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Feldt, Gustav Waldemar Klaus

Date of birth:
April 14th, 1912 (Kiel, Germany)
Date of death:
September 7th, 2010 (Wiesbaden/Hesse, Germany)
Nationality:
German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

Biography

Promotions:
July 1st, 1935: Fähnrich zur See / Obermaat;
January 1st, 1937: Oberfähnrich zur See;
April 1st, 1937: Leutnant zur See;
April 1st, 1939: Oberleutnant zur See;
September 1st, 1941: Kapitänleutnant;
March 1st, 1943: Korvettenkapitän.

Career:
1930: Handelsmarine;
April 5th, 1935: 10. / II.Schiffsstammabteilung, Stralsund;
June 13th,1935: Lehrgang Schiffsartillerieschule Kiel-Sik / Fähnrichslehrgang Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwick;
?: Linienschiff "Schleswig-Holstein";
?: Dampfer "Hecht";
March 31st, 1936: Fähnrichs-Fla-Maschinenwaffen-Lehrgang / Küstenartillerieschule Wilhelmshaven;
?: Fähnrichs-Nachrichten-Lehrgang /Marine-Nachrichtenschule Flensburg-Mürwik;
?: Fähnrichs-Infanterie-Lehrgang / II.Schiffsstammabteilung der Ostsee, Stralsund;
?: Fähnrichs-Artillerie-Lehrgang / Schiffsartillerieschule Kiel-Wik;
?: Fähnrichs-Torpedo-Lehrgang / Torpedoschule Flensburg-Mürwik;
September 23rd, 1936: II.W.O. auf das Torpedoboot "Luchs" / 2. Torpedobootsflottille;
?: Fla-Maschinenwaffen-Leiter-Lehrgang / Küstenartillerieschule;
October 11th, 1937: FT-B-Lehrgang / Marine-Nachrichtenschule Mürwik;
?: W.O. / Zugoffizier Ausbildungsabteilung / 3. Zerstörer-Division;
March 31st, 1938: III.W.O. / Adjutant "Leopard" / 4.Torpedobootsflottille;
?: Signal-Offizier-Lehrgang, Mürwik;
February 6th, 1939: II.W.O;
November 6th, 1939: Sonderkommando der Kriegsmarine Dienststelle Bremen;
December 4th, 1939: Kommandant "Schiff 18" (ex Fischdampfer "Alteland", 419 BRT) / 16. Vorposten-Gruppe;
June 1st, 1940: Sonderkommando Admiral norwegische Westküste;
July 10th, 1940: Kommandant "S 30" / 2. Schnellbootsflottille;
?: Kommandant "S 43" / 2. Schnellbootsflottille;
October 20th, 1941: Chef 2.Schnellbootsflottille;
February 16th, 1944 - May 7th, 1945: Kommandant Schnellboots-Lehrdivision, Flensburg;
May 7th, 1945 - August 31st, 1945: British POW.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
4. Torpedobootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
April 5th, 1939
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
4. Torpedobootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
June 6th, 1939
Spanienkreuz, Bronze mit Schwertern
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
4. Torpedobootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
October 26th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
Sonderkommando der Kriegsmarine, Dienststelle Bremen, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
November 16th, 1939
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
16. Vorpostengruppe, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
December 20th, 1939
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
16. Vorpostengruppe, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
April 28th, 1940
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
16. Vorpostengruppe, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
1940
Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boots-, Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Awarded on:
April 18th, 1941
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
Kommandant, "S 30", 2. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
April 25th, 1941
The following press article, dated 29.04.1941, describes why Feldt would be awarded the Knight’s Cross. By this time he had participated in at least 35 sorties…

“Oberleutnant Feldt especially distinguished himself during the Norwegian campaign. During later operations as an S-Boat commander he sunk an enemy destroyer and four armed merchant ships with a total of 6100 GRT. He demonstrated very good seamanship during numerous operations, and has mastered even the most difficult of situations through his cold-bloodedness. As the acting commander of a Schnellbootsflottille he and his formation sank a total of 13000 GRT worth of shipping during a sally against the southern English coast. This success is to Feldt’s credit in particular.”

67th Award.
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberleutnant zur See
Unit:
2. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
June 27th, 1941
Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Schwarz
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
2. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
December 19th, 1941
Schnellboot-Kriegsabzeichen
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Awarded on:
July 9th, 1942
Wehrmachtbericht
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
Unit:
2. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
December 5th, 1942
Vapaudenristin 4.luokka (VR 4)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
Chef, 2. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1944
The following press article, dated 05.01.1944, describes why Feldt would receive the Oakleaves…

“Korvettenkapitän Feldt received the Knight’s Cross on the 25.04.1941, and since then he has continued to lead his Flottille to great successes despite being heavily wounded by a mine explosion. Personally participating in 64 sorties, his masterfully led boats have sunk 35 ships with 92260 GRT as well as 2 destroyers and 2 patrol ships. Throughout time the fighting often took place just off the English coast. Klaus Feldt was involved in these successes while leading from the point group. In every naval theatre, west, south, north and east, he has brought his ships’ powerful and feared weapons to bear against the enemy.”

It should be noted that since the award of the Knight’s Cross Feldt probably participated in an actual total of 57 sorties (totaling 92 altogether).

362nd Award.
Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
Unit:
Chef, 2. Schnellbootsflottille, Kriegsmarine
Awarded on:
January 1st, 1944
Schnellboot-Kriegsabzeichen mit Brillianten
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

According to sources, Feldt received the Zerstörer-Kriegsabziechen on July 3rd, 1942. Photos taken at the Ritterkreuz awarding however show him with both the Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen and the Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boots-, Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände. This means he must have received the Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen before the Ritterkreuz.
Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen

Sources

Photo