Kriegsmarine very fine certificate for the Equator Crossing ceremony aboard the sail training ship "Albert Leo Schlageter" as a seaman, issued Atlantic Ocean, May 8, 1939, framed.
Minesweeper Badge, bronze alloy. Worn, condition 2. With the award document as Oberfähnrich zur See, issued France February 1, 1941, original signature "Ruge Kapitän zu See u. Kommodore Führer der Minensuchverbände West".
Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class, unworn, on ribbon, with the small worn field clasp. With the award document, as Leutnant zur See, issued "Befehlsstelle, September 16, 1942", with facsimile signature "Dönitz Admiral und Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote".
U-Boat War Badge, zinc alloy, reverse with wide pin. Worn, condition 2. With the award document for the U-Boat War Badge as Leutnant zur See, issued "Befehlsstelle, September 16, 1942", with facsimile signature "Dönitz Admiral und Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote".
High Seas Fleet Badge, bronze alloy, maker "Fec. Adolf Bock - Ausf. Schwerin Berlin". Only lightly worn, condition 2+. With the award document as Leutnant zur See for participation in war cruises of the battleship "Schleswig-Holstein", dated November 9, 1942, with original signature "Konteradmiral und Befehlshaber des Ausbildungsverbandes der Flotte".
Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, maker "26" on pin, reverse with wearer's scratch mark "Bre..", worn, condition 2-. With the award document, issued as Oberleutnant zur See, dated "Befehlsstelle, December 15, 1943, with facsimile signature "Rösing Kapitän zur See und Führer der Unterseeboote West".
U-Boat Front Clasp in Bronze, zinc alloy bronzed, reverse with maker "Entw. Peekhaus Berlin Ausf. Schwerin Berlin S.W.", grooved pin magnetic, condition 2+. The document is missing.
U-Boat Front Clasp in Silver, zinc alloy silver-plated, reverse with maker "Entw. Peekhaus Berlin Ausf. Schwerin Berlin S.W.", pin assembly removed, condition 2-. The document is missing.
Identity disc "Hans Kurt v. Bremen See-Offz. Oktb. 1938, aluminum, condition 2-.
Cap badge as Commander of U-764, the "Bremen Key", handcrafted from bronze alloy. Worn, reverse with remnants of mounting prongs.
Kriegsmarine Commander's pennant of U-764, full length, condition 2. With a large framed photo of U-764 departing, the crew on the bridge and the "Wintergarten".
Large hand-carved presentation coat of arms from the Chief of 9th U-Flotilla Korvettenkapitän Lehmann-Willenbrock, wood, height 26 cm, on reverse with affixed dedication sheet with handwritten inscription: "Oberleutnant zur See v. Bremen, Kommandant U 764 zum Auslaufen am 6.8.44 in spannungsreicher Zeit - Lehmann-Willenbrock, Korvettenkapitän und Chef der 9. U-Flottille".
A bosun's whistle on long metal chain with clip for attaching to service tunic. With a pair of cufflinks for naval officers, enameled.
Large photo album from the possession of Hans Kurt von Bremen. The album was assembled by him with his original war photos after 1945 and lovingly captioned (probably around 1986). Total 155 photos (plus some reproduction photos): As a seaman with 7.S.St.A. on Dänholm autumn 1938, on the "Schleswig-Holstein in Danzig Sept. 1939, Polish hit while bombarding the Hela Peninsula Sept. 1939, as naval cadet 1939, Fähnrich zur See 1940, with machinists of 12th Minesweeper Flotilla in St. Malo 1940, UWO communications course March/April 1941, as Leutnant z.See UWO student in Gotenhafen 1941, training boat Type II, commissioning "U-596" Nov. 1941 as I WO, as I WO on "U 988" 1st patrol 1942, resupply in the Atlantic 1942 with "U 463", "U658" and "U 510", "U 463 provisions transfer by rubber boat", On passage to Bahama Sea 1942, lookout at rod antenna, work on upper deck, In the lock at St. Nazaire 1942, 2nd patrol "U 598" to North Atlantic 1942/43 Cdr Holtorf +, Chief Engineer "U 598" Oltn. Ing Beyer+, entering St. Nazaire Feb. 1943, commissioning "U 764" May 6, 1943 in Wilhelmshaven Chief of Staff Kriegsmarine Shipyard Wilhelmshaven, address by the Commander, "Hoist flag + pennant", "U 764" after commissioning, departure for 1st patrol in Kiel by Chief 5th U-Flotilla 1943, 3 red pennants on periscope (sinkings!), depth charge damage, entering the bunker at Brest after 1st patrol, On the roads of Brest, return from 2nd patrol 1944, reception after 2nd patrol, crew assembled on upper deck, with handwritten crew list (!), greeting by Sea Commander Konteradmiral Kähler and Chief 9th U-Flotilla Korvettenkapitän Lehmann-Willenbrock, U-boat bunker, band and honor guard, before entering the bunker, large portrait photo as Oberleutnant with EK 1 and 2, Minesweeper and U-Boat War Badge, leave 1944, entry to 9th U-Flotilla in Brest, officers' mess and crew quarters, officers' casino Lagonna, after transfer to Norway 1944 photos of crew members with freshly awarded U-Boat Front Clasps, postcards from Bergen 1944/45, Lehmann with commanders before transfer of boats to England May 1945, in English POW camp 1947, U-boat commanders in British captivity. With some fine reproduction photos commissioning "U 598" 1941, as I WO on "U 598" 1941/42/43, death notice "Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock" from 1986 with newspaper clippings and photo from comrades' reunion.
With photocopies of 14 pages from the guest book of Commander U-Boats West with dedication from Dönitz and various U-boat commanders up to 1944.

Book "Schleswig-Holstein Crew 38", official book for crew members, richly illustrated from 1938 to 1939, up to the battles for Westerplatte and Hela 1939, richly illustrated.
Book "Crew Großdeutschland 1938" linen-bound for former members of the officer class of 1938, numerous illustrations.
Book "Crew Großdeutschland 1938", hand-bound editions of individual newsletters for former members of the officer class of 1938 from 1938 to 1943, with numerous reports and photos of the careers of individual officers, casualty reports etc., front with ownership stamp "von Bremen".

Post-1945: large desk decoration "U 764", handcrafted from brass sheet with designation "U 764", the sawfish of 9th U-Flotilla and the "Bremen Key", boat emblem of U 764, on wooden stand, total height approx. 37 cm. The decoration was also used at U 764 comrades' reunions.
A large wall plaque of BdU "Bund der Unterseebootsfahrer", 14 x 22 cm, with bronze overlay of the badge. With a civilian badge for veterans of 9th U-Flotilla.

An outstanding estate of a brave U-boat commander, which we were able to acquire directly from the family. Estates of U-boat commanders of this completeness and scope rarely appear anymore.

U 764 was a German submarine of Type VII C, a so-called “Atlantic boat”. It was one of nine VII C boats that could be completed in Wilhelmshaven in 1943. On the first war patrol - simultaneously the transfer voyage to Brest - U 764 was assigned to U-boat group Weddigen, which comprised 15 boats total. At the end of November the Weddigen group attacked the combined convoys MKS 31 and SL 140. U 764 fired an acoustically guided T-5 torpedo at a destroyer. After a detonation that could be attributed to this torpedo, sinking noises were heard, which Commander von Bremen interpreted as a success. November 28, 1943 an unidentified destroyer reported sunk, unconfirmed to this day. In spring 1944 U 764 operated from Brest, off Northern Ireland and undertook a deep-dive test in the Bay of Biscay. As part of U-boat group Igel, von Bremen succeeded on February 3 in locating convoy ON 222, which consisted of 51 merchant ships. However, he limited himself to reporting and withdrew from the convoy without conducting an attack. On June 6, U 764 sailed with six other boats to counter Operation Overlord in the English Channel; von Bremen succeeded in torpedoing an enemy warship. June 15 British frigate Blackwood heavily damaged, the ship sank the following day. Although BdU clearly ordered operations “...even at risk of losing one's own boat...”, von Bremen brought the boat back to Brest on August 6, undamaged except for a break in the snorkel. From there U 764 sailed for transfer to Norway and attacked Allied ships again during the voyage. August 20, 1944 British freighter Coral of 638 GRT sunk, August 25, 1944 landing craft LCT-1074 sunk. From Bergen, where the boat arrived at Christmas 1944, U 764 sailed on four more war patrols but could achieve no further sinkings. On April 26, 1945 U 764 sailed on its eighth war patrol. The English sea area was designated as the operational zone. Kapitänleutnant von Bremen surrendered on May 14, 1945 in the Scottish fjord Loch Eriboll. U 764 was sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on January 3, 1946 by artillery fire north of Ireland.

Hans-Kurt von Bremen was born on August 11, 1918 in Goslar and entered the Kriegsmarine in 1938. He was a member of Crew 38 as an officer candidate. Until spring 1941 he served as watch officer with 12th Minesweeper Flotilla; subsequently he completed his U-boat training. In July 1941 Leutnant zur See von Bremen was briefly deployed in the operational staff of BdU, until he was ordered to Hamburg for construction familiarization regarding U 598. On this boat, which was commissioned in November under Oberleutnant zur See Gottfried Holtorf, Hans-Kurt von Bremen sailed as 1st WO until March 1943. On April 1, 1943 Hans-Kurt von Bremen was promoted to Kapitänleutnant. In May of the same year he participated in construction familiarization for U 764, which he commissioned as commander on May 6.

Deployment and History
At commissioning, U 764 was initially assigned to 8th U-Flotilla. The first war patrol, which took the boat to an operational area near Newfoundland and off the Spanish coast, ended in Brest, where U 764 was assigned to the 9th U-Flotilla stationed there, with which it remained until September 1944. In October the boat transferred to Bergen and was assigned there to 11th U-Flotilla until the end of the war.
Attached is an excerpt from the internet with the military biography of Hans Kurt von Bremen, our thanks go to www.ubootarchiv.de.

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The Estate of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Kurt von Bremen – Commander of U-764

This comprehensive military estate documents the complete naval career of Hans Kurt von Bremen, born 11 August 1918 in Goslar, who entered the Kriegsmarine in April 1938 as an officer candidate of Crew 38 and served until the German surrender in May 1945. Acquired directly from the family, this collection represents one of the most complete U-boat commander estates to reach the collector market, encompassing decorations, award documents, photographs, personal items, and unique memorabilia spanning his entire service.

Early Career: Schleswig-Holstein and Minesweeper Service

Von Bremen’s career commenced aboard the battleship “Schleswig-Holstein,” where he served first as a sailor and later as a sea cadet. In September 1939, he was aboard when the vessel participated in the bombardment of the Westerplatte and the Hela peninsula during the Polish campaign. An equator baptism certificate dated 8 May 1939, issued aboard the sailing training ship “Albert Leo Schlageter,” documents his early training period.

Following his service on the “Schleswig-Holstein,” von Bremen served as a watch officer with the 12th Minesweeper Flotilla in France through spring 1941. The award document for his Minesweeper Badge, signed by Kapitän zur See Friedrich Ruge as Kommodore and Commander of Minesweeping Forces West, dated 1 February 1941, attests to this period. Ruge, a Knight’s Cross recipient since 21 October 1940, was one of the most distinguished officers in the minesweeping arm. The Minesweeper Badge, instituted on 31 August 1940, was awarded for participation in three operational sorties or for being wounded in action.

The High Seas Fleet Badge, instituted on 30 April 1941 and awarded for service on capital ships during major operations, was presented to von Bremen on 9 November 1942 for his participation in the wartime voyages of the “Schleswig-Holstein.” The badge itself, manufactured by “Fec. Adolf Bock – Ausf. Schwerin Berlin,” is rendered in Buntmetall (brass alloy).

The U-Boat Arm: First Watch Officer on U-598

After completing his U-boat training in 1941, von Bremen briefly served on the operational staff of the Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote (BdU) before being ordered to Hamburg for construction familiarization of U-598. This boat was commissioned in November 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Gottfried Holtorf, with von Bremen serving as First Watch Officer (I WO) until March 1943. The award documents for his Iron Cross 2nd Class and U-boat War Badge, both dated 16 September 1942 and bearing the facsimile signature of Admiral Karl Dönitz as Commander of Submarines, reflect his operational merits during this assignment. The U-boat War Badge, instituted on 13 October 1939, required completion of two or more war patrols or being wounded in action.

Command of U-764

Promoted to Kapitänleutnant on 1 April 1943, von Bremen commissioned U-764 on 6 May 1943 at Wilhelmshaven. U-764 was a Type VII C submarine, the quintessential “Atlantic boat,” yard number 147, built at the Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven and launched on 13 March 1943. Initially assigned to the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training, the boat transferred in November 1943 to the 9th U-boat Flotilla at Brest, France.

The 9th Flotilla was commanded by Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (1911–1986), the celebrated commander of U-96, whose wartime exploits formed the basis for the film and novel “Das Boot.” A Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves recipient, Lehmann-Willenbrock led the flotilla from 1942 to 1944. The flotilla’s emblem, the “laughing sawfish,” originated as Lehmann-Willenbrock’s personal conning tower emblem on U-96. The 9th Flotilla comprised 84 U-boats in total during the war.

Over the course of eight war patrols, U-764 achieved confirmed sinkings: the British freighter “Coral” of 638 BRT on 20 August 1944, and the landing craft LCT-1074 on 25 August 1944. On 15 June 1944, the British frigate HMS “Blackwood” was severely damaged and sank the following day. Of particular significance was U-764’s participation in defensive operations against Operation Overlord in June 1944, when it sortied into the English Channel with six other boats.

A Remarkable Presentation Piece

Among the estate’s most exceptional items is a hand-carved wooden presentation plaque, 26 cm in height, given by Lehmann-Willenbrock to von Bremen. The reverse bears a handwritten dedication: “Oberleutnant zur See v. Bremen, Kommandant U 764 zum Auslaufen am 6.8.44 in spannungsreicher Zeit – Lehmann-Willenbrock, Korvettenkapitän und Chef der 9. U-Flottille.” This date, 6 August 1944, marked U-764’s final departure from Brest before relocating to Norway, a transfer necessitated by the Allied advance on the Breton ports.

The Iron Cross 1st Class and Front Clasps

Von Bremen’s Iron Cross 1st Class, manufacturer marked “26” on the pin and bearing the owner’s scratch “Bre..” on the reverse, was awarded on 15 December 1943. The accompanying document carries the facsimile signature of Kapitän zur See Rösing as Führer der Unterseeboote West. The Iron Cross 1st Class required three to five acts of bravery and prior award of the 2nd Class.

The U-boat Front Clasp in Bronze, instituted 15 May 1944, and the Silver variant, introduced 24 November 1944, both manufactured by “Entw. Peekhaus Berlin Ausf. Schwerin Berlin S.W.,” document von Bremen’s sustained frontline service. The Bronze clasp required approximately 90 days at sea or completion of specified patrols, while the Silver recognized continued merits beyond the Bronze class.

The Photographic Record

The estate’s photo album containing over 155 original photographs, assembled and captioned by von Bremen himself, provides an extraordinary visual record. It traces his journey from basic training at Dänholm in autumn 1938 through the Polish campaign aboard “Schleswig-Holstein,” minesweeper service at St. Malo, U-boat operations, the commissioning and combat patrols of U-764, and ultimately British captivity. Particularly notable are photographs with a handwritten crew list of U-764 and images of crew members wearing their newly awarded Front Clasps after the transfer to Norway.

Surrender and Legacy

On 26 April 1945, U-764 departed for its eighth and final war patrol. Kapitänleutnant von Bremen surrendered on 14 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll, Scotland. Von Bremen survived the war and remained connected to veteran organizations, particularly the Bund der Unterseebootsfahrer (BdU). The handcrafted “Bremer Schlüssel” (Bremen Key) cap badge, the unique boat emblem of U-764 referencing the commander’s name and hometown, stands as one of the most personal and irreplaceable artifacts in this remarkable collection.