7/1/1939 Deschimag AG Weser Werft 1st day at sea
On March 23, 1939 Schiff 35 arrived to a roaring fanfare at Bremen . During her deployment to Spanish waters she sank with scuttling charges and mines 64,525 grt of shipping. The Spanish Civil war ended on April 1st with Germany on the side of the victors for their efforts the crew were awarded the following:
-445 (All) awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class and the Spanish Cross in Bronze without swords
-38 Iron Cross 1st class
-2 Wound Badges in Gold ( 1 posthumously)
-Kommandant was awarded the Iron Cross 1st & 2nd class and was later awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with swords for his successful operations and the mining of Valencia.
Schiff 35 was decommissioned on April 5, 1939 and placed in the hands of the shipyard. For 4 months the entire electrical system was rewired, Port engine No 4 was taken apart and rebuilt, and a other adjustments made to the decks, holds and deck fittings. Work was completed on June 4, 1939 and on June 6, 1939 Schiff 35 was once again commissioned into the Kriegsmarine under her old Kommandant Fregattenkapitän Hans Felix Hartmann (EK I). Schiff 35 left Bremen for a 3 week training cruise and arrived at Bremen on June 27th final adjustments were made and now she was clear for sea. Final loading took place at Bremen any items missing were shipped in by train. Again Hartmann went to Berlin to be briefed on Schiff 35’s next deployment, he was to make for the via the Denmark Strait and remain there until further notice.
I know it’s getting repetitive and boring but please bear with me. Never had this much trouble getting a patrol underway
