Description
You are bidding on an EXCELLENT example of a WW2 German Kriegsmarine Commemoration Award Plaque! This was presented to the sailors of the Cruiser “Koln” in 1940.
Köln was a light cruiser, the third member of the Königsberg class that was operated between 1929 and March 1945. She had two sister ships, Königsberg and Karlsruhe. Köln was built by the Reichsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven; she was laid down in August 1926, launched in May 1928, and commissioned into the Reichsmarine on 15 January 1930. She was armed with a main battery of nine 15 cm SK C/25 (5.9-inch) guns in three triple turrets and had a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph).
After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, she conducted several operations in the North Sea, but did not encounter any British warships. She participated in the attack on Bergen during Operation Weserübung in April 1940, and she was the only member of her class to survive the operation. In 1942, she was modified to carry a Flettner Fl 282 helicopter experimentally. Later in 1942, she returned to Norway, but did not see significant action. She remained there until early 1943, when she returned to Germany in order to be decommissioned as decreed by Hitler after the failure of the Kriegsmarine in Operation Regenbogen; Köln returned to service in 1944, escorting Germans ships to Norway and laying mines. In March 1945, she was sunk by American bombers in Wilhelmshaven. She remained on an even keel, with her gun turrets above water; this allowed her to provide gunfire support to defenders of the city until the end of the war in May 1945.
Made of wood, this plaque is in SUPERB condition for it’s age! It features the inscription:
Zur Erinnerung, an den I. Kutter
Des Kreuzer, “Koln” von 1.1.39 – 1.4.40
Ltn. z See Becker Ob. Btsmt. Tiemann
Siegmund Gludau
Hacker Klingelholler
Buggenthin Linden
Bauchrowitz Hess
Beckmann Fehlies
Hagmaier Evers
Kloth
There is some slight wear due to the age, but nothing that take away from the overall appearance. Measuring an approx. overall size of 8″ x 9″, it would be a PERFECT addition to any collection or display!
