Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

April 23rd, 1940

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

February 11th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Korvettenkapitän der Reserve (Lieutenant-Commander of Reserves)

Unit:

2.Geleitflottille "Adria"

Awarded on:

November 5th, 1944

Here follows an excerpt from a contemporary newspaper article which details the German Operation Wikinger. Thorwest was decorated with the Knight's Cross following this operation.

"On the night of the 23./24.10.1944 the (now sunk) submarine hunters west of the island of Maun sunk 6 British torpedo boats and damaged several more in a series of fierce engagements." Then came the 01.11.1944: "The German units under the command of Korvettenkapitän Thorwest had the task of protecting an important area on the Adriatic coast against naval attacks. To avoid a repeat of the recent bad encounter the British this time decided to deploy two destroyers ('Wheatland' and 'Avondale'), several groups of torpedo boats and a sizeable number of aircraft. In the evening hours of the 01.11.1944 a battle began near Trstenik, west of the island of Pag.

[To ensure the safety of the ships they were escorting] the German escort ships immediately attacked the Allied vessels and caused some damage, in particular to the destroyer 'Avondale'. However following retaliation from both enemy ships and aircraft the torpedo boat under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Guhrke and the two submarine hunters, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Trautwein and Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Wenke, were sunk. Their task however was fulfilled, and the German convoy reached its destination port intact."

Thorwest was also killed during this battle, and so the award was given posthumously.