Arthur Godenau (19 January 1903 - 16 February 1983) was a German

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the a ...

officer who was born in Przyłęki (german: Netzort) and took part in the German operation against Norway.

Career

Godenau was born on 19 January 1903 in Netzort,

Kreis Bromberg The Bromberg district was a Prussian district that existed from 1772 to 1807 and then from 1815 to 1920. It initially belonged to the Netze District and from 1815 it was part of Regierungsbezirk Bromberg in the Grand Duchy of Posen and from 1848, ...

Province of Posen The Province of Posen (german: Provinz Posen, pl, Prowincja Poznańska) was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1848 to 1920. Posen was established in 1848 following the Greater Poland Uprising as a successor to the Grand Duchy of Posen, w ...

within the

German Empire The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...

, present-day Przyłęki. At birth, his name was Artur Leo Gadaszewski, later renamed to Godenau. He joined the military service of ''

Reichsmarine The ''Reichsmarine'' ( en, Realm Navy) was the name of the German Navy during the Weimar Republic and first two years of Nazi Germany. It was the naval branch of the ''Reichswehr'', existing from 1919 to 1935. In 1935, it became known as the ''K ...

'', the German Navy during the Weimar Republic, on 1 April 1925 with the 1st department of the standing ship division of the North Sea.1st department —I. ''Abteilung''standing ship division —''Schiffsstammdivision'' On 26 September, Godenau was transferred to the 3rd Half-Flotilla for further training.3rd Half-Flotilla —''3. Halbflottille'' On 1 April 1927, he was promoted to ''Obermatrose'' (Seaman 1st Class). On 31 August 1934, Godenau was appointed commander of ''R-11'', an R boat in the 1st Minesweeper-Half-Flotilla,1st Minesweeper-Half-Flotilla—1. ''Räum-Halbflottille'' commanding this boat for four months. On 1 January 1939, he was promoted to ''Stabsobersteuermann'', a non-commissioned officers rank.

World War II

During Operation Weserübung, the German the invasion of Denmark and Norway, Godenau commanded ''R-17''. On 9 April 1940, a German task force consisting of the torpedo boats and , accompanied by ''R-17'' and ''R-21'', heavily laden with troops attacked the Norwegian naval base at

Horten is a town and municipality in Vestfold in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway—located along the Oslofjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Horten. The municipality also includes the town of Åsgårdstrand an ...

which became the

Battle of Horten Harbour The Battle of Horten Harbour or the Action at Horten was an engagement that occurred on 9 April 1940 during Operation Weserübung when the Germans launched an amphibious assault on Karljohansvern, the Norwegian naval base at Horten. After being i ...

. During the assault, ''R-17'' was sunk by the minelayer . He earned significant awards, such as

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight' ...

on 31 May 1940 when he commanded R-17 in R-Boat Flotilla I (for successfully helping to ensure the capture of the Horten harbor in an undamaged state). Godenau was then scheduled to take command of ''R-51''. This was cancelled and he was given command of ''R-73'' which he commissioned on 21 May 1941. On 24 December, Godenau was promoted to '' Leutnant zur See'' (lieutenant at sea), effective as of 1 January 1942. In 1944, Godenau became an instructor with the (BSN—Commander of the Defense of the North Sea), training new officers at

Hörnum ( Sölring Frisian: ''Hörnem'', Danish: ''Hørnum'') is a municipality in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located on the southern headland of the island of Sylt. The municipality is part of the ''Amt'' La ...

. He later died in Laboe, the circumstances of his death are yet unknown.https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/45789/Godenau-Arthur.htm Buried in Laboe.

Awards

* Wehrmacht Long Service Award ** 4th Class (2 October 1936) ** 3rd Class (31 March 1937) * Iron Cross (1939) ** 2nd Class (10 October 1939) ** 1st Class (9 May 1940) *

on 31 May 1940 as ''Stabsobersteuermann'' and commander of Räumboot ''R-17'' in the 1. Räumbootflottille * '' Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände'' (6 November 1940)

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Bibliography

* * * * * * {{Refend 1903 births 1983 deaths Kriegsmarine personnel Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross