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Arthur Godenau
German Nazi military officer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Arthur Godenau (19 January 1903 - 16 February 1983) was a German Kriegsmarine officer who was born in Przyłęki (German: Netzort) and took part in the German operation against Norway.[1][2]
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Career
Godenau was born on 19 January 1903 in Netzort, Kreis Bromberg in Province of Posen within the German Empire, present-day Przyłęki. At birth, his name was Artur Leo Gadaszewski, later renamed to Godenau.[3] He joined the military service of Reichsmarine, the German Navy during the Weimar Republic, on 1 April 1925 with the 1st department of the standing ship division of the North Sea.[Tr 1][Tr 2] On 26 September, Godenau was transferred to the 3rd Half-Flotilla for further training.[4][Tr 3] On 1 April 1927, he was promoted to Obermatrose (Seaman 1st Class).[5]
On 31 August 1934, Godenau was appointed commander of R-11, an R boat in the 1st Minesweeper-Half-Flotilla,[Tr 4] commanding this boat for four months.[4] On 1 January 1939, he was promoted to Stabsobersteuermann, a non-commissioned officers rank.[5]
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World War II
During Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of Denmark and Norway, Godenau commanded R-17. On 9 April 1940, a German task force consisting of the torpedo boats Albatros and Kondor, accompanied by R-17 and R-21, heavily laden with troops attacked the Norwegian naval base at Horten which became the Battle of Horten Harbour. During the assault, R-17 was sunk by the minelayer Olav Tryggvason.[6]
He earned significant awards, such as Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 May 1940 when he commanded R-17 in R-Boat Flotilla I[1] (for successfully helping to ensure the capture of the Horten harbor in an undamaged state).
Godenau was then scheduled to take command of R-51. This was cancelled and he was given command of R-73 which he commissioned on 21 May 1941.[4] On 24 December, Godenau was promoted to Leutnant zur See (lieutenant at sea), effective as of 1 January 1942.[5]
In 1944, Godenau became an instructor with the Befehlshabers der Sicherung der Nordsee (BSN—Commander of the Defense of the North Sea), training new officers at Hörnum.[4]
He later died in Laboe, the circumstances of his death are yet unknown.[7] He is buried in Laboe.[1]
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Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 May 1940 as Stabsobersteuermann and commander of Räumboot R-17 in the 1. Räumbootflottille[8][Note 1]
- Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände (6 November 1940)[5]
Notes
Translation notes
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