Kriegsmarine 2nd model dagger owned by Willi Hartung

[outpost]

Hi' All,I had the honour of being offered this dagger in mid 2010 by the grand daughter of the person concerned.Willi hartung was born on 15th feb 1909,He served in the kriegsmarine from 1939-1945 after that he spent four years in a p.o.w. in france.He sadly died on the 13th oct 1976,now that was not the interesting part.the ship he served on was the SS Donau . The Donau was requisitioned for war service under the command of Kriegsmarine-Dienststelle Hamburg and equipped with anti-aircraft weaponry and depth charges. She was put into service transporting troops from the Eastern Front via Stettin to Oslo and back.

On 26 November 1942 Norwegian police forces under the direction of the Gestapo handed 532 Jewish prisoners to the SS at Pier 1 in Oslo harbor. The ship was under the command of Untersturmführer Klaus Grossmann and Oberleutnant Manig. Men and women were put in separate holds on the ship, where they were deprived of basic sanitary conditions and mistreated by the soldiers.

On or shortly before 16 January 1945, Roy Nielsen from Milorg and Max Manus from Kompani Linge planted ten limpet mines 50 centimetres (1.6 ft) under the waterline along a 60 metres (200 ft) section of the port side of the ship, while she was docked in Oslo. The intention was for the bombs to detonate in open sea once the ship had cleared the Oslofjord. But because departure was delayed, the bombs went off before the Donau reached Drøbak, where the captain managed to beach her. Seven years later the wreck was pulled off and towed to Bremerhaven for scrapping.I was given a photo copy of willi in uniform wearing his dagger which i have posted also please enjoy!

[operaman]

Picture did not post!

[Adrian]

They were here earlier! A beautiful minty looking dagger with the hangers and portepee. I hope the photos can be re-posted and some more besides.

[Vegard T]

Aww, that would be a great item in my collection, you are very lucky.

PS: For people who want to know why:

The reason they sunk SS Donau then was because the Germans were trying to ship troops to the West front and help their offensive, but the underground stopped that by blowing up every railway line possible and sinking ships.

[Rudolf Karl]

That is a beaut and the picture and history really turn up the heat.

Thank you
Rudy

[gerrit]

A realy great looking dagger, with nice hanger, congratz

[Adrian Stevenson]

Always special to have a dagger with a known owners history. Very nice indeed.

Cheers, Ade.

[Blitzkrieg]

Great piece of history..

[Studly]

Very Nice Thanks for showing

Greg

[LMG 1]

This would be a highlight in anyones collection.
Congratulations