Service certificate of the Reichsmarine as Obermaschinist, issued April 4, 1935.
Award document for the Iron Cross 2nd Class, as Oberleutnant (Ing.), issued Wilhelmshaven, September 25, 1939, with original signature “Dönitz”, Kapitän z.S. and Commodore Commander of Submarines.
Award document for the Iron Cross 1st Class, issued Wilhelmshaven, October 31, 1939, with facsimile signature “Dönitz” Konteradmiral Commander of Submarines.
Provisional certificate of possession for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Kapitänleutnant (Ing.), awarded March 9, 1944, issued Berlin, March 10, 1944, with original signature “Korvettenkapitän” at the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine.
Teletype message from the Commanding Admiral of Submarines to the U-boat base Gotenhafen, dated March 28, 1944, stamped “Secret!” with the justification for the award of the Knight's Cross, with the listing of military merits on U 47 and U 198. With addition “Above copy is transmitted for delivery to Kaptlt. (Ing.) Wessels.” (one corner on the left was torn out, professionally repaired).
Award document for the U-Boat Front Clasp in Bronze as Korvettenkapitän (Ing), issued On Board, October 4, 1944 with original signature “Schellong” Kapitän and Leader of Submarines East.
All award documents unpunched, in good condition, on reverse with old paper stickers (for hanging in the file folder).
Copy of emergency index card, DIN A4, issued with name and all promotions, previous commands in the BdU area, completed war patrols on U-boats, orders and decorations with award dates, issued Kiel-Wik, May 30, 1945 with signature “Kapitän zur See”, probably garrison commander.
Service certificate, issued by the Leader of Submarines - East, dated Kiel June 20, 1945 in duplicate. Additionally a copy from the “Chief of Naval Service Groups” from 1947.
Discharge certificate from British prisoner of war camp, dated 1947.
Brief biography issued by Wessels in 1947 with his service times at sea, appointments and promotions. Additionally a biography from the 1960s, typewritten, probably also written by Wessels himself.
Certificate of the Naval Document Centre, British Naval Headquarters in Hamburg-Alsterdorf dated August 25, 1948 “Certificate for purposes of obtaining a certificate of competency for merchant shipping” with Wessels' service times and ranks from 1924 to 1945. Additionally the “Certificate of technical professional training” and “Proof of vocational training”.
From the time as Chief Engineering Officer on U 47 under the command of Günther Prien:
Silver presentation cup “The Lord Mayor of the Naval War City Kiel” to all crew members of U 47 with surrounding engraving “Oblt. (Ing) Wessels - Drink me empty and throw me down: I rise up and fill myself again” in the center the historic city coat of arms and “Scapa Flow - 14.10.1939”. On the bottom with jeweler's mark “H. Hansen Kiel”. The special feature of the cup is that it always rights itself.
Presentation book from Auto-Union to the crew members of U 47: “Adolf Hitler 20. April 1889-1945”, with Ex Libris “To the bold Scapa Flow sailors on the occasion of their victorious homecoming and with best wishes for further fortunate voyages - presented by the Board of Auto Union AG”.
Book Günther Prien “Mein Weg nach Scapa Flow”, on the flyleaf with handwritten dedication “My dear Wessels, I never forget our time sailing together and your loyal service under my command. Your Günther Prien. 6.I. 1941.”, additionally a Hoffmann portrait postcard of Prien with posthumous rank “Korvettenkapitän”.
Book “Franco - Ein Leben für Spanien” by Johann Froembgen, on the flyleaf with handwritten dedication “For May 29, 1939. Your Günther Prien”. The book was a personal gift from Prien to Wessels before the war began.
2 large original photos of the two Willrich portrait drawings of Prien and Wessels, gift from Willrich.
2 Willrich postcards “Unsere U-Bootwaffe W. Willrich: Leitender Ingenieur-Offizier auf Kptlt. Priens U-Boot”, both cards with handwritten signature “Wessels”.
From the time as Chief Engineering Officer on U 198 under the command of Werner Hartmann:
Book by Werner Hartmann “Feind im Fadenkreuz U-Boot auf Jagd im Atlantik”, on the flyleaf with handwritten dedication “To my Chief Engineering Officer on the new 'Westward Ho', Herr Kapitänleutnant Wessels, for Christmas 1942. Werner Hartmann Frg. Kapt.”, additionally an original photo of Hartmann with original signature “Werner Hartmann Frg. Kapt.”.
1 hand-drawn original portrait of Wessels, meticulously copied after the model of the artist Wolfgang Willrich for the postcard “Unsere U-Bootwaffe: Leitender Ingenieur-Offizier auf Kptlt. Priens U-Boot”, signed lower left “A. Krug Febr. 1942”. The picture was made on commission by Wessels, in modern frame, dimensions 32.5 x 42.5 cm.
29 original photos of Wessels from his time as sailor in the Reichsmarine to Korvettenkapitän at the end of the war in 1945. Among them 12 photos with Knight's Cross, 2 of them with handwritten signature or dedication, 2 photos in old original frames.
Book Hermann Bauer “Als Führer der U-Boote im Weltkriege”, on the flyleaf with gift dedication “Kapitänleutnant (Ing) Wessels in farewell. The comrades of the 1st Department 1st Submarine Training Division. Pillau, June 17, 1942, with the signatures of the officers.
From the library of Johann Wessels:
13 books on submarine warfare, including Karl Dönitz “10 Jahre und 20 Tage” with handwritten dedication “Dear Hans Wesels, I greet you cordially in loyal solidarity. Your Dönitz 26.6.59” and Karl Dönitz “Mein wechselvolles Leben”, with handwritten dedication “Dear Hans Wessels, cordial wishes! Dönitz 19.12.68”
Additionally a photo album from the Reichsmarine, a small family album (partly Kriegsmarine), a framed farewell picture from the Naval Comradeship Leer from 1955, 2 newspaper clippings with the death notice from 1988 as well as the letter of condolence from the Community of Knight's Cross Recipients Oberst a.D. Michaelis to the son.
1 cassette recorder from the 1970s with a cassette, the tape recording of an interview and report by Johann Wessels!

A fantastic comprehensive estate of one of the 3 Knight's Cross recipients of the crew of the legendary U 47, the “Heroes of Scapa Flow”. In total there were only 5 Chief Engineering Officers of the U-boat force who received the Knight's Cross, Wessels was certainly the most famous.

Wessels, Johann Friedrich

* May 28, 1904, Wilhelmshaven-Rüstringen
+ February 9, 1988, Oldenburg.

Johann Friedrich Wessels entered the Reichsmarine on April 1, 1923 and became a recruit in the 5th Company of the I. Department of the Ship Base Division of the North Sea. On April 1, 1924 he was transferred to the 6th Company of the II. Department of the Ship Base Division of the North Sea and on September 11, 1924 stoker on the tender Zieten. On March 18, 1925 he became stoker on the survey ship Meteor and on May 1, 1925 was promoted to Oberheizer. On April 1, 1927 followed the promotion to Maschinengefreiter. On October 8, 1927 he became NCO student in the 2nd Company of the Naval School Kiel-Friedrichsort. On April 1, 1928 he became Maschinenmaat student at the Naval School Kiel-Wik and on September 18, 1928 student in the 1st Company of the Naval School Kiel-Wik. On November 1, 1928 he was promoted to Maschinenmaat and on December 4, 1928 Maschinenmaat for the electrical system on the battleship Schlesien. From January 3, 1930 further machinist courses followed. On November 1, 1940 he was promoted to Obermaschinenmaat and on October 1, 1931 to Maschinist. On October 8, 1931 he became watch and section machinist of the motor-turbine oil system of the light cruiser Leipzig. On April 1, 1932 he was promoted to Obermaschinist and on February 1, 1936 to Fähnrich. On April 14, 1936 he became officer candidate in the 1st Company of the Naval School Flensburg-Mürwik and on July 6, 1936 was transferred for shipboard training to the armored ship Admiral Graf Spee. On October 1, 1936 he was promoted to Oberfähnrich and on January 1, 1937 to Leutnant. On January 5, 1937 he became U-boat student at the U-boat School and on March 24, 1937 Chief Engineering Officer on U 23. On June 1, 1938 he was promoted to Oberleutnant and on June 25, 1938 was transferred for construction familiarization to the Marinearsenal Kiel. On December 17, 1938 he became Chief Engineering Officer on U 47 under Günther Prien. With U 47 he completed four war patrols under the command of Günther Prien including the famous attack on Scapa Flow. On January 1, 1940 he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant (Ing.) and on April 6, 1940 flotilla engineer in the 1st U-Flotilla. On October 31, 1940 he was assigned to the BdU and received the task of building the U-boat base St. Nazaire. On August 20, 1941 he became instructor and company commander at the 1st Submarine Training Division and on June 25, 1942 was detailed for construction familiarization of U 198. On November 3, 1942 he became Chief Engineering Officer on U 198 under the command of Werner Hartmann, with whom he completed one war patrol. On January 20, 1944 he was assigned to the 12th U-Flotilla and on February 15, 1944 special representative at FdU Ost. On March 9, 1944 he was awarded the Knight's Cross and on April 1, 1944 promoted to Korvettenkapitän (Ing.). On June 3, 1944 he was assigned to FdU Ost and on August 14, 1944 Chief Engineering Officer on U 870. On March 21, 1945 he became staff officer at KLA-U-Ost and on April 7, 1945 unit engineer in the staff of FdU Ost. On May 21, 1945 he was taken prisoner, from which he was released on January 29, 1947.

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Kriegsmarine U-Boat Force Large Document Estate from the Property of Knight's Cross Recipient Korvettenkapitän (Ing.) Johann Friedrich Wessels, Chief Engineering Officer and One of the Heroes of Scapa Flow on U 47, Later Chief Engineering Officer on U 198

This comprehensive estate documents the military career of Korvettenkapitän (Ing.) Johann Friedrich Wessels (28 May 1904 – 9 February 1988), one of the most notable Chief Engineers (Leitende Ingenieure) in the German U-boat service during the Second World War. Comprising award certificates, personally dedicated books, photographs, and memorabilia, the collection traces the life of a man intimately connected to some of the Kriegsmarine's most legendary operations.

From Stoker to U-Boat Engineer

Wessels entered the Reichsmarine on 1 April 1923 as a recruit in the 5th Company of the I. Abteilung, Schiffstamm-Division der Nordsee. His early career took him through the ranks as a stoker on the tender Zieten and the survey vessel Meteor, through NCO schools and engineering courses, steadily rising from ordinary stoker to Obermaschinist over more than a decade. On 1 February 1936 he was promoted to Fähnrich and began officer training at the Naval School Flensburg-Mürwik, followed by shipboard training on the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. After his commissioning as Leutnant on 1 January 1937, he entered U-boat school and on 24 March 1937 became Chief Engineer on U 23. On 17 December 1938, he took up the critical position of L.I. (Leitender Ingenieur) aboard U 47 under the command of Günther Prien.

The Scapa Flow Raid

The night of 14 October 1939 would become one of the most celebrated events in naval history. U 47 penetrated the British fleet anchorage at Scapa Flow and sank the battleship HMS Royal Oak. As Chief Engineer, Wessels bore responsibility for all mechanical systems, engines, electric motors, and batteries — a role of supreme importance in executing such an audacious mission. He completed four war patrols under Prien's command between December 1938 and April 1940. His contributions were recognized swiftly: on 25 September 1939, he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class, the certificate bearing the original signature of Karl Dönitz in his capacity as Kapitän zur See and Kommodore, Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote. The Iron Cross 1st Class followed on 31 October 1939.

Wessels was one of only three crew members of U 47 to be awarded the Knight's Cross during the war, alongside commander Günther Prien and First Watch Officer Engelbert Endrass.

Service on U 198 and the Knight's Cross

After leaving U 47, Wessels served as flotilla engineer for the 1st U-Flotilla, participated in establishing the U-boat base at St. Nazaire, and worked as instructor and company commander at the 1st U-Boat Training Division. On 3 November 1942 he became L.I. on the Type IXD2 boat U 198 under the command of Werner Hartmann. The subsequent patrol, from 9 March to 24 September 1943, lasted approximately 199 to 200 days, making it one of the longest submarine patrols of the entire war. Operating in the Indian Ocean, U 198 sank seven ships totaling 36,778 GRT.

The justification for Wessels' Knight's Cross specifically cited his actions after an aircraft attack, when he succeeded in bringing the severely damaged boat back to the surface. On 9 March 1944, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The detailed justification was transmitted by classified telegram on 28 March 1944 from the Commanding Admiral of Submarines to the U-boat base at Gotenhafen, marked “Geheim!” (Secret), listing his military merits on both U 47 and U 198.

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, instituted on 1 September 1939, was awarded for extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership, with the prerequisite of already holding the Iron Cross First Class. Across all branches of the Wehrmacht, a total of 7,318 to 7,321 Knight's Crosses were awarded during the Second World War. The Kriegsmarine received 318, of which 316 were formally presented. The U-boat service accounted for 144 to 145 awards. Wessels belonged to the elite group of approximately 14 to 15 Leitende Ingenieure — Chief Engineers — who received this distinction. The role of the L.I. was technically demanding: they were responsible for all mechanical systems, engines, motors, and batteries aboard the submarine, and they were also tasked with setting demolition charges should scuttling become necessary.

Personal Items and Dedications

Among the most historically significant items in the estate are books bearing personal dedications from prominent figures. Günther Prien's “Mein Weg nach Scapa Flow” carries a handwritten inscription dated 6 January 1941: “Mein lieber Wessels, ich vergesse nie unsere gemeinsame Fahrzeit und Ihre treuen Dienste unter meinem Kommando. Ihr Günther Prien.” Prien was lost just weeks later in March 1941 when U 47 was sunk. Werner Hartmann dedicated his book “Feind im Fadenkreuz” to Wessels at Christmas 1942. Post-war dedications from Großadmiral Karl Dönitz in the books “10 Jahre und 20 Tage” (1959) and “Mein wechselvolles Leben” (1968) attest to the enduring bonds among veteran submariners.

The silver presentation cup from the Kriegsmarinestadt Kiel, crafted by jeweler H. Hansen Kiel, was presented to U 47 crew members and bears an engraved inscription with the historic Kiel city arms and “Scapa Flow – 14.10.1939.”

Post-War Life and Legacy

Wessels was taken prisoner by the British on 21 May 1945 and released on 29 January 1947. After the war he maintained ties to U-boat veteran organizations and the Gemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger (Association of Knight's Cross Recipients), which sent condolences to his son upon Wessels' death on 9 February 1988. The estate remained in family hands and represents an exceptionally complete record of a U-boat engineer's career spanning from the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic through the end of the Second World War.