Bit of an odd question I suppose. A German trawler was captured in Feb 1940. The crew were interred. Where would they have been interned. Isle of Man? Would they be treated differently to Military POWs? Any way of tracking down names from ships?
Seekrieg 1940, Februar 1.4.- 8.4.1940, Norway Brit. Cruiser Birmingham and the destroyers Fearless and Hostile left the day before and are searching along the Norway coast up to the Vestfjord for German fishing vessels. The trawlers Friesland (247 BRT), Blankenburg (336 BRT) and Nordland (392 BRT), which are on fishing trips, were captured. In the course of the Norwegian operation, the trawlers Herrlichkeit (268 GRT) on 12 April and Rhein (254 GRT) on 20 April will also be captured by britisch sea forces HMS Glasgow (was in search of Altmark) captured Herrlichkeit. The trawler had set sail from Germany on 28 January 1940. Via Kirkwall the trawler arrived in Aberdeen on 21 February 1940.
In the first part of the war merchant crews were kept in the same camp(s) as kreigsmarine POWs from where they would be transferred to Canada as soon as practical
seems to be two camps here, (1) she was searching for the Altmark, (2) She was looking for SS Bremen SS Bremen was in Bremerhaven in Dec 39 having come from Murmansk, doesn't appear to have been in Norwegian waters after that.. So was it a case the Glasgow couldn't find her and took the Herrlichkeit? Or was she involved in searching for the Altmark?
Northern Patrol, February 1940 This rather indicates that they were looking for the "Bremen" By the way, I came across the report of a grandson of one of the crew members of the trawlers mentioned above. His grandfather was taken to Canada, where he died in 1941 from diabetes. He referred to the following book: David Carter: Behind Canadian Barbed Wire Whereabouts of the "Herrlichkeit": Empire Fisher LH 251
PRISONERS OF WAR: Behind Canadian Barbed Wire 25$ Behind Canadian Barbed Wire Alien Refugee and Prisoner of War Camps in Canada 1914 1946 by Carter David J, First Edition - AbeBooks £ 39.03 Nope, but he came from Cuxhaven
Using the info, perhaps this guy? Heinz Börner Birthdate: March 25, 1906 Death: July 29, 1941 (35) (Diabetic Coma) Place of Burial: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Managed by: Private User Last Updated: March 12, 2015
That´s a "Bingo"... according to my source he was on the trawler "Thueringen", which was initially interned in Norway before the crew was transferred to GB
"I came across the report of a grandson of one of the crew members of the trawlers mentioned above. His grandfather was taken to Canada, where he died in 1941 from diabetes." Perhaps crossed wires? 3 Germans died in 1941 in Canada that could have been from Herrlichkeit, if Boerner was from the Thueringen, then that leaves Reisdorf of Hegerhorst HEGERHORST CARL JOH GEORG BOERNER HEINZ REISDORF NICKOLAS
Reisdorf - September 29, 1941 (52) (Carcinoma of the stomach) Hegerhorst - May 29, 1941 (50) (Suicide by hanging)
My mistake, because "Thueringen" was not included in the original post. Gröner was a crew member of the Thüringen. I am right in assuming that you are looking for the crew of "Herrlichkeit"? In any case it would be very helpful if you could specify exactly what you are looking for (I really like to help, but German sources are quite scarce, especially when it comes to civilian trawlers )
Yes, I am looking for any info on the crew of the Herrlichkeit I am writing about how the trawler was captured and made a prize of war, and if possible where the crew ended up. There are several variations captured, then headed for Aberdeen, went to Lerwick to shelter from storm, then onto Aberdeen captured, then headed for Aberdeen, went to Kirkwall to shelter from storm, then onto Aberdeen captured, then headed for for Aberdeen, went to Fraserburgh to shelter from storm, then onto Aberdeen
