| Götz Freiherr von Mirbach | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 September 1915 |
| Died | 6 August 1968 (aged 52) |
| Place of birth | Berlin-Charlottenburg |
| Place of death | Hamburg |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1935–1945 |
| Rank | Korvettenkapitän |
| Commands held | 9. Schnellbootflottille |
| Battles/wars |
Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves |
Erich Werner Siegfried Götz Freiherr von Mirbach[a] (12 September 1912 – 6 August 1968) was a Korvettenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He is also a recipient of the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Von Mirbach was assigned to the 1. Schnellbootflottille attacking enemy shipping in the English Channel, sinking a British destroyer and three armed merchant vessels among others. His younger cousin, Oberleutnant Emmerich von Mirbach, served as the Engineering Officer on U-595. Götz Freiherr von Mirbach was later promoted to Korvettenkapitän and served as commander of the 9. Schnellbootflottille.
Awards[]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- German Cross in Gold (10 November 1942)
- Service Award (Dienstauszeichnung) 4th Class (5 April 1939)[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 14 August 1940 as Oberleutnant zur See and commander of Schnellboot S-21 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille[2]
- 500th Oak Leaves on 14 June 1944 as Kapitänleutnant and chief of the 9. Schnellbootflottille[3]
- Fast Attack Craft War Badge with Diamonds (14 June 1944)
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 28 April 1944
Reference in the Wehrmachtbericht[]
| Date | Original German Wehrmachtbericht wording | Direct English translation |
|---|---|---|
| 28 April 1944 | Deutsche Schnellbootgruppen unter Führung von Korvettenkapitän Klug und Kapitänleutnant von Mirbach versenkten in den Morgenstunden des 28. April an der englischen Südküste aus einem von Zerstörern und zahlreichen Kleinkampfschiffen gesicherten Geleitzug drei Schiffe mit zusammen 9100 BRT und torpedierten ein weiteres von 200 BRT, mit dessen Sinken zu rechnen ist. Im Verlauf der harten Gefechte wurde ferner ein Zerstörer torpediert, dessen Untergang infolge der einsetzenden Abwehr nicht beobachtet werden konnte, jedoch mit Sicherheit anzunehmen ist. Die eigenen Verbände kehrten ohne Beschädigungen und Personalausfälle in ihre Stützpunkte zurück.[4] | German fast attack crafts under the leadership of Korvettenkapitän Klug and Kapitänleutnant von Mirbach sank three ships for a total of 9100 GRT, another one of 200 GRT was torpedoed, its sinking is assumed, from a convoy, defended by destroyers and numerous smaller combat vessels, in the early morning hours of 28 April at the English southern coast. During the course of the hard fought battles a destroyer was torpedoed, its sinking could not be observed due to the defensive that had commenced, but is assumed with certainty. Our units returned to their stations without damage nor loss of personnel. |
Footnotes[]
- a Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a former title (translated as Baron), which is now legally a part of the last name. The female forms are Freifrau and Freiin.
References[]
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Dörr, Manfred (1996). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Überwasserstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine—Band 2:L–Z (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 3-7648-2497-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-87943-355-0.
- Schaulen, Fritjof (2004). Eichenlaubträger 1940 - 1945 Zeitgeschichte in Farbe II Ihlefeld - Primozic (in German). Selent, Germany: Pour le Mérite. ISBN 3-932381-21-1.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Die Wehrmachtberichte 1939-1945 Band 3, 1. Januar 1944 bis 9. Mai 1945 (in German). München: Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 1985. ISBN 3-423-05944-3.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Götz Freiherr von Mirbach and the edit history here.