Survivors of the Scharnhorst

Hey guys, I was just wondering whether any Scharnhorst survivors are still alive.

 

Hello Watspoon welcome to the Forums! I am not sure if there are any of the (30 something was it?) survivors left....

 

If still alive the youngest survivor would be 93. While not impossible, doubtful any left.

Scharnhorst - Crew - Survivors' List

 

Alright thanks, sad to see that so few WWII veterans are still with us, such as Bernhard Heuer on the Bismarck.

 

Alright, I believe Matrosen Obergefreiter Wilhelm "Willi" Alsen is still alive

I concluded this after looking for a painting of all things of the Scharnhorst.
They have a small bio about him as he signed a couple paintings. The one I was looking at was also signed by Erich Rudorffer and it showed he died in 2016, meaning it must have been recently updated. This could mean He is still alive, but I am not too certain.
Anyways I hope he is, and if he is best of luck to him

Source Matrosen Obgefreiter Wilhelm Alsen - Naval art with the signature of Matrosen Obgefreiter Wilhelm Alsen

 

There was also another one where it stated he was the last of the 36 rescued
"Escort To The Scharnhorst", by Simon Atack, 2002 - Aeromobilia

 

I believe that none of the 36 survivors are still alive.
Horst Zaubitzer, whom became chief of the fire department,
in Leverkusen died in Cologne last year. I have been in
contact with several of the families of the survivors, both
in Germany, and the U.S.A. Of the 36 survivors, 8 were
sent to Canadian P.O.W camps in early 1944. I can however
only account for 7. The 7th. Johann (Johnny)Merkle was
added to the removal list from England to Canada at the
last minute. He would settle in the U.S.A and died in Florida
in 2000. Survivor Gunther Strater was repatriated via the
Red Cross, and used by the German propaganda machine.
27 survivors were sent to the U.S.A as P.O.W.s and returned
to Germany, via Britain at the end of WW2. Johann Kastenholz,
became involved in trucking, and opened a hotel in the Eifel
region of Germany.
I have recently done some research, which was included in a
recently published book. "Castaways of the Kriegsmarine"
written by Derek Nudd. Derek is a naval historian, and his
book contains much information of the interrogation of the
Scharnhorst survivors at Latimer House, before being sent
to Canada, and the U.S.A.
You may find a couple of references to the Scharnhorst
on the web interesting.
Lance Shippey Scharnhorst (Marinequest)
Lance Shippey The winding tale of a German P.O.W.
from Windsor Ontario.
Lance Shippey Duke of York, message board Marinequest.

Happy reading.

Lance Shippey
U.K.

 

Information received by bugging cells of Schrnhorst survivors at Latimer house brought some
interesting results. During a conversation between two survivors on 29th January 1944, One
of them said "If we win the war, the politicians will all have to change their jobs. HITLER will be
chancellor, ROOSEVELT minister for foreign affairs, STALIN minister of labour, and CHURCHILL
minister of war." The other survivor in the cell commented "That would be fine, there would never
be another war then". "If those four were to work together , the World would become united".
I recently saw some men from the Scharnhorst who have come back from the Eastern Front, and
are now in the Tirpitz.
The details of these facts are from MI 19a C.S.D.I.C (U.K.) S.R. Report dated 29th Jan.44.
Document S.R.N. 2871. Concerning P.O.W.'s N2138 and N2141 captured 26th Dec 43.

One of the two men [N2141] had served in TIRPITZ till 25th Dec. 1943 and then transferred to
Scharnhorst. Konteradmiral Bey had been on-board TIRPITZ on the 25th Dec. probably because
TIRPITZ had a secure telephone land line to German Naval headquarters which Scharnhorst had
not. konteradmiral Bey took a few chosen men from the TIRPITZ to join him on Scharnhorst.
The boat transferring Bey and the men left later than anticipated, and delayed the sailing of the
Scharnhorst by around an hour.

In a bugged conversation logged 23rd Jan 44. between the same two men, gave British Naval
Intelligence a little more information about TIRPITZ. (Document S.R.N.2836) The TIRPITZ
would be sunk after bombing by R.A.F. Lancaster's on 12 Nov.1944.

Lance Shippey
U.K.

 

Dear Watspoon.

Re. Wilhelm [Willi] Ahlsen

Born 27.11.1923 Died 22.07.2012 in Duisberg.


Johann Kastenholz died 1973 {Eifel]
Helmut Boekhoff died 1997 [Berkshire U.K]
Horst Zaubitzer died 2016 [Cologne]

Boekhoff was interviewed by Ludovic Kennedy in 1971. on British T.V.
possibly now on U-tube. Ludovic Kennedy's father was captain of
HMS Rawlpindi, which was the first ship to be sunk by Scharnhorst.
Captain Kennedy was killed in the action.

[Ludovic wrote book about Scharnhorst, also Miscarriages of Justice.
He worked as a journalist and reporter for the B.B.C. , He was married
to Moira Shearer, He died in 2009, shortly after having been knighted.]

Lance Shippey.

 

Further information regarding Scharnhorst survivors and the fate of some of them
can be found in German and some English on the website.
Forum Marine archiv Scharnhorst ueberlebenden.

Lance Shippey

 

In a few days [26th Dec.] will be the 75th anniversary of the sinking of
the Battleship Scharnhorst. My rhoughts are with the families of BOTH
SIDES that have lost someone. After the mysterious sinking of trawler
GAUL in 1974, l found myself in the winter of 1982 visiting Murmansk,
Russia. It was ice cold, with snow banked 2 metres on either side of
the roads. l cannot imagine to understand how terrifying it must have
been for the ca.1000 seamen left in the freezing waters of the Barents
sea, having not been rescued.

There is a photograph of my father Frank Shippey R.M. serving on board
HMS Duke of York during the battle of the North Cape. He was the DoY's
Butcher, and also responsible for the store of potatoes, rum, and the cat.
named Whiskey. as well as being part of the Gunnery division. He served
under Capt. G.E.Creasy DSO 02Sep 1942 - 06Aug 1943
Capt Brian B. Schofield 06Aug 1943 - 09Dec 1943
Capt.Guy H,E.Russell 09Dec 1943. 01Sep 1944

Royal Marines were volunteers. During battle they provided extra manpower
to operate guns, They were deployed as sentinels guarding magazines, spirit
room, and other storerooms, plus the entrances to the officer's quarters, and
the ships' cells.

Prior to Capt. G.E.Creasy DSO RN serving on DoY was Cpt, of Destroyer
HMS Codringham, and evacuated Princess Juliana of the Netherlands with
her two children from Ijmuiden to Britain. where she would stay a brief time,
before moving to Ottawa< Canada, where she gave birth to her third child.
HMS Codrinham should have picked up Queen Wilhelmina, on 11 May 1940.
along with the Princess, however, the Queen refused to go, and was picked
up a day later at the Hoek van Holland by HMS Hereward. along with her
Government in exile and diamond filled crates. H.M. Wilhelmina would remain
in Britain, living in South Mimms.

The Photograph of my father can be located by searching Imperial War Museums.
and on their website search. Photo A17450. [The Royal Navy during the second
World War] The photographs shows "The Royal Marines preparing meat in the
Butchers shop, whilst she is in Northern waters. My father is the one in the
foreground [on the left.] It is a little out of focus.

Lance Shippey
U.K.

 

Lance,
If you are interested in sharing your father's story about being on the DOY at the time of the demise of the Scharnhorst, please contact russianarcticconvoymuseum.org which is based in Aultbea, Loch Ewe, NW Highlands, the gathering place for many of convoys going to Murmansk and Archangel from 1942-45. You can post his story with a picture on their 'Convoys Remembered' page which contains 100s of such stories. You might find some of his shipmates!
Ned

 

Dear Ned,

Thanks so much for the information, I have just taken
a quick look at the website, and will contact tomorrow.

Kindest wishes

Lance.

 

KKpt Karl Heinz VAGT
None of Scharnhorsts Officers survived the sinking, The luck of Karl Heinz Vagt,
and tragic end, deserves a special mention.
KKpt. Vagt served under Captain Hans Langsdorff on board Pocket Battleship
Admiral Graf Spee. 13th Dec.1939 Graf Spee was involved in "Battle of River Plate"
17th Dec,1939 Graf Spee was scuttled by Capt. Langsdorff at 19.52 hrs.
20th Dec.1939 Capt. Hans Langsdorff took his own life in Buenos Aires.
22nd Dec over 1000 crew members were taken to Buenos Aires,
Argentina was Neutral Country for most of WW2, however, sympathies, is certain areas
could be considered as pro German. and an underground organisation operated within
the Country. The survivors of Graf Spee were sent to various "Internment Camps".
The officers were sent to Martin Garcia Island, in the River Plate. The rest of the crew
would be sent to other areas of Argentina, including Mendoza, and Villa Belgrano, a
small town outside the city of Cordoba. The "Underground" assisted in the escape of an
estimated of 200 crewmen from January 1940 until 1943. many being taken over the
Andes to Chile, where they would be able to get back to Germany by Air or Sea.
Most of the Officers or technicians,with skills much in demand, by the Kriegsmarine
were re-assigned new vessels on arrival back in Germany, Karl Heinz Vagt, was one
such case, and was to serve under Captain Fritz Hintze on board Scharnhorst. He would
meet the same fate as all other Officers on board the Scharnhorst, with his life coming to
an end, either during the "Battle of the North Cape" or in the icy waters of the Barents Sea,
as Scharnhorst sank.

Two further Argentinian internees, from Graf Spee, whom escaped, and returned to
Germany were Navigation Officer [N.O.} Gerfried BRUTZER born Kiel 02.08.1909
and Officer of the Watch. Friedrich Wilhelm RASENACK died 2008.
Both these men would serve on board TIRPITZ. and found themselves in the arctic
condition of Norway.

For the internees, not to escape from Argentina, things would get a lot worse. Their
freedoms enjoyed whilst internees, would change when Argentina decided to give up
its neutrality, and support the Allies, The men now became POW's and treated
accordingly. Many of the men in Villa Belgrano had established relationships with
local girls, some even marrying. As POW's they had to be repatriated to Germany.
and were sent back in March 1946, on board HMT [Troopship} Highland Monarch.
On arrival back in Germany, the sailors would find a very different Country, Cities
devastated, Eastern German States, occupied by the Soviets, stripped factories,
and the Soviet Army demanding to see restitution.. I visited Villa Belgrano twenty
years ago, and found that around 130 survivors had returned from Germany as
settlers to the town. and had founded an association of Graf Spee survivors.

I think I am justified in my belief that both Captain Hans Langsdorff [Admiral Graf Spee)
and Captain Fritz Hintze (Scharnhorst} were cut from the same cloth. Both "Menschlich"
and having a respect, a duty of care for those serving under them. A duty ,and honour
which would conflict with the ignorance of those whom would later judge them.

It was said by the Mayor of Ajax . Captain Hans Langsdorff was a "remarkable leader"
60 years after the" Battle of the River Plate" Hans Langsdorff's daughter, Inge Neddin was
present at the naming of "Langsdorff Drive" in Ajax, Ontario, Canada. [Oct 2007.]
The town took its name from HMS Ajax. One of three vessels involved in the flight against
the Admiral Graft Spee, during the "Battle of the River Plate". !20 people were present at
the dedication ceremony of "Langsdorff Drive"

Lance Shippey
U.K.

 

Lance,

My name is Diana. I am John Merkles grand daughter. I am very impressed on your writings. He was a great man. I spent alot of my life on his and Ruth's farm. I loved them so much and it warms my heart to see his stories written down. Thank you.

Feel free to email me.

Sincerely,
Diana Lyn

 

Sorry I'm a bit late to this thread but here's my bit of input. I worked and roomed with Helmut Boekhoff whilst he was head chef working at Mount Pleasant airport in the Falklands in 1985/6 and have to say he was a most interesting and agreeable gentleman. A pleasure to have known. Sad to hear he passed but I guess time catches up with us all

 

Dear Diana,
So nice to hear your kind comments
Lance