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Post by crushedhat on Sept 28, 2017 17:44:05 GMT
1 Sep 1939
Kommodore Udo Ziegler walks into his new office as XO of the 15th Flotilla. He has lobbied hard for this posting, it bringing him back home to Wilhelmshaven and his family. Hopefully it will reduce the strain on his marriage. His wife, Maria, not wanting to disrupt their daughter’s life having refused to accompany him on his previous posting. Of course, with war imminent, a whole new strain is likely to come to bear. Not to mention the added concern over Fridl’s, their 20 year old son and an Oberfahrich zur See in the Uboatwaffe, safety. “Such are the demands of service to the Fatherland,” Udo tells the empty room. Still, he can’t help but worry for his son. Being a veteran of the last war, Udo is all too familiar with the dangers of fighting under the water. Opening his briefcase, udo pulls out a picture of his family, reflecting a happier time, and places it on the desk. He then removes a bottle of Uzo, the Greek spirit for which he has acquired a taste, and places it along with several glasses in the nearest drawer. That done, Udo settles in for business, picking up the first of the files waiting for his attention. A short Stocky man wearing the rank of Maat enters the room. Coming to attention he salutes and asks, “Will Herr Kommodore be needing anything?”
“Not a the moment, Hertwig. Dismissed,” Udo tells his orderly. When the man remains Udo looks up from the file before him. Is ther something else?”
Leo Hertwig shifts uncomfortably then says, “We have a new arrival, Herr Kommodore.” Shifting one hand behind his back, Leo motions for someone outside the door to enter.
A moment later a young woman enters and comes to attention. The tailored Helferin uniform she wears does little to conceal her curves. Udo notices the Matrosnegefreiter rank on her sleeve. He had heard that the Reich was employing women, but hadn’t expected to have to deal with any himself. “And you are?” he asks.
“Matrosengefreiter Luise Hillebrandt, Herr Kommodore. I am to b your personal clerk,” she adds, blushing slightly under Ziegler’s stern gaze.
“Very well,” Udo sighs resignedly. To Leo he says, “Please see that Matrosengefreiter Hillebrandt is settled in, Maat Hertwig. Dismissed.” This time, to Udo’s relief, both Leo and Luise salute and exit the office. “If war comes, it’s going to be a long one,” Udo tells himself.
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Post by grendel on Nov 14, 2017 23:26:32 GMT
KapitanLeutnant Kurt Richter knocks once on Kommodore Ziegler’s door and enters, tucking his officer’s hat under his arm as he steps smartly up to the flotilla XO’s desk and salutes. Tiny specks of sleet glitter in the submariner’s dark beard and on the shoulders of his leather coat. “KapitanLeutnant Richter reporting as ordered, Herr Kommodore,” he says, his expression wary. A surprise summons to Ziegler’s office was the sort of thing that filled a young officer’s heart with dread, but he tried to keep the apprehension from his voice.
“Drink?” Kommodore Udo Ziegler indicates a small table with several containers of different spirits. Not waiting for a response, he pours himself a glass of uzo, the unusual licorice flavored Greek drink for which he has developed a taste. “Help your self, Kurt,” Udo addresses the younger officer by his first name in an effort to put him at ease. While he waits for KptLt Richter to make his selection, the Kommodore buzzes for his secretary.
“Ah…danke, Herr Kommodore,” Richter says gratefully. With less than a week to go before U-37 put to sea on her third patrol, there had been little time for rest, much less relaxation. After a moment’s consideration, he reaches for a bottle of Bärenfang and pours himself a measure.
A moment later a young blond, her helferin uniform tailored to accentuate rather than hide her curvy figure enters with a map roll under her arm. Her sleeve bears the rank of Matrosengefreiter. Udo watches as the young woman spreads the map out on the table. Turning to face him she asks, “Will there be anything else, Herr Kommodore?”
“No, Luise, that will be all, thank you,” Udo dismisses her.
Richter eyes the young fraulein and suppresses a wolfish grin. Rank has its privileges, he muses, watching the secretary leave the office. He knocks back the shot of Bärenfang, savoring the sweet warmth of the liqueur as it slides down his throat. Maybe shore duty isn’t such a bad thing after all.
“Herr Kaleun,” Ziegler calls his and Richter’s attention away from the departing woman and back to the map. “You will be positioning mines here.” Udo points to the map. “Be careful. The Tommies have already mined the area, thus we hope to catch them in what they believe will be safe channels through their own fields. Be sure to note the locations where you place the mines. We don’t want to be hoisted by own petard, so to speak, when we eventually invade England.”
Richter set down his glass on the sideboard and allowed himself a faint sigh of relief. Just a minelaying mission, he thought, grinning ruefully. It was something they’d been told to expect in the event of war with England, and he’d trained for it at the submariner’s school in Kiel-Wik. He bent over the chart, studying the markings carefully.
“See Leutnant von Rothenberg in Ordnance for special handling instructions. I’m afraid this means you won’t be carrying a full load of torpedoes. But, I’m sure you’ll make the most of what you have.” Udo raises his glass to Kurt and grins. Knocking back his drink the Kommodore asks, “Any questions?”
Relieved, Richter returned the Kommodore’s grin. We’ll leave most of the electric eels behind, he thought, his mind already thinking ahead to the changes in the duty schedule needed to accommodate loading the new ordnance. Good thing we hadn’t gotten around to loading the G7e’s just yet.
After some consideration of the chart and a few technical questions about the operational area and the best means of deployment for the mines, Richter signs for the chart and takes his leave of the Kommodore. In the outer office he asks to borrow the secretary’s phone to notify 1WO Lentz of the change in plans and spends a few more minutes in the company of the lovely fraulein before heading back to his boat.
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Post by crushedhat on Jan 17, 2018 4:01:15 GMT
2 August 1940, La Rochelle U-Boat Base
“KptLt Prouts reporting as directed, Sir!” Wilhelm clicks his heels together as he snaps the tradirtinal naval salute.
“At ease, Proust. Drink?” Kommodore Udo Ziegler indicates a small table with several containers of different spirits. “I’ll have the uzo Ziegler tells Proust as the latter heads to the table. Once both men have a drink in hand the Kommodore continues. “You’ll have a special mission this patrol.”
Wilhelm begins imagining a clandestine raid. The reality proves far more disappointing, his smile fading at Ziegler’s announcement, “You’ll be placing mines in the Bristol Channel.”
“Herr Kommodore…” Proust begins to protest, quickly silenced by the senior officer’s warning stare. Zielger buzzes for his secretary and a moment later Matrosengefreiter Luise Hillebrandt enters. The young blond gives Proust an coquettish smile before depositing a map roll on the Kommodore’s desk.
Proust has just enough time to conclude that the talk about the XO’s scretary fails to do her full justice before she is dismissed. Clearing his throat, Ziegler calls Proust’s attention back to the map. “You will be positioning mines here.” Udo traces out a polygon on the map with his finger. “Be sure to note the locations where you place the mines. We don’t want to waste time searching for them once we’ve conquered England.”
“See Leutnant von Rothenberg in Ordnance for special handling instructions. I’m afraid this means you won’t be carrying a full load of torpedoes. But, I’m sure you’ll make the most of what you have.” Udo raises his glass to Proust and grins. Knocking back his drink the Kommodore asks, “Any questions?”
Wilhelm is tempted to ask whether Ziegler is involved with his secretary or if she is ‘open,’ but refrains. Instead he simply shakes his head no, finishes his drink, and leaves. Of course, Proust does notice Luise’ gaze following him as he leaves.
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Post by crushedhat on Feb 5, 2018 4:59:59 GMT
1 November 1940, La Rochelle U-Boat Base
When KKpt Kurt Richter enters the XO’s office he finds Kommodore Udgo Ziegler and Matrosengefreiter Luise Hillebrandt deep in converstaion. The XO looks up, a friendly smile forming on his face as he recognizes U-37’s commander. The pretty blond helferin also graces Richter with a smile.
“Ah, Kurt,” Ziegler begins. “I believe you know the drill.” The Kommodore indicates his liquor cabinet. He then exchanges a few hushd words with his secretary before seeing her to the door. Once he and Richter are alone, Ziegler motions the younger man to a table where a chart is spread out. “You will be mining here.” Udo drops his finger on the chart outside a port on the British Isles. “Be sure to note where you place the mines. Don’t want our invasion craft hitting any of them, ey?”
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Post by grendel on Feb 10, 2018 19:59:31 GMT
Korvettenkapitän Richter knocks once on Kommodore Ziegler's door and enters, removing his hat as he does so. "My apologies for the delay, Herr Kommodore," he says brusquely, approaching Ziegler's desk and saluting. "It's been one meeting after another getting U-37's repairs certified and the boat ready for sea. I am told that BdU has another special delivery they wish me to make?"
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Post by crushedhat on Feb 10, 2018 20:25:03 GMT
Korvettenkapitän Richter knocks once on Kommodore Ziegler's door and enters, removing his hat as he does so. "My apologies for the delay, Herr Kommodore," he says brusquely, approaching Ziegler's desk and saluting. "It's been one meeting after another getting U-37's repairs certified and the boat ready for sea. I am told that BdU has another special delivery they wish me to make?" When KKpt Kurt Richter enters the XO’s office he finds Kommodore Udgo Ziegler and Matrosengefreiter Luise Hillebrandt deep in converstaion. The XO looks up, a friendly smile forming on his face as he recognizes U-37’s commander. The pretty blond helferin also graces Richter with a smile. “Ah, Kurt,” Ziegler begins. “I believe you know the drill.” The Kommodore indicates his liquor cabinet. He then exchanges a few hushd words with his secretary before seeing her to the door. Once he and Richter are alone, Ziegler motions the younger man to a table where a chart is spread out. “You will be mining here.” Udo drops his finger on the chart outside a port on the British Isles. “Be sure to note where you place the mines. Don’t want our invasion craft hitting any of them, ey?” The two men study the charts as they finish their drinks. Satisfied that Richter has the situation in hand Ziegler offers him another drink along with instructions to check with the ordnance officer on the loading of the mines. Finishing their second drinks, Udo turns serious. "Kurt, be careful out there. You'll be operating close inshore." with thathe dismisses the younger man.
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