Kreigsmarine photo

[BlackCat1982]

From Ancestry his death card:

[BlackCat1982]

There are 21 Alfred's listed on the Volksbund as having died on 23rd October 1941. If his surname is Rütz then there is no-one listed with that name. No U-Boats were lost on that date either, the closest being U-204 on the 19th but that was sunk in the Straits of Gibraltar.

The message is dedicated by the family Rütz, which may not necessarily be his surname. As Hucks216 noted, there is no one with surname Rütz listed on VDK or Ancestry casualty cards.

[Willmore]

Here are the details for Alfred Will from the Volksbund.

Surname:
Witt
Forename:
Alfred
Rank:
Gefreiter (maschinengefreiter aktive)
Date of birth:
14.08.1920
Date of death/becoming missing:
23.10.1941

Alfred Witt is, as a fallen member of the German Navy, recorded by name either on one of the plates at the U-Boat Memorial at Möltenort near Kiel or in a memorial book on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial. Only in a few individual cases has it been possible to recover the remains of servicemen who fell at sea and to bury them in a cemetery. In these cases, the name of the person concerned is also recorded in our database, with an indication of his grave site.

[PaddyD00]

Very Nice ....side note.... Anyone with photographs of KM personnel wearing Helmets if they would pass along to a loyal devoted WRF member it would be greatly appreciated. I have a lot for my personal collection but always looking. I will not re publish them. Thanks so much and nice pickup!
Z

[Willmore]

I have done a bit of digging and have come up with some information. Now, I’m not well versed in aspects of the Kriegsmarine, so if anyone can confirm or correct me please do!!!!!!

From the information on his casualty card, I think I have found the ship he served on.

Casualty card details.

M.6.2. Minensuch Flotille (M6 = The ship. 2 = 2nd Mine search flotilla)

23.10.41 - In see (At sea)

gefallen : mit min. S. hoos nord feind

gefallen : mit minen süd hoos nord feind? (By enemy mine.........)


2. Minensuchflottille
Lexikon der Wehrmacht - Minensuch-Flottillen

Minensuchboot M-6 information.

M6 Commanders - Kapitänleutnant Hölzerkopf? -

31 December 1936
Laying of keel (Oderwerke Stettin).

8 January 1938
Launched.

6 June 1939
The Minesweeper M6 is commissioned.

1939
The Minesweeper M6 becomes operational with the 2. Minensuchflottille.

1939-1940
M6 served in Nordsee.

1941
M6 patrols coasts of Holland and west France.

23 October 1941
The Minesweeper M 6 is sunk, after hitting a mine at 1245 hrs, south of Lorient.
Position 47° 18N 04° 20E, 21 crew lost.

Neue Seite 1

On 10th April 1940 M6 was escorting a German Q-Ship that was attacked by a British submarine, HMS Tarpon. The torpedoes missed but M6 and the Q-Ship counter attacked the submarine, dropping depth charges for 4 hours and it is thought that the submarine was lost during this action as she was never heard from again, although her wreck has never been found to be able to confirm it conclusively.
And on 24th September 1940 M6 & M12 were escorting the catapult ship 'Ostmark' near St.Nazaire when they were attacked by the British submarine HMS Tuna. The torpedoes struck Ostmark which took two and a half hours to sink with 49 of the 50 man crew being saved.

Minensuchboot M6 - Military ID's of the Third Reich - Historical War Militaria Forum
Minensucher 1935 Ships

[BlackCat1982]

Minensuchflottille 2 Trident insignia:

[RH1941]

Thanks for the great information. You guys are the best .