Quick Facts
Biography
Kapitän zur See Hans Otto Erdmenger (29 October 1903 – 28 December 1943) was a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipient during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Erdmenger was killed in action on 28 December 1943 in the Battle of the Bay of Biscay (46°N 11°W) as chief of the 8. Zerstörerflottille on board the destroyer Z27 which was sunk in combat with the British cruisers HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise.
Early life and career
On 10 January, he was posted to the light cruiser Emden (20 November 1925 – 1 January 1929). He sailed on Emden's first training cruise, which started on 14 November 1926 from Wilhelmshaven. The journey took him and her crew to the Atlantic, Cape Town to the Cocos Islands. Here, on 15 March 1927, the crew conducted a service in commemoration at the sinking site of SMS Emden which was lost on 9 November 1914. The trip continued to Japan, Alaska, Cape Horn, Rio de Janeiro, the Azores and Spain before they returned home on 14 March 1928.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class (28 October 1939)
- 1st Class (15 November 1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 3 November 1940 as Korvettenkapitän and commander of destroyer Wilhelm Heidkamp (Z-21)
- Destroyer War Badge (1940)
- Narvik Shield (1940)
- Italian Officers Cross of the Order of the Crown (11 March 1941)
- Mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 31 December 1943
- ^
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 174.
- ^ Dörr 1995, p. 149.