Group Obermaat Kreuzer Nürnberg fortress Brest Spanienkreuz

(D21530)
Franz Flacke, Kriegsmarine Verwaltungs-Obermaat Navy cruisers
1) Soldbuch, 22.8.41. Kriegsmarine issue with uniform pass photo.
2) Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes, 26.10.39. Din A4 issue. Folded. Issued while serving on board of the Kreuzer Nürnberg.
3) DLRG life savings pass, 9.9.37. With Kriegsmarine uniform pass photo. Issued when serving as a Matrose with Marine-Ersatz-Abteilung Eckernförde.
4) DJH Bleibenausweiss, German Youth Hostels pass, 1934. With pass photo.
5) Document from 2.Admiral der Nordsee Buxtehude send to the mother of Franz, 27.11.44. Stating he took part in the defence of fortress Brest (Festung Brest) in France and is missing in action ince 20.9.44. Din A4.
6) Letter from the german Red Cross for the mother of Franz 3.1.45 stating the Red Cross started an investigation to Franz who was missing in action. Din A4.
7) POW certificate of discharge, 13.2.47. Signed by an officer of the Irish Guards. Damaged.
8) POW release document, 31.1.47. Military Government. Din A4.

Also entiled to: Deutsches Spanienkreuz in Bronze ohne Schwerter (6.6.39), Flotten-Kriegsabzeichen High Fleet war badge (3.3.42) and Iron Cross 2nd Class (18.9.44).

Born 1918 in Essen. Kriegsmarine service since 1937. After basic training at Marine-Ersatz-Abteilung Eckernförde he served on board of the cruiser Nürnberg. 1941 he served with Kommandant der Seeverteidigung R; Feb.42-Jun.43 with the 7. Minensuch-Flottille active in minelaying duty off the coast of Holland and in the North Sea; since Jun.43 with Stab 2.Admiral der Norsee officially seated in Buxtehude for control of Kriegsmarine operations in the North Sea area. After the allied invasion he was active in the enclosed fortress of Brest France. 18.9.44 he was awarded with an EK2 (probably for his actions in fortress Brest against the Allied invasion). He was officially missing in action since 20.9.44. 1947 he was released as POW.

Kreuzer Nürnberg:
Nürnberg was a German light cruiser of the Leipzig class commissioned in 1935. Armed with a main battery of nine 15 cm guns in three triple turrets. Late 1930s the Nürnberg took part in the non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War. After Sep.39 she was used to lay defensive minefields off the German coast. She was thereafter used to escort offensive mine-layers in the North Sea until she was torpedoed by a British submarine in Dec.39. She was thereafter used as a training ship in the Baltic Sea for most of the rest of the war.

Some field post numbers in the Soldbuch:
M17661= 7. Minensuch-Flottillen-Kommando
M26889= Marine-Befehlshaber Ostland
M38328= Kommandant der Seeverteidigung R
M49230= 6. Minensuch-Flottillen-Kommando