Schneider, Walter-Erich (Kriegsmarine)

Date of birth:: February 15th, 1909 (Naundorf/Großenhain (Saxony), Germany)
Date of death:: October 25th, 1987 (Flensburg, Germany)
Nationality:: German

Biography

Crew of 1928

Promotions:
01.04.1942: Kapitänleutnant

Career:
01.10.1928: entered the Kriegsmarine
02.-09.1939: 'GNEISENAU'
05.-06.1940: W.O. 3.M.S.Flot.
08.1940-09.1941: 1.W.O.'M-22'
09.1941-09.1943: Kdr 'M-15'
09.1943-07.1944: Chef 1. Räumbootsflottille.
07.-08.1944: Chef 25. Minensuchflottille
08.1944-05.1945: hospitalized
1957-1958: Bundesmarine

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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Kommandant des Minensuchbootes "M 15", 3. Minensuchflottille
Awarded on:: July 30th, 1943

Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:: Chef 25. Minensuchflottille
Awarded on:: November 5th, 1944

Schneider received the Knight’s Cross for his contribution to the Kriegsmarine war effort in the field of naval mines. Since the start of the war he was a well known specialist in this area, and from the start of the war against the Soviet Union he played a major role in the laying of mine barriers in the Baltic Sea. He distinguished himself in particular in this regard during 1944, where one of his newly laid minefields inflicted heavy losses upon a group of Soviet ships. It was primarily for this action, as well as his devotion to duty while in command of German minesweepers, that he would be decorated with the award.