Konteradmiral-ing, Wilhelm Tackenberg

SOME OF THE PRISONERS HELD AT
SPECIAL CAMP 11

Note that in the photo, Tackenberg is wearing the Croat Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, 1st Class around his neck with the associated Star of this order on his right breast

NAME: Konteradmiral-ing, Wilhelm Tackenberg

PW NO: A938905
RANK: Konteradmiral (Ing)
CAPTURED: Unknown
DATE: 15th April 1945

PERSONAL

DATE OF BIRTH: 29 December 1893 (born as Wilhelm Butterbrodt; changed his name to Wilhelm Tackenberg

on 1 December 1932 - his original name meant “Butter Bread” or “Sandwich” in German)

PLACE OF BIRTH: Aurich / Ostfriesland

DATE OF DEATH: 24 March 1963

PLACE OF DEATH: Aurich / Ostfriesland

NATIONALITY: German

RELIGION: Evangelical

OCCUPATION: Naval Engineer Officer

HEIGHT: 172cm

WEIGHT: 69kg

HAIR COLOUR: Dark Brown

EYE COLOUR: Grey

NEXT OF KIN: Johanna Tackenberg, Aurich in Ostfriesland, Eschenergaste (British Zone)

Promotions:

1 October 1912: Entered the Imperial German Navy as Navy Engineer Candidate.
1 October 1912-2 January 1913: Assigned to the II. Werft [Shipyard]-Division.
3 January 1913-18 September 1913: Assigned to the battleship Thüringen.
1 October 1913-27 December 1914: Transferred to the II. Torpedo-Division.
1 October 1913-23 December 1913: At the same time, aboard the torpedo boat S 19.
16 March 1914-27 December 1914: At the same time, aboard the torpedo boat S 19.
1 January 1915-26 September 1915: Assigned to the battlecruiser Derfflinger. [On 24 January 1915, the Derfflinger, assigned to Vizeadmiral Franz Hipper’s I Scouting Group, took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank against the British battlecruiser force led by Admiral David Beatty.]
3 October 1915-26 September 1916: Engineer and Deck Officer School.
30 September 1916-24 January 1919: Assigned to the torpedo boat V 26.
25 January 1919-23 February 1919: Engineer and Deck Officer School.
24 February 1919-14 May 1919: Freikorps service in the I. Marine-Brigade. [Formed from loyal naval personnel in Kiel by order of Gustav Noske, the Defense Minister of the Provisional German Government, the brigade played a leading role in suppressing Communist uprisings in Berlin and northern Germany. Initially known as the “Iron Brigade,” the unit was later renamed I. Marine Brigade. This was the first Freikorps unit ever formed.]
15 May 1919-30 September 1919: Freikorps service in the III. Marine-Brigade von Löwenfeld. [Like other Freikorps units, the III. Marine-Brigade, commanded by Korvettenkäpitan von Löwenfeld, took part in defeating Communist uprisings and maintaining law and order throughout Germany in the aftermath of World War I. Judging by Tackenberg’s receipt of both classes of the Silesian Eagle, he took part in the defense of Upper Silesia in August 1919. Dispatched as reinforcement for other Freikorps units defending Upper Silesia, the III. Marine-Brigade von Löwenfeld helped defeat the 22,000-man militia of the Polish Military Organization who attempted to seize the region by force. During heavy fighting from 16-23 August 1919, the German defenders contained the Polish attack and then counterattacked, expelling them from the region.]
1 October 1919-2 January 1922: Student at Naval School Kiel-Wik.
3 January 1922-31 March 1922: Transferred to the North Sea Schiffsstammdivision [Ship’s Cadre Division].
1 April 1922-14 October 1922: Platoon Leader in Coast Defense Battalion VI.
15 October 1922-16 April 1924: Platoon Leader in Coast Defense Battalion IV.
17 April 1924-27 September 1925: Watch Engineer aboard the pre-dreadnought battleship Braunschweig.
28 September 1925-9 July 1926: Watch Engineer and Division Officer aboard the light cruiser Amazone.
10 July 1926-25 September 1928: Watch Engineer, Division Officer and E-Engineer aboard the light cruiser Emden.
26 September 1928-4 October 1931: Motor Transport Officer on Staff of the North Sea Naval Station.
5 October 1931-27 March 1933: Laborer on the staff of the Baltic Sea Naval Station.
28 March 1933-5 September 1935: Leading Engineer aboard the light cruiser Karlsruhe.
6 September 1935-27 September 1936: Staff Officer on Staff of Naval School Kiel.
28 September 1936-31 October 1938: Inspection Engineer in the Inspectorate of Navy Educational Matters.
1 November 1938-19 November 1939: Station Engineer on the staff of the North Sea Naval Station.
20 November 1939-6 September 1942: Department Chief in the Navy Personnel Office / Navy High Command.
7 September 1942-30 November 1943: Commander of Naval School Wesermünde.
6 December 1943-16 April 1945: Chief of the Higher Shipyard Staff Belgium-Netherlands.
15 April 1945-19 May 1948: Prisoner of war in British captivity.
- 9th January 1946 transferred to Island Farm Special Camp 11 from Camp 1
- 12th May 1948 transferred to Camp 180 for repatriation.