Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
A Clerk’s War
Friday May 11th 1940
I may have said that I would be at work at 8AM, but I was so determined not to miss any of the excitement that I anticipated would be on offer that I was in the Kanzlei before7AM. I was not alone: not only were there Kreigsmarine uniforms everywhere, but a small conference room not far from my office had been commandeered. It was marked with a hastily handwritten sign “Nur Bestimmten Gruppen Zugänglich”, but to my surprise, my Passierschein gained me admittance. I hadn’t realised that I was so important.
Inside a long table had been set up, and on it a scale map of the entire English Channel, from the Nordsee to the Breton Coast. Our fleets at Wilhemshaven and Kiel were represented by models, as were 1st and 2nd Seefliegerkorps at Aalborg, as well as other Luftwaffe units within range of the Channel. A closer inspection showed me that models were not quite in the ports: our ships had left on their mission. A sign stuck on the map gave me a name: Fall Wasserfloh was underway.
One of the officers in the Wasserfloh room showed me this photograph: his son is on the “Köln” and there was a mixture of pride and concern on his face as he told me that the light cruiser was part of 1st Schlachtflotte, selected to make the dangerous Channel dash.
After hanging about as long as seemed reasonable, I picked up what was happening. (Everyone assumed that if you were in the room you had clearance). Großadmiral Raeder is to take the Nordseeflotte from its base at Kiel to Wilhelmshaven, the current base of Generaladmiral Marschall’s 1st Schlachtflotte. Marschall is to move his fleet along the coast to Den Haag, where he is to wait for nightfall before commencing a lightning run along the Channel. It is unlikely the entire dash can be done under cover of darkness, and that is where the Luftwaffe is to come in. Stumpff and Geisler are to take 1st and 2nd Seefliegerkorps respectively from Aalborg to Nantes. As soon as dawn approaches, their Dornier 217s are to search the seas in front of our fleet, hopefully tying up not only any Royal Navy forces, but also attracting the Royal Air Force. Once through the Channel, Marschall is to take his fleet into the safety of Lorient, and prepare for action in the Bay of Biscay.
The Type 1934A destroyer “Paul Jacobi”, a member of 4th Zerstörergeschwader, was one of the first ships to leave Wilhelmshaven
Back in my office, news from Spain was coming in. Jodl had inflicted such a defeat on 7.Regimento that the cavalry could not oppose his entry into Barbastro, and he has taken the province without a fight. I am sure his men are not upset, not even the pouring rain would dampen their spirits. General Petersen will have to earn the right to La Almonda though, as his way is blocked by General Eixea Vilar and 8/4a División Organica.
Jodl moves into Barbastro, the Spanish cavalry fleeing before him
Battle of La Almonda
Little else occurred during the morning, and I assumed that nothing much would happen until late at night, when 1st Schlachtflotte slipped out of Den Haag and headed west in the darkness. Sometime before noon, however, I heard a few muffled (and not so muffled) oaths and the sound of many pairs of boots heading for what I now had termed the “Wasserfloh” room. It was only a few moments before I too was on my way, asking what had happened.
“Disaster” a Kriegsmarine officer told me. “The damn British planes have found our fleet!”
Inside everyone was grouped around the table while a couple of young sailors moved the models on the map. I hadn’t noticed before, but a small telegraph machine had been set up in the corner of the room, and there was stream of orderlies bringing messages from the nearby radio room. (I think I mentioned before that prior to the commencement of war a huge antenna had been erected on top of the building: I don’t like to think what a target that must make us.)
Looking at the map and listening to the more reasoned voices of the senior officers in the room, it became clear what had happened. With our shuips still several hours out of Den Haag, a patrolling Blackburn Iris flying boat flew into sight of 1st Schachtflotte. Apparently the pilot of the British plane did not realise what he was looking at: the Iris is an elderly plane and I suppose the better crews get the better aircraft. Whatever the reason, he kept on a straight path towards the centre of the fleet. On board our ships, every anti-aircraft gun was readied (the Iris can carry bombs) but radio silence was maintained. Then it must have dawned on the daydreaming pilot that the battleship in front of him did not have a familiar silhouette, then the frightening reality that he was flying at less than 150 km per hour straight at a “Bismark” class battleship, and that he was being targeted by hundreds of anti-aircraft guns.
The Blackburn Iris flying boat that stumbled on our fleet, starting the Battle of the Mouth of the Thames
Just as Flottenchef Generaladmiral Marschall authorised the gun crews to open fire, the flying boat lurched left and poured on every bit of acceleration. I can imagine the radio operator yelling into his apparatus “Of course I’m bloody sure!” as dozens of 37mm and 20mm shells lanced towards the lumbering aircraft. From what I gather the Iris made good its escape, but no-one cared. The damage was done. Needless to say, 1st Schlachtflotte changed direction and speed, but nevertheless, in less than half an hour a carrier air group was overhead and ominous shapes could be seen on the horizon, rapidly growing larger.
In case you have forgotten, I had better remind you of the ships of 1st Schlachtflotte. Generaladmiral Marschall’s flagship is the battleship “Tirpitz”, sister ship to the “Bismark”. The battlecruiser “von der Tann” (“Scharnhorst” class) and heavy cruiser Graf Spee (“Hipper” class) provide additional big guns, while the light cruisers “Karlsruhe” and “Köln” (both “Emden” class) are the other large ships. Screening is provided by 4th and 8th Zerstörergeschwader, all of which are Type 1934A destroyers.
Noon: discovery and imminent danger: aircraft locate our ships and an enemy fleet approaches
The attacks by a few Albacore aircraft were dangerous, but the massed anti-air of the fleet kept them away from the larger ships. The real danger was moving closer at full speed. Soon after midday the radio officer on the Tirpitz sent a message in clear: we had identified the battleship “Royal Sovereign” with the heavy cruisers “Frobisher” and “Sussex”, plus what appear to be at least four destroyer squadrons. In addition, an aircraft carrier is nearby (presumably some kilometres behind the British fleet), and we have tentatively identified her from radio intercepts as the “Eagle”. If those ships can force 1st Schlachtflotte to scatter, the aircraft will be able to pick off our ships one by one. Only be staying as coherent group can each ship cover the other.
Although close to Den Haag, 1st Schlachtflotte cannot just run for it. It might work, but the risk of losing ships is too high. Marschall messaged that he would stage a fighting withdrawal. The Battle of the Mouth of the Thames had begun.
“Tirpitz” concentrated her fire on the heavy cruiser “Sussex”, but could not land a hit, even at 12 km. “Von der Tann” and “Graf Spee” fired at a destroyer squadron that had raced ahead of the main fleet, and soon several of the enemy ships were either on fire or drastically slowing, indicating significant hull damage. None of the other ships were in position to fire. In fact, 4th Zerstörergeschwader was already effectively out of action, most of its ships crippled by torpedo hits from the Albacores, which, turned back by the flak from the bigger ships, found the small destroyers easier prey.
The “Tirpitz”opens fire
“Royal Sovereign” as befitted a Royal Navy battleship, targeted the biggest of our ships, but she too could not get her gunfire accurate. “Frobisher” and the reckless 2nd Destroyer Squadron locked onto 8th Zerstörergeschwader and registered several hits, but “Sussex” and 32nd Destroyer Squadron were ineffectual in their attempts to destroy the “Karlsruhe”.
By now an hour had passed, and suddenly the map orderlies started to add more models to the British force. There was a groan around the table as labels were attached: two more aircraft carriers had been identified (“Unicorn” and our old foe the “Hermes”), with the cruisers “London” and “Cornwall”, escorted by yet more destroyers – at least three more squadrons. Ist Schlachtflotte is now heavily outnumbered and it will require all Marschall’s skill to avoid annihilation. “Karlsruhe” had taken a critical hit had lost any capacity to assist in the battle: her crew was concentrating on saving the ship. 8th Zerstörergeschwader was now less than a kilometre from the “Sussex”, and the combination of its attack plus the shells of “Tirpitz” were having an effect, but it seems none of the massive 380mm guns had managed a hit.
1PM: the odds are stacked against 1st Schlachtflotte – will any ships survive?
The “Unicorn”: her aircraft took part in the 2PM attack that hurt us badly
At 2PM a mass air attack by the combined air-wings of two carriers hit 1st Schlachtflotte, inflicting serious damage. The Royal Navy gunnery was less accurate than usual, but the effectiveness of the fleet was declining as the number of ships affected by gunfire, bombing or torpedoes increased. The flagship had several minor turrets out of action, and fires were tying up some crew. “Graf Spee”, however, had taken several direct hits from the air attacks and was out of action, though her Kapitän assured Marschall that she was capable of keeping up with the fleet. By now the only ships able to fire their main guns were the “Tirpitz”, “von der Tann”, and “Köln” – every other ship either had its guns, gunnery control or electrical power knocked out, or had its crew desperately battling fires or floods to keep afloat. The Royal Navy, as far as our reports showed, was still nearly intact, with only the “Sussex” and 2nd Destroyer Squadron dropping out of the battle. Luckily the “London” and “Cornwall” had stayed back with the carriers, and had not added their firepower to the onslaught. Perhaps Admiral Fraser thought that he had sufficient resources to complete the destruction of our fleet.
2PM: we are attacked by two carrier air groups, and take several hits
With the situation grim, an urgent message was sent to Nantes: both 1st and 2nd Seefliegerkorps were to leave immediately and aggressively attack the British fleet. The implication was clear, that we would sacrifice our Dornier 217 naval bombers if it meant that we could salvage what was left of our surface vessels. Stumpff and Geisler must have been expecting the call (no doubt they have a direct line to Oberkommando der Marine) as they replied that their planes were ready to leave: the aircraft must have been sitting on the tarmac, fuelled and armed and with their crews close.
Already armed, a Dornier 217 leaves our airbase at Nantes, headed for the Channel
While waiting for help, the Flottenchef kept our ships moving towards safety, while also launching broadside after broadside at the enemy. The fire crews and damage control parties had stabilised the situation on our ships, with only the “Tirpitz” losing the battle against the deck fires.
Then the Luftwaffe arrived, hundreds of our aircraft diving to attack. Their 200kg bombs and LT F5b torpedoes were immediately effective, but the pilots took their “aggressive” order seriously. Even when the bomb bays and torpedo racks were empty, the aircraft used their 13mm machine guns to strafe the decks of the British ships, disrupting the desperate work of the damage control parties. It was not without cost, bomber after bomber fell victim to the massed anti-air; perhaps as many as 20 aircraft were lost in the first attack. While the British concentrated on air defence, our few ships capable kept up the gunnery attack. Some success was now apparent: 2nd Destroyer Squadron had ceased to exist, and both “Frobisher” and “Sussex” were crippled, with “Sussex” enveloped in dark, greasy smoke, indication an intense fuel fire. There was some good news: the second British fleet had disappeared.
The Luftwaffe arrives: 1st and 2nd Seefliegerkorps attack the Royal Navy at 4PM
4PM: the gunnery duel also continues: damage on both sides is mounting
I suddenly realised it was 5PM – I had spent the entire afternoon in the “Wasserfloh” room. No matter, my staff knows what to do, and nobody had asked me what I was doing. The next hour was tense as the orderlies slowly moved the model ships closer to Den Haag. Damage estimates were added to the ship descriptions as reports came in: “Tirpitz” still at 88% effectiveness, “von der Tann” at 99%. “Graf Spee” was in trouble, down to 36% and every sailor either coaxing her straining propulsion system to give its all, or manning the pumps to both extinguish fires and remove the deadly weight pouring through multiple gashes below the waterline. For some reason the Royal Navy had stopped firing at “Köln”, a decision for which her Kapitän was grateful. While still at 69% integrity the ship was incapable of an action other than flight. The two Zerstörergeschwader had suffered most, with not one ship able to fire offensively. 4th ZG was down to 82% effectiveness, while 8th ZG was at only 42%.
From the port side, HMS Sussex seems unharmed, but the red glare reflected in the smoke pouring from her starboard indicates the intensity of the fires caused by our torpedo attacks.
At 6PM the Dorniers were back, and this was probably the turning point of the battle. Even though the RAF was now ready, the bombers could not be deterred. They penetrated the Royal Navy screen, hitting the aircraft carrier “Eagle” which until now had been safe in the rear. Exuberant bomber crews claimed that a third of the ship was in flames. Needless to say, the concentration on hitting naval targets left the bombers vulnerable to the fighters, and another 25 aircraft were shot down, whether by anti-air or air-to-air we cannot tell. As the orderlies updated the map and its tiny ships, and rewrote the individual ship notes, there were shouts of relief. Our ships had taken little or no further damage (other than 8th ZG which was in dire straits), while 1st Destroyer Squadron had been wiped out, and “Frobisher” was barely afloat.
British ships take evasive action as our Do-217s make their second attack
There were no windows in the “Wasserfloh” room, but a look at the wall clock showed that it was dusk. On the map our fleet of miniature ships was only centimetres from safety, but it was now the turn of the British aircraft. Scattered and with many of its anti-aircraft guns out of action, 1st Schlachtflotte could not put up a combined defence, with each ship taking responsibility for its own protection. Three carrier groups attacked, escorted by three fighter groups. It was too much for the last ships of 8th ZG, and there was silence in the room as the tiny ships were removed from the map. The gloom was only temporary, as minutes later the “Frobisher” was confirmed as having been abandoned by its crew, and was drifting away, burning furiously.
7PM: safety is within reach of the ships of 1st Schlachtflotte – but can they survive the last few kilometres?
At last our fleet was within reach of the security of Den Haag, and the British made a final effort to destroy it. The Luftwaffe, also aware that this was a critical moment, made sure the battered planes of 1st and 2nd Seefliegerkorps were over the fleet, making a last effort to keep the Royal Navy at bay. As the gloom descended, enhanced by huge palls of black smoke, hundreds of aircraft fought above the two fleets, the scene lit by the burning ships and the occasional long streak of flame as an aircraft plummeted into the sea. (Some of the radio operators were getting quite poetic).
And then it was over. Our naval bombers headed back to Nantes, licking their wounds. A total of 65 Dorniers were lost in this one day, but their sacrifice was not in vain. As 1st Schlachtflotte limped into harbour, Flottenchef Marschall could report that other than 8th Zerstörergeschwader, every ship made it to port. The worst damaged was “Köln” at only 22% effectiveness, but every ship had some evidence of the battle, even “von der Tann” had a few bomb hits and shell hits on her superstructure. “Graf Spee”, with 64% damage, pulled into the centre of the harbour, unable to berth because of the flames pouring from several out of control fires, but these would soon be extinguished by the port fire units with their powerful fire hoses. But our fleet was not destroyed, and though battered, is nearly intact.
10PM: a victory is claimed
“Graf Spee”, listing badly and burning fiercely, reaches safety, her exhausted damage control parties able to rest as the port authorities extinguish the flames and secure the vessel for repairs.
In fact, this could (and probably will) be claimed as victory. In the last hectic hour as our ships raced for the entrance to Den Haag, an over-keen destroyer squadron had got too close to the big guns of the “Tirpitz”, which was hanging back to cover the escape of the rest of the fleet. (Flottenchef Marschall defended this decision on the grounds that “Tirpitz” was still virtually intact and was thus more able to withstand a few hits – I don’t think Großadmiral Raeder would view putting one of his two battleships in jeopardy in the same light). At less than 7km every weapon of the flagship had been able to pour volley after volley at the fragile “R”, “F” and “W” destroyers, and every hit from a big gun meant the death of a ship. It had taken only minutes to sink the entire squadron.
The ill-fated squadron of “F-class destroyers surges forward, presumably hoping to get within torpedo range before our fleet reached safety. It was a gamble that did not come off
As we slowly left the room, everyone was mentally totalling the end result. We had lost a Type 1936a Zerstörergeschwader, while the Royal Navy had lost three destroyer squadrons (1st, 2nd and 32nd) and the heavy cruiser “Frobisher”. Both sides, however, had suffered severe damage to every other ship that had taken part in the battle. The Royal Navy can absorb this, but we now have half the Kriegsmarine out of action for months as repairs take place. A victory no doubt, but a Pyrrhic victory. It seemed to me that Fall Wasserfloh was over before it began.
A photograph of HMS Frobisher (partially obscured by smoke from a burning Royal Navy destroyer) taken from one of our aircraft during the battle. Shortly afterwards she took several devastating hits and her crew was forced to abandon her.
On my desk was a pile of documents, but I had no desire to do any work right now. I did see that the top sheet mentioned that General Petersen had won the fight for La Almonda. While 1st Schlachtflotte fought its way a few kilometres to safety, 2.Infanterie (mot) had taken an entire province, losing just 21 men. The 6,000 Spaniards have fled, leaving 97 of their comrades behind.
Picking up my coat and hat, I left the Reichskanzlei. Our attempt to alleviate the pressure on the Luftwaffe by driving the carrier fleets from the Bay of Biscay has failed. It was sombre trip home. People on the train were laughing and enjoying themselves, girls flirting with young soldiers back on leave from Yugoslavia or Polen. I could not join in, and deep inside I know why. It is not just concern about the progress of the war, or even the day’s events. It is far more personal. In a few weeks my brother will be fit enough to rejoin “Schlageter” and fly his Messerschmitt, and the fact that 1st Schlachtflotte was now sitting in Den Haag, unable to complete its mission, meant that Ernst would be flying to almost certain death.
Bombing Summary
No bombing reported for 11th May
Unterseebootsflotte Activity Report
Cape Oregal: 2 transports (UK): Dover – Kuching: Fricke with 3rd U-flotte
Gibraltar Approaches: 2 transports (UK): Dover – Tobruk: Wolf with 4th U-flotte
East Biscay Plain: 2 transports (UK): Dover – Port Sudan: Dönitz with 2nd U-flotte
Last edited:
What a battle !
