Small lot to the Knights Cross winner and commander of the “Biber” u-boats Korvettenkapitän Hans Bartels.

Bartels joined the Reichsmarine in 1931. By 1939 he was the commander of Minensuchboot M1 and was part of the Poland campaign at the "Danziger Bucht". Bartels was awarded with Iron Cross 1st Class on 11th May 1940 right after the Norwegian campaign. Only 5 days later he was awarded with the Knights Cross.

Bartels can be called the pioneer of the “Biber” 1-man U-boats which were first launched in 1944. He was the commander of “Lehrkommando 250” at the Kleinkampfverbände der Kriegsmarine near Lübeck until the end of the war. He was responsible for the training and the service of 9 “Biber” flotillas. In March 1945 Bartels commanded the “Sonderkommando Puma” with undersea divers of "Kleinkampfverbände der Kriegsmarine" and so called "Froschmänner" of “SS-Jagdverband Donau”. These troops were supposed to blast the famous bridge of Remagen on 12. March 1945. Bartels died when clearing mines for the British as a Prisoner of War after an accident in July 1945.

The lot consists of:

An original photo, on Agfa Brovia paper measuring 9cm + 12cm, of Bartels without his Knights Cross taken very late in the war.

Bartels original "Kampfabzeichen für Kleinkampfmittelverbände" machine embroidered on dark blue cloth.

Both items are from the original owner of his entire grouping, which was sold several years ago. The photo and the badge were kept as a memory. This badge 100% belonged to Hans Bartels.