WWII German Kriegsmarine Soldbuch – Ob.Masch Höfeld – Destroyer Z30 – Battle of the Barents Sea 1942 – Sunk Submarine!

Description

Soldbuch issued in 1941 to Höfeld

He would serve on Destroyer Z30 

Ships History:

Z30 was one of fifteen Type 1936A destroyers built for the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during World War II. Completed in 1941, the ship was transferred to Norwegian waters in early 1942 where she remained for most of the rest of her career, escorting convoys and laying minefields. She played a minor role in the indecisive Battle of the Barents Sea at the end of the year and was damaged during the raid on the island of Spitsbergen in September 1943.

Z30 was crippled when she struck a mine in late 1944 and spent the rest of the war under repair. The ship was allocated to Great Britain after the war who used her to test the effects of underwater explosions. Upon their completion in 1948, Z30 was broken up for scrap.

Decorated with the Destroyer Badge and EK2 for service on Z30.

“On 5–8 September Z30, her sister Z29, and the destroyer Z4 Richard Beitzen laid a minefield in the Kara Strait between the island of Novaya Zemlya and Vaygach Island. Later that month, she participated in Operation Zarin, a minelaying mission off the coast of Novaya Zemlya from 24 to 28 September, together with Admiral Hipper, and her sisters Z23, Z28, and Z29. On 13–15 October, Z30, her sister Z27, Z4 Richard Beitzen and the destroyer Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt laid a minefield off the Kanin Peninsula at the mouth of the White Sea that sank the Soviet icebreaker Mikoyan. Three weeks later, the same four destroyers escorted Admiral Hipper as she attempted to intercept Allied merchant ships proceeding independently to Soviet ports in early November. They intercepted and sank the westbound Soviet oil tanker Donbass and the submarine chaser BO-78 on the 7th”

Awards

3.11.1942 – Iron Cross Second Class

20.11.1942 – Destroyer Badge

Seems he ended the war in a POW camp in Norway, Kaland. Then in France at Camp de Stetten June 1946.

Rare to find a nice KM book like this with such a unique story. Hs Brother Kurts Death Notice was in the back of his Soldbuch. As well as his POW release papers and ticket home. Worthy of deeper research.