Theodor Detmers
Encyclopedia
Theodor Detmers was the commanding officer of the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
in 1921 and served on the battleship SMS Hannover
and SMS Elsass. He was educated on the Segelschiff Niobe
and also served on the SMS Berlin
. Detmers became a sublieutenant on the Emden
. From 1926–28, he served on the Albatross and, as of 1927, was a lieutenant. From 1930–32, he served as staff officer and was then stationed on the cruiser Köln
, on which he visited Australia
in 1933.
In 1934, he served on torpedo boat
s and destroyers of the German Navy. In October 1938, he was in command of the destroyer Hermann Schoemann
and participated in Operation Weserübung
in April to June 1940.
, and captured or destroyed 11 enemy merchant ships. On November 19, 1941 the Kormoran was intercepted by HMAS Sydney
. Detmers tried to pose as a Dutch merchant ship. He allegedly lacked the necessary naval codes, however, and was finally forced to engage Sydney. He sank the Australian cruiser in battle off Western Australia
. His own ship was severely damaged and had to be scuttled, after which Detmers was captured and became a prisoner of war
(POW).
Detmers was held as a POW at HM Prison Dhurringile
until January 1947. In December 1941, Detmers was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
and in 1943, was promoted to the rank of Kapitän zur See. He had earlier received the first class Iron Cross
. Detmers and the battle between Sydney and Kormoran was also mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
on Wednesday, 3 December 1941. While a prisoner, he wrote a coded account of the battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran that survived the war. Detmers tried to escape Australian captivity with other members of his crew, via a tunnel and then hoping to capture a sailboat to get to Indonesia
; however, the attempt was unsuccessful. Later during his imprisonment, he suffered a stroke.
. Due to his stroke, he was incapacitated for service in the post-war German navy. In the early 1950s he married Ursula Reinhardt, daughter of an evangelical pastor. They had no children and he died in Rahlstedt
, Hamburg
in 1976. Detmers wrote a book about his Kormoran experiences, which has been translated into English.
German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran
The German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran was a Kriegsmarine merchant raider of World War II. Originally the merchant vessel Steiermark, the ship was acquired by the Kriegsmarine following the outbreak of war for conversion into a raider...
. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Career
Detmers joined the German NavyGerman Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
in 1921 and served on the battleship SMS Hannover
SMS Hannover
SMS Hannover was the second of five Deutschland-class pre-dreadnoughts of the German Imperial Navy . Hannover and the three subsequently constructed ships differed slightly in both design and construction from the lead ship in their propulsion systems and slightly thicker armor...
and SMS Elsass. He was educated on the Segelschiff Niobe
Segelschulschiff Niobe
The Segelschulschiff Niobe was a tall ship used by the German Navy to train cadets and aspiring NCOs. She sank during a sudden squall on 26 July 1932...
and also served on the SMS Berlin
SMS Berlin
SMS Berlin was a of the Kaiserliche Marine, named after the city of Berlin. She was laid down at Kaiserliche Werft Danzig in August 1902, launched on 22 September 1903 and commissioned on 4 April 1905....
. Detmers became a sublieutenant on the Emden
German cruiser Emden
The German light cruiser Emden was the only ship of its class. The third cruiser to bear the name Emden was the first new warship built in Germany after World War I....
. From 1926–28, he served on the Albatross and, as of 1927, was a lieutenant. From 1930–32, he served as staff officer and was then stationed on the cruiser Köln
German cruiser Köln
Köln was a German light cruiser prior to and during World War II, one of three K-Class cruisers named after cities starting with the letter K. This ship was named after the city of Köln . The others in her class were the Königsberg and the Karlsruhe...
, on which he visited Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1933.
In 1934, he served on torpedo boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
s and destroyers of the German Navy. In October 1938, he was in command of the destroyer Hermann Schoemann
German destroyer Z7 Hermann Schoemann
Z7 Hermann Schoemann was a built for the German Navy in the mid-1930s.-Design and description:Hermann Schoemann had an overall length of and was long at the waterline. The ship had a beam of , and a maximum draft of . She displaced at standard and at deep load. The Wagner geared steam...
and participated in Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
in April to June 1940.
HSK Kormoran
In July 1940, Detmers became captain of the commerce raider KormoranGerman auxiliary cruiser Kormoran
The German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran was a Kriegsmarine merchant raider of World War II. Originally the merchant vessel Steiermark, the ship was acquired by the Kriegsmarine following the outbreak of war for conversion into a raider...
, and captured or destroyed 11 enemy merchant ships. On November 19, 1941 the Kormoran was intercepted by HMAS Sydney
HMAS Sydney (1934)
HMAS Sydney , named for the Australian city of Sydney, was one of three Modified Leander class light cruisers operated by the Royal Australian Navy...
. Detmers tried to pose as a Dutch merchant ship. He allegedly lacked the necessary naval codes, however, and was finally forced to engage Sydney. He sank the Australian cruiser in battle off Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. His own ship was severely damaged and had to be scuttled, after which Detmers was captured and became a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(POW).
Prisoner of war
HM Prison Dhurringile
HM Prison Dhurringile is a minimum security prison located on Murchison Road, Murchison, Victoria, Australia.Situated 160 km north of Melbourne, the 68-room mansion, completed in 1877, was originally a homestead for a large farm. The house was completed for the Winter-Irving family, who were...
until January 1947. In December 1941, Detmers was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
and in 1943, was promoted to the rank of Kapitän zur See. He had earlier received the first class Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
. Detmers and the battle between Sydney and Kormoran was also mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht
Wehrmachtbericht
The Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
on Wednesday, 3 December 1941. While a prisoner, he wrote a coded account of the battle between HMAS Sydney and German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran that survived the war. Detmers tried to escape Australian captivity with other members of his crew, via a tunnel and then hoping to capture a sailboat to get to Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
; however, the attempt was unsuccessful. Later during his imprisonment, he suffered a stroke.
Post-captivity
Detmers returned to Germany in 1947 and was released from British captivity in MunsterMunster, Lower Saxony
Munster, also called Munster , is a small town in the district of Heidekreis, in Lower Saxony, Germany almost equidistant from Hamburg and Hanover. The town is home to the German Army's largest garrison and is situated between the two training areas of Munster North and Munster South. It is also...
. Due to his stroke, he was incapacitated for service in the post-war German navy. In the early 1950s he married Ursula Reinhardt, daughter of an evangelical pastor. They had no children and he died in Rahlstedt
Rahlstedt
Rahlstedt is a quarter in the Wandsbek borough of the Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg in northern Germany. In 2006, the population was 86,413.-History:...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
in 1976. Detmers wrote a book about his Kormoran experiences, which has been translated into English.
External links
- HMAS Sydney II and the Kormoran: Captain Theodor Anton Detmers at the Australian War MemorialAustralian War MemorialThe Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...