Passage Through the Great Belt, the Kattegat, and the Skagerrak During Bismarck's Breakout

[Translation from the German by Google Translate.] Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 33/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret!

Top priority! Only by officer!

Short letter

Fleet News Group North

Test no. 1-7 test no. 8

Subject: March through the Great Belt, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak on April 29 and 30, 1941.
(May 19 and 20, 1941)

1.) On 29.4.41 (19.5.41), Sperrbrecher 13 and Sperrbrecher 31 escorted Eichenkranz [Bismarck] and Meeresgott [Prinz Eugen] from green 03 to red 20 according to BSO Gkdos 32/41 Chiefs. of 22.4.41 (Annex 1).

2.) From red 20 to black 01, the fleet formation marches without a base mine escort along the route checked again on April 29 (May 19) by KFRG vehicles, so that black 01 is reached on April 30 (May 20) at 5:30 a.m.

In the Great Belt, buoy boats are deployed in accordance with BSO Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs (Annex 2). The buoy line is illuminated in accordance with BSO Gkdos 35/41 Chiefs (Annex 3).

3.) From black 01, the fleet formation follows this route:

From black 01, via black 03, via black 09, via black 10, via black 14, via black 18, via black 21, via black 21 A, via black 24, via Qu. 4415 upper left corner to black 26, from there to Kristiansand-Süd barrier gap.

4.) From point black 21, which will be reached on 30.4. (20.5.) at approximately 13:00, to black 21 A, the fleet formation will proceed behind a minesweeping escort of the 5th Ms.Fl. according to BSO Gkdos 34/41 Chiefs. (Annex 4).

5.) On April 29/30 (May 19/20), the BSO will conduct anti-submarine warfare and close air cover in the Skagerrak in accordance with BSO Gkdos 31/41 Chief's order of April 22, 1941 (Annex 5).

6.) Measures for the night march through the Great Belt have been requested from the Marbef. Denmark according to BSO Gkdos 37/41 Chiefs. of 22.4.41. (Annex 6).

7.) Regarding Annex 5, Item 5: Please transmit the marching order to the boat on black 09 upon passing.

[Stamped]

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1. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 dated 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 32/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret! Top priority! Only by officer! Short letter

Barrage Breaker 13 Barrage Breaker 31 next Fleet next Group North next Station East next Kobef West

Test no. 1 test no. 2 test no. 3-9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12

At 0830
1.) Sperrbrecher 13 and Speerbrecher 31 are positioned on 29.4 .41 (19.5.41) ( time to be ordered ) at point green 03 to escort a formation consisting of two large and several small units, from green 03 via green 02, green 01, red 13, red 07, red 06, red 05A, red 05, red 15, red 16, red 17, red 18, red 19 to red 20.

Red 05 will be passed at 9:30 PM.

2.) Order of ships on the march from green 03 to red 20:

a.) Barrier breaker 13

b.) First large unit.
Distance between a) and b) as small as possible (about 500 m).

c.) Barrier breaker 31.
Distance between b) and c) = 1500 m.

d.) Second large unit.
Distance between c) and d) as small as possible (about 500 m).

e.) Attached in line behind d) the small units.

3.) Marching from green 03 to red 20 = 10 nautical miles.

4.) At red 20, barrier bridges 13 and 31 veer to starboard (east) out of the formation after the entire formation has completed the course change at red 20, reduce speed and allow the formation to pass.

5.) After passing the convoy, Sperrbr. 13 and 31 follow the convoy ship by ship at full speed along the point route to red 27 and anchor there.

6.) Sperrbr. 13 reports escort take-off at green 03 and passage of red 20 by FT

7.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

8.) On the night of April 29th (19th) to April 30th (May 20th):

a) The buoys in the Great Belt according to BSO Gkdos 35/41 Chief's of 22.4. (see Annex) are illuminated.

b) Market boats laid out according to BSO Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs. of 22.4. (see Annex).

9.) Barrage bridges 13 and 31 shall man UK station, UK channel 10 17 during the duration of the escort (unless the commander of the escorted convoy orders otherwise). [Stamped]

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2. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret! Top priority! Only by officer! Short letter

Bewa East message. Fleet message. Group North message. Marbef. Denmark message. Barrage Breaker 13 message. Barrage Breaker 31

Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12

Re: Night march across the Great Belt.

1.) On the night of April 29th to 30th , 1941 (May 19th to 20th), two large and several small vessels passed through the Great Belt. The barrage breakers 13 and 31 followed the group at greater intervals.

2.) The following is ordered:

Bewa Ost will deploy market boats at the following positions on April 29th (May 19th) from 2 PM onwards:

a) At 55 degrees 11.5 min. North, 11 degrees 3.7 min. East = 200 m west of red 21.
Identification: Two black balls by day, two red lanterns by night.

b) At 55 degrees 12.3 min. North, 11 degrees 6.8 min. East = 100 m south of the Agers South anti-aircraft buoy.
Identification: A black ball or two white lanterns.

c) At 55 degrees 19.6 min. North, 11 degrees 1.8 min. East = 200 m west of red 22 B.
Identification: Two black balls or one white one, below which is a red lantern.

d) At 55 degrees 33.6 min. North, 10 degrees 49.7 min. East (eastern edge of Roms�-Tue)
Identification: A black ball or a red lantern, below which is a white lantern.

e) At 55 degrees 52.9 min North, 10 degrees 50 min East (Hatter-Barn)
Identification: Two black balls or two red lanterns.

f) At 55 degrees 54.1 min. North, 10 degrees 51.2 min. East (Hatter-Rev)
Identification: A black ball or two white lanterns.

Regarding points 2 a) to 2 f): The bells and lanterns are to be placed one above the other.
The lanterns are to be placed on the night of April 29th to 30th (May 19th to 20th) from dusk until dawn. Mark boats that are not in the ordered position will not display bells or lanterns.

3.) The market boats according to point 2) shall receive the following position designations:

Position according to para. 2a) = Sirius
position according to point. 2b) = Saturn
position according to number 2c) = Venus
position according to number 2d) = Orion
position according to number 2e) = Uranus
position according to number 2f) = Mercury

4.) The mark boats remain in position until ordered to enter the harbor by FT. Orders are given by BSO directly to the mark boats.

5.) Boats of the 10th Vpfl. are to be designated as market boats. Bewa Ost reports the boat numbers and positions to BSO according to item 3).

6.) Radio communication of the market boats: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

[Stamped]

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3. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 35/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret! Top priority! Only by officer! Short letter

2nd Group 5th R.-Fl narr. Fleet narr. Group North narr. Marbef. Denmark Bewa East narr. Sperrbrecher 13 narr. Sperrbrecher 31

Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12 test no. 13

Subject: Lighting Point Path Great Belt

1.) 2nd Group 5th Reserve Flotilla (R61, R53, R60, R64) takes over from the Mine Warfare Command on the afternoon of April 27th (May 17th) in Aarhus.

a) 90 fairway buoys with red lantern and connecting pedestals.

b) 25 fairway buoys with green lantern and anchoring.

c) 220 replacement elements for the electric lanterns according to item 1a) and 1b).

2.) On April 28th (May 18th):

a) Lay out one fairway buoy with a green lantern and anchor 20 m east of each of the red spar buoys (or yellow net buoys with attached fishing buoy) located at the following course change points: red point 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 22B, 23, 23A, 24, 24A, 24B, 25, 26, 26A and 27.

b) Each of the red and white net buoys, which are located at intervals of 1 - 1.5 nm between the course change points according to point 2a), is to be lashed to a fairway buoy with a red lantern by means of a connecting mooring post (grabber buoy mooring post).

Regarding points 2a) and 2b):
The fairway buoys must be in place by nightfall on April 28th (May 18th). A FT report must be sent to BSO on the evening of April 28th (May 18th).

3.) On April 29th (May 19th), the 2nd group of the 5th Reserve Flotilla (R61, R53, R60, R64) will switch on the buoy lights according to sections 2 a) and 2 b) in sufficient time so that all lights are illuminated from dusk onwards. Then, a FT report will be sent to the BSO.

4.) After completing the task according to point 3.) R-boats enter Korsï¿¿r.

5.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

6.) Pick up the fairway buoys only on special order.

[Stamped]

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4. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 34/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret! Top priority! Only by officer! Short letter

5th Ms. Flotilla, forward fleet, forward group North

Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9

Re: Minesweeping escort

1.) After conducting the anti-submarine warfare according to BSO Gkdos 31/41 Chief's order of 22.4.41, the 5th Ms.Fl. marches to point black 21.

2.) On 30.4. (20.5.) at 1200 am, 5.Ms.Fl. with deployed equipment is stationed at black 21 for minesweeping escort through the Skagen-Mitte blocking gap to black 21 A for a formation advancing from black 18, consisting of two large and several small units.

3.) ORG setting: 14 m.
No bow protection device.
Highest search and rescue operation to be reported to the escorted convoy. Do not buoy.

4.) Mine alarm only if the equipment is destroyed. Otherwise, hold out if you encounter mines. It must be expected that your own deep-lying mines (depth setting: 15 m) of the Skagen barrier will be cleared. The mines (UMA) have been thrown with "KE on". However, it is not certain that cleared mines will detonate. The following formation must avoid surface mines if necessary.

5.) After conducting a minesweeping escort, the 5th Ms. Fl. anchors in Skagen Roads.

6.) Radio communication: Baltic Sea longwave (nanni).

[Stamped]

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5. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 31/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret! Top priority! Only by officer! Short letter

9th Outpost Flotilla BSO Training Flotilla 16th Outpost Flotilla Submarine Chaser 119 5th Ms. Flotilla Coastal Aviation Group 906 Naval Fleet Naval Group North

Test no. 1 test no. 2 test no. 2 test no. 4 test no. 5 test no. 6 test no. 7-13 test no. 14

1.) Situation On 30.4.41 (20.5.41) a special convoy, consisting of two heavy and several light units, marched from black 21 A via black 24 to Qu. 4415 upper left corner to black 26.

The convoy is on black 21 at approximately 1:00 PM on April 30th (May 20th).

Marching from black 21 to black 21 A approximately 10 nautical miles, then 20 nautical miles.

2.) To secure this convoy during its march across the Skagerrak, the following anti-submarine warfare will be ordered from 29.4 (19.5.) at 22:00:

a.) 5th Ms.-Fl. with 4-5 boats in Qu. 4462, 4463, 4461, 4437 AO until 30.4 . (20.5.) at 0900. Then task according to BSO Gkdos 34/41 Chief's of 22.4. Carry out.

b.) BSO school flotilla with 5 boats in Qu. 4428, 4429, 4427, 4424 AO.

c.) 16. Vpfl. with 3 boats in the Qu. 4411, 4414, 4415, 4412 AO.

d.) 9 Vpfl. with 7 boats in the Qu. 3625, 3626, 3634, 3635 AN.

e.) U-J�ger 119, 111, 118 (114, 111) in the quarters 3616, 3619 upper half, 3624, 3627 upper half.

3.) The termination of the submarine hunt according to section 2 b, c, d and e is ordered by FT.

4.) Coastal Air Group 906 provides close air cover for convoy from black 21 to Kristiansand-South barrier gap.

5.) The BSO training flotilla will detach a boat well-equipped with FT (Field Telegraph) devices. This boat will anchor on 29.4 . (19.5.) at 2000 on black 09 and report via FT (SSD) the time of passage and speed of the special convoy, which will pass black 09 on the morning of 30.4 . (20.5.). Speed ​​will be transmitted by the lead vessel of the special convoy upon passage.
Entry is only permitted upon special order.

6.) Flotillas report the distribution of boats.

7.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).

[Stamped]

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6. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941

Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 37/41 Chiefs.

April 22, 1941.

Top secret! Top priority! Only by officer! Short letter

Marbef. Denmark message. Fleet message. Group North message. Barrage Breaker 13 message. Barrage Breaker 31 East Guard

Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12

1.) For the night march of a unit through the Great Belt on the night of April 29th to 30th , 1941 (May 19th to 20th, 1941), the following measures are requested:

a.) Measure DS (Dora Sophie) on April 29th (May 19th) with darkness until April 30th (May 20th) at 01:00 (02:00).

b.) Measure DR (Dora Richard) on 29.4 . (19.5.) at 23:30 until 30.4 . (20.5.) at 04:00.

c.) Measure DQ (Dora Quatsch) on April 30th (May 20th) from 0:00 until dawn.

d.) Measure DO (Dora Otto) on 30.4 . (20.5.) from 02:30 am until dawn.

2.) The measures must not be deleted during the specified time in the event of enemy incursions. [Stamped]

 

Message Orders for Operation "Rheinübung"

[Translated from the German by Google Translate.]  Fleet Command Gkdos 90/41 A4 Chiefs.

On board, April 21, 1941

Top priority
only by officer

Message orders for Operation "Rheinübung"

( Fleet Gkdos 100/41 A1 Chiefs. of 22.4.41 .)

A.) Radio service:

I.) With home: According to the communications order of Group Command North or West.

II.) Within the unit:

a) UK channels

1.) From departure until May 9, 24:00: 10
2.) From May 10, 00:00 to May 19, 24:00: 15
3.) From May 20, 00:00 to June 5, 24:00: 12
4.) From June 6, 00:00 to June 17, 24:00: 18
5.) From June 18, 00:00 to July 2, 24:00: 9
6.) From July 4, 00:00 to July 16, 24:00: 13
7.) From July 17, 00:00 until completion or until the ordered time: 18
8.) During the duration of fuel or resupply operations, Special channels are to be ordered for direct ship-to-troop vessel traffic. The currently valid channel remains in place as a cross-connection between the warships of the squadron as long as they are within UK range and the UK connection is necessary.

b) Longwave near zone for tactical cooperation with submarines:
1.) Mondays: Lucie Toni
2.) Tuesdays: Max Paula
3.) Wednesdays: Lucie
4.) Thursdays: Nanni
5.) Fridays: Paula
6.) Saturdays: Max Ida
7.) Sundays: Max Lucie
Wave change; unless otherwise ordered in individual cases, at 0800.

c) Longwave near zone for traffic of warships with reconnaissance and troop vessels :
1.) Lucie Emil Max
2.) Lucie Max (alternative welbe)
Cross sum allocation see Appendix 1.

III.) In cooperation with aircraft:

1.) Aircraft reconnaissance wave: Anton Dora
2.) Aircraft Bismarck wave: Anton Dora
3.) Aircraft Pr. Eugen wave: Anton Gustav
4.) Air reconnaissance wave
5.) Fighter wave
6.) Direction finding and evasion wave
7.) Communication wave for fighter protection
are ordered by the commanding group command with FT, unless specified in NB's.

IV.) Prize radio service: According to the special instructions of the OKM for prizes of domestic naval forces.

V.) Radio service of supply ships and escort tankers: according to Annex 2.

B.) Key service:

1.) According to the group commands' message orders.
2.) Special short signals for longwave near zone, see Annex 3.
3.) Radio traffic on longwave near zone encrypted.

C.) Special arrangements:

1.) The longwave short-range zone of section II b) is only to be used when submarines are involved in radio communications. Therefore, it is all located below 1000 meters.
2.) In optical, UK, and longwave short-range communications, as soon as a uniform ship's time is ordered for the entire convoy, this time must be used.

D.) Radio direction finding service:

1.) According to messages, orders from the group commands.
2.) SB requests are to be transmitted on coastal shortwave radio.

E.) ES service:

1.) According to ES regulations.
2.) Conning tower roofs within the area of ​​friendly combat air power are to be bright yellow, outside this area gray. The same applies to swastika flags painted on the bow and stern.
3.) Fl.SZ (colorful beacons) red : April, June. white : May, July.
Displayed on ships simultaneously upon UK order from the task force command. Deployed task forces are to be informed by the commanding group command. Fl.SZ (colorful beacons) are to be shown only when cooperating with combat, not escort, task forces.

Distribution list:

2nd Class Test Number   Group West Group North Fleet Commander-in-Chief Operations Commander-in- Chief 2nd Admiral Fleet Bismarck Pr. Eugen Gonzenheim Kota Penang Ermland Belchen Bremen Esso-Hamburg Spichern Reserve Lorraine

1 2-4 5-7 8-10 10-13 14-16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28-30 27

On behalf of.
Signed: Bormann.

For accuracy:

[signed]

Oblt.MAuN1

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Annex 1 to Fleet Gkdos 90/41 A4 Chiefs.v.21.4.

Cross sum allocation for radio communications of tankers and troopers.

21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34

Bismarck Pr.Eugen Gonzenheim Kota Penang Ermland Belchen Bremen Esso-Hamburg Lorraine Spichern Gneisenau Scharnhorst Heide Weissenburg

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Annex 2 to Fleet Gkdos 90/41 A4 Chiefs.v.21.4.41

Radio service of the troop ships and escort tankers.

I. Radio communication with the homeland:
according to the communications orders of the group commands.

II. Radio communication with naval forces:
With partial amendments to the orders originally issued by the group commands, the following is commanded:

a) Direction finding for rendezvous:
Troopers and escort tankers occupy the long-wave shortwave band for 30 minutes at the times they are scheduled to rendezvous according to operational orders.

The ship to be rendezvous, the lead ship in a convoy, initiates radio communication on this wave, if necessary, by transmitting "ww w" with an interspersed five-digit number group, the digital root of which is specified [assigned] to it in operational orders, beginning with the lowest transmission power. The call lasts 1 minute.

The following minute is reserved for the responding station. Battleships use only the odd minutes until contact is established , troopers and escort tankers use the even minutes, regardless of the time the radio communication begins.

If no answer is received in the second minute, the call should be repeated in the third minute with a slightly higher transmission power. As soon as the called radio station has received the call, it should reply in the following even minute with "ww w" and an interspersed five-digit number group, the digital root of which corresponds to the name of its vessel.

The reply should also begin with the lowest transmission power, which should be increased to 50 percent output in the next transmission minute until the reply has been received. The calling radio station responds with its five-digit code and, using the traffic abbreviation, indicates the volume at which it is receiving the trooper, enabling the trooper to adjust its transmission power accordingly. The connection is considered established when both stations are receiving at volume 2.

Skilled petty officers should be assigned to this radio communication, and the best receivers with the volume fully turned up should be used.

A direction-finding radio message from the trooper or escort tanker is requested by the receiving vessel using the traffic abbreviation "qobs".

At this moment, the minute allocation is complete.

The requested radio station transmits a direction-finding message consisting of approximately 10-12 five-digit number groups, the first and last of which must equal the digital root assigned to the transmitting support vessel or escort tanker. No acknowledgment of receipt is given for this direction-finding message; a new request is made by transmitting the traffic abbreviation "qobs" again.

Until visual contact is established and the radio link is thus completed, the settings on the transmitters and receivers with which the radio link was established must not be changed in order to ensure that radio communication can be resumed at any time without having to initiate a new call procedure.

b) Radio message exchange:
Radio communication is established as described in II a), unless it has already been established. The transmission of a radio message is to be announced by the traffic abbreviation "qtc", confirmed by the receiving station with "k". Radio message transmission according to the relay radio procedure. Keying according to M - General domestic waters. Radio names according to GFL.

c) Frequency change is ordered with the traffic abbreviation "qlns"...." = Switch from the longwave near zone to ....kHz

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3 Annex to Fleet Gkdos 90/41 A4 Chiefs.v.21.4.41

Special short signals for longwave near zone.

Beta   Epsilon   Bruno   C�sar   Nanni   Otto   Ulli   �se Jot   �se Karl   �se Lucie

Collect according to astronomical cutlery. Collect according to coupled cutlery (numbers included = collection square). Do you have astronomical cutlery? Yes No Take-off clearance for onboard aircraft No take-off clearance Reconnaissance according to plan ..... by onboard aircraft Reconnaissance according to plan ..... by onboard aircraft Reconnaissance according to plan ..... by onboard aircraft

All signals must be transmitted securely and repeated by the receiver. Introductory signal: period.