I think that's it's necessary to keep in mind that in Nazi Germany "´Marines" weren't considered like "elite" like f.ex. in the U.S.

So all those German "marine" units weren't something "elite" at all. In general - they were just navy guys ordered to fight on ground, much less experienced compared on a´n "ordinary" Wehrmacht ground unit.

Cheers,

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"Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!"
(President Merkin Muffley in "Dr. Strangelove")

I totally agree with Andy this time. The USMC and the Morskaya Pekhota are considered elite, but tell me guys, honestly if the Kriegsmarine ground divisions came even close to regular unit, forget about elite...

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Was Cremer ever pictured wearing his TDB?
I don't think he was-nor did he ever receive it at all!!!

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"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

Wrong answer Panzerknacker- he did wear the badge. However his name was Peter and not Willi.

http://www.btinternet.com/~gordonwil...therawards.htm cremer

regards

[ 20 October 2002, 03:02 AM: Message edited by: charlie don't surf ]

Most excellent site! Thanks, Charlie! It had really good pictures and I loved the song!

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"War is less costly than servitude, the choice is always between Verdun and Dachau." - Jean Dutourd, French veteran of both world wars

"A mon fils: depuis que tes yeux sont fermes les miens n’ont cessé de pleurir." - Mère française, Verdun

Indeed, the Marines weren't realy elite troops.

There were only one divisions that was realy elite:

BRANDENBURG DIVISION

http://www.forces70.freeserve.co.uk/...commanders.htm

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Did the Germans actually possess a Marine unit like other nations? I know they did during imperial times but did it survive into the Nazi era???

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Kriegsmarine-biographies in German:

http://www.deutsche-marinesoldaten.d...nslaeufe.htm#D

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Kai, I think you've hit on possibly one of two know internet sites covering somehwat completely in biref form the bios of many KM ranking personell.

Good show ! I bookmarked this site a couple of years ago and enjoy watching the updates form...

~E

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German Marines and Berlin April/May 1945:

http://www.geocities.com/kumbayaaa/g...tleberlin.html

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Just thinking as I reread this thread. It could be possible that so called "German Marines" might fall under the catagory of Landsturm units. Some of these were also ad-hoc units as well and some were also home guard units.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

also would many naval personnel just be redrafted into army formations to make up manpower???

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"Watch that Fu*ker, he'll 'ave someones eye out!" King Harold at Hastings 1066.

Actually, quite a few were drafted and made up into Infantry units. Wolfgang Luth commanded a Battalion of them near and at wars end.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

just found an application of a man to Australia 1941 until 1943 he was on the torpedo boats in the North sea, then until 1944 in the Marines in Russia where he was captured Russian POW to Dec 1949
Any ideas how to trace his service career?
He Returned to Germany or Lithuania in 1960s.

I'm not certain but i think that german marines were involved in the attack on westerplatte on the opening days of the attack on poland.

There were definately german marines involved in the fighting for poland.

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The only other thing I can add as fact-even though it is not to do with WWII but WWI, is that in fact, there were three German "Marine" Infantry Divisions. I have an award document now-that was to an Marine Infantry NCO who was awarded both classes of the Iron Cross. In this case, the award doc I have (as wellas both of his EKII and EKi, the doc is for his EKII. The Doc has a unit stamp that clearly shows that he was in the 3rd Marine Infantry Division.

Now as to the Kriegsmarine having three Marine Infantry Divisions, I don't know? if that is fact but like I said years ago, Wolfgang Luth at or near wars end-was transferred to command the 2nd Btn of one of the Marine Infantry Divisions Regiments. It was while serving as it's CO-that he was accidently shot by a Marine Guard, and he died from his wounds-unfortunately.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Gentlemen

sorry but there were 5 Marine Infantrie Divisions none of them created and set up for combat till 1945. there were KM Infantire units developed out of ad-hoc and destroyed KM surface and Flak units conglomerated into special individual forces during 1944, nothing before

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