The supreme commander of the German navy grand admiral Donitz (1) congratulated the commanding officer of the army and naval forces in the Black Sea with his successes. The light German surface units and submarines destroyed so far 65 ships, principally tankers, freighters, lighters and transports with a total tonnage of 92,400 tons and damaged numerous others. The Soviet navy lost the flotilla leader Moskwa, 1 gunboat, 3 motor torpedo boats, 1 torpedo boat, 1 submarine, a escort vessel, 3 guard ships and 2 armoured guard vessels. The loss of nearly 10,000 tons of transport capacity and 13 warships was even worse while the Soviet Union couldn’t replace her losses with new building while all her shipyards along the North coast of the Black Sea were captured. The German naval transports became more and more important, especially during the fight along the Koeban bridgehead. Soviet submarines had not been successfully against the German transports.
Note
1. Karl Donitz (16 September 1891-24 December 1980), first senor submarine officer in the German navy was he in January 1943 appointed as grand admiral replaced he Erich Raeder as commander-in-chief of the German navy. On 30 April 1945 after Hitler committed suicide and regarded Hitler’s last will became Dönitz president of Germany (30 April-23 May 1945). In the First World War was he taken prisoner of war when his submarine UB-69 was sunk by the British.
Note
1. Karl Donitz (16 September 1891-24 December 1980), first senor submarine officer in the German navy was he in January 1943 appointed as grand admiral replaced he Erich Raeder as commander-in-chief of the German navy. On 30 April 1945 after Hitler committed suicide and regarded Hitler’s last will became Dönitz president of Germany (30 April-23 May 1945). In the First World War was he taken prisoner of war when his submarine UB-69 was sunk by the British.
