944
Sources
- Photo 1: Willi Schumacher
- - DÖRR, MANFRED, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehmacht 1939–1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1996.
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1998.
- Verleihungsurkunde Ritterkreuz
Photo
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