General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Kormoran veterans break silence.
Posted by:
Vin
()
Date: November 10, 2001 02:01AM
<HTML>Hello all,
Herald Sun, Saturday, Nov 10, 01. Page 11. (Melbourne)
WW2 veterans break silence.
Two German navy veterans have broken their silence on Australia`s worst
World War 2 navy disaster, with one saying HMAS Sydney should never be
disturbed. The two Victorians, in their 80`s, were young ratings on German
raider HSK Kormoran in 1941. They said both sunken ships, in which more than
700 men died, should be treated as war graves.
Hermann Ortmann and Bill Elmecker spoke before next weeks 60th anniversary
of the loss of the Sydney with all 645 crew on November 19, 1941.
" If they want to spend a lot of money they might be able to find the Sydney,
but if she sank after an explosion there would not be much left," Mr Ortmann said.
" There certainly would not be much left of the Kormoran- Iv`e always thought of
them as war graves and they should be left alone."
The Australian light cruiser was crippled after a battle with the Kormoran in the
Indian Ocean off Western Australia, but she later sank out of sight.
The only accounts of the battle come from the captured survivors off the Kormoran.
Many historians believe only finding the wrecks would settle continuing
controversy and debate over the final fate of the Sydney, including claims she
was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Bill Elmecker, who has never spoken publicly
on the sinking, remains deeply sympathetic to the Sydney`s crew and their families. " We didn`t know who we were fighting, only later we learned it was an
Australian ship," he said." I feel sorry for those young blokes, they were all only
about 18 with families, younger sisters, younger brothers- just like us."
" They were killed, i feel sorry, because of their captain, his ship came to close
to our ship. You don`t do that in wartime."
His assessment is in line with the Senate inquiry, which found the Sydney`s
skipper had taken his ship within 1500m of the Kormoran.
The 60th anniversary will be marked by a conference of historians and
oceanographers to consider whether it is possible to find the wrecks, about
250km off Carnarvon on Western Australia`s coast.
They could be 4km down on the ocean floor. Any recommendation on whether
to mount an official search will be considered by the Royal Australian Navy.
The End.
There is another two pages about HMAS Sydney and Kormoran.
Including pictures of the two Kormoran survivor`s and families ectra.
If anyone would like a copy, please send me your postal address.
No worries! (Capt Duffy, yours is already posted!)
Regards, Vin.</HTML>
Herald Sun, Saturday, Nov 10, 01. Page 11. (Melbourne)
WW2 veterans break silence.
Two German navy veterans have broken their silence on Australia`s worst
World War 2 navy disaster, with one saying HMAS Sydney should never be
disturbed. The two Victorians, in their 80`s, were young ratings on German
raider HSK Kormoran in 1941. They said both sunken ships, in which more than
700 men died, should be treated as war graves.
Hermann Ortmann and Bill Elmecker spoke before next weeks 60th anniversary
of the loss of the Sydney with all 645 crew on November 19, 1941.
" If they want to spend a lot of money they might be able to find the Sydney,
but if she sank after an explosion there would not be much left," Mr Ortmann said.
" There certainly would not be much left of the Kormoran- Iv`e always thought of
them as war graves and they should be left alone."
The Australian light cruiser was crippled after a battle with the Kormoran in the
Indian Ocean off Western Australia, but she later sank out of sight.
The only accounts of the battle come from the captured survivors off the Kormoran.
Many historians believe only finding the wrecks would settle continuing
controversy and debate over the final fate of the Sydney, including claims she
was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Bill Elmecker, who has never spoken publicly
on the sinking, remains deeply sympathetic to the Sydney`s crew and their families. " We didn`t know who we were fighting, only later we learned it was an
Australian ship," he said." I feel sorry for those young blokes, they were all only
about 18 with families, younger sisters, younger brothers- just like us."
" They were killed, i feel sorry, because of their captain, his ship came to close
to our ship. You don`t do that in wartime."
His assessment is in line with the Senate inquiry, which found the Sydney`s
skipper had taken his ship within 1500m of the Kormoran.
The 60th anniversary will be marked by a conference of historians and
oceanographers to consider whether it is possible to find the wrecks, about
250km off Carnarvon on Western Australia`s coast.
They could be 4km down on the ocean floor. Any recommendation on whether
to mount an official search will be considered by the Royal Australian Navy.
The End.
There is another two pages about HMAS Sydney and Kormoran.
Including pictures of the two Kormoran survivor`s and families ectra.
If anyone would like a copy, please send me your postal address.
No worries! (Capt Duffy, yours is already posted!)
Regards, Vin.</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Kormoran veterans break silence.
|
Vin | 11/10/2001 02:01AM |
|
Re: Kormoran veterans break silence.
|
M.S.Laarman | 11/10/2001 09:54AM |
|
Re: Kormoran veterans break silence.
|
Andrew Eastwood | 11/10/2001 10:04AM |