Wikipedia

Arthur Godenau

Arthur Godenau (19 January 1903 - 16 February 1983) was a German Kriegsmarine officer who was born in Przyłęki (German: Netzort) and took part in the German operation against Norway.[1][2]

Arthur Godenau
Other name(s)Artur Leo Gadaszewski
Born(1903-01-19)19 January 1903
Netzort, Province of Posen, German Empire
Died16 February 1983(1983-02-16) (aged 80)
Laboe
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Kriegsmarine
Years of service1925–1945
RankKapitänleutnant (captain lieutenant)
UnitSSS Niobe
Commands heldRäumboot R-17, R-51 and R-73
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career edit

Godenau was born on 19 January 1903 in Netzort, Kreis Bromberg in Province of Posen within the German Empire, present-day Przyłęki. At birth, his name was Artur Leo Gadaszewski, later renamed to Godenau.[3] He joined the military service of Reichsmarine, the German Navy during the Weimar Republic, on 1 April 1925 with the 1st department of the standing ship division of the North Sea.[Tr 1][Tr 2] On 26 September, Godenau was transferred to the 3rd Half-Flotilla for further training.[4][Tr 3] On 1 April 1927, he was promoted to Obermatrose (Seaman 1st Class).[5]

On 31 August 1934, Godenau was appointed commander of R-11, an R boat in the 1st Minesweeper-Half-Flotilla,[Tr 4] commanding this boat for four months.[4] On 1 January 1939, he was promoted to Stabsobersteuermann, a non-commissioned officers rank.[5]

World War II edit

During Operation Weserübung, the German the invasion of Denmark and Norway, Godenau commanded R-17. On 9 April 1940, a German task force consisting of the torpedo boats Albatros and Kondor, accompanied by R-17 and R-21, heavily laden with troops attacked the Norwegian naval base at Horten which became the Battle of Horten Harbour. During the assault, R-17 was sunk by the minelayer Olav Tryggvason.[6]

He earned significant awards, such as Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 May 1940 when he commanded R-17 in R-Boat Flotilla I[1] (for successfully helping to ensure the capture of the Horten harbor in an undamaged state).

Godenau was then scheduled to take command of R-51. This was cancelled and he was given command of R-73 which he commissioned on 21 May 1941.[4] On 24 December, Godenau was promoted to Leutnant zur See (lieutenant at sea), effective as of 1 January 1942.[5]

In 1944, Godenau became an instructor with the Befehlshabers der Sicherung der Nordsee [de] (BSN—Commander of the Defense of the North Sea), training new officers at Hörnum.[4]

He later died in Laboe, the circumstances of his death are yet unknown.[7] Buried in Laboe.[1]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ According to Fellgiebel as commander of R-51.[9]

Translation notes edit

  1. ^ 1st department —I. Abteilung
  2. ^ standing ship division —Schiffsstammdivision
  3. ^ 3rd Half-Flotilla —3. Halbflottille
  4. ^ 1st Minesweeper-Half-Flotilla—1. Räum-Halbflottille

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c Brazier 2021, p. 28.
  2. ^ Haarr 2011, p. 141.
  3. ^ Dörr 1995, p. 207.
  4. ^ a b c d e Dörr 1995, p. 208.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Dörr 1995, p. 209.
  6. ^ Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz 1993, p. 215.
  7. ^ https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/45789/Godenau-Arthur.htm
  8. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 338.
  9. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 197.

Bibliography edit

  • Brazier, K. (2021). The Complete Knight's Cross: The Years of Victory 1939-1941 (Volume 1). Fonthill Media. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  • Dörr, Manfred (1995). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Überwasserstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine—Band 1: A–K [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Surface Forces of the Navy—Volume 1: A–K] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2453-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Haarr, G.H. (2011). The German Invasion of Norway, April 1940. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-78346-967-3. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  • Hildebrand, Hans H.; Röhr, Albert & Steinmetz, Hans-Otto (1993). Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe [The German Warships] (in German). Vol. 1. Ratingen: Mundus Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7822-0210-7.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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