The Wartime Albums of Walter Friebolin

These albums of Obermaat Walter Friebolin are presented thanks to Horst Friebolin, Uwe Stachelhaus and Marc Haldimann

Captions for photos taken during U-402's visit to Oslo are provided with thanks to Vidar Teigen

 

     
     
     
     
 
 
     
     
     
 

 

Kriegserinnerungen = War Memories

 

     
     
     
     
 
 
     
 
Nachtliche Begegnung!
  
     
 

 

Nachtliche Begegnung! = Encounter at Night!

(Type II U-boats - the boat in the foreground is U-4)

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
       
       
       
       
 
11 S. St. A. Stralsund Rekruten Zt.
 
       
   

 

11 S. St. A. Stralsund Rekruten Zt. = Schiffsstammabteilung 11 Recruit time (bootcamp)

 

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
 
UmKommandierung       Pilau - Misdroy
  
         
     

 

UmKommandierung  Pilau - Misdroy = New command, journey from Pillau to Misdroy

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
   
Marienburg!
  
       
       
       
 
Dirshcauer - Brucke
    
       
   

 

Marienburg! = Former German city of Marienburg - today the Polish city of Malbork

Dirshcauer - Brucke = Bridge at Dirschau (First target of WWII - 3 JU 87 attacked Polish troops around the bridge on September 1, 1939 at 0434 to prevent demolition. Polish troops managed to destroy one side of the bridge while the other was taken intact.)

 

         
         
 
U. A. S.
 
         
Gotenhafen -
Oxhöft
         

U - W - H

Kurs!
         
     

 

U. A. S. Gotenhafen = Unterseebootsabwehrschule - U-boat School Gotenhafen

Oxhöft = a neighborhood city of Gdynia, Poland

U - W - H   Kurs! = Unterwasser Horchen = Underwater Listening - a course at Anti-Submarine School

 

       
       
       
       

U - L - D

Pillau

 

K. D. F. Schiff

Robert - Ley
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
 

Pillauer

Leuchtturm
       
   
Robert - Ley
  
       
   

 

U - L - D Pillau = 1st Submarine Training Division Pillau (U - L - D Pillau = U-boot-Lehrdivision Pillau)

K. D. F. Schiff Robert - Ley = Kraft Durch Freude ship Robert Ley (K.D.F. Kraft Durch Freude = Power Through Delight - a National Socalist Organization which arranged holidays for German workers in peacetime)

Pillauer Leuchtturm = Pillau lighthouse

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
Signalturm
   
Leuchtturm
  
 

Pillauer - Mole

inder Abenddámmerung

    
       
   

 

The sights of Pillau (today the Russian city of Baltysk)

Signalturm = Radio tower

Pillauer - Mole inder Abenddámmerung = Pillau Mole

Leuchtturm = Lighthouse

 

       
       
       
       
 

U-boots -

Mutterschiff

Kamerun

  
       
 

Wilhelm Gustoff

als Rotkreuzschiff

    
       
       
       
   

von Schulfahrt

Zurück

  
       
   

 

Wilhelm Gustoff als Rotkreuzschiff = SS Wilhelm Gustloff as hospital ship (Rotes Kreuz - Red Cross)

U-boots Mutterschiff Kamerun = Submarine tender Kamerun (crews lived aboard the tender during exercises)

von Schulfahrt Zurück = A Type VII U-boat, returning from training exercise

 

 

       
       
       
       
 

U-boots

Hafen
 
       
   
Erstreiben 40/41
  
       
       
       
 
Mole
    
       
   

 

Pillau harbor in severe winter

U-boots Hafen = Submarine berths

Erstreiben 40/41 = Drifting ice during the winter of 1940/1941

 

       
       
       
       
 

Weihnachten

bei Ser

1. U. L. D.

Pillau
 
       
       
       
       

Halienisches

Orchester

gibt

Gastspiel
       
 
Silvester
    
       
   

 

Weihnachten bei Ser 1. W. L. D. Pillau = Christmas with the 1st Submarine Training Division at Pillau

Halienisches Orchester gibt Gastspiel = Concert by Italian orchestra

Silvester = New Year's

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
 
Unterricht in                 
   
 
praktische
 
                    Seemannschaft  
       
       
       
       
   

 

Unterricht in praktische Seemannschaft = Instruction in general seamanship

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
       
       
       

Zeugmusterung

an

Oberdeck

auf

Robert - Ley
 
       
       
       
   

 

Zeugmusterung an Oberdeck auf Robert Ley = Gear Inspection on the observation deck of the Robert Ley

 

       
       
       
       
 

Beim

Winkern
 
       
       
       
       

Endern

um Mast

Ltnt. z. S.

Geyder
       
       
       
   

 

Beim Winkern = Semaphore

Endern um Mast = Climbing the Mast

Ltnt. z. S. Geyder = LTJG Geyder

 

       
       
 

Beim

Ex -

Dienst

  
       
   
Ein Brief an die Liebste
  
 
   
       
 

Gewehr -

reini -

gen

  
       
   
Am Abend von 11 - 12 Uhr
  
   

 

Beim Ex - Dienst = Drill formation

Ein Brief an die Liebste = A letter for his sweetheart

Gewehr - reini - gen = Rifle cleaning

Am Abend von 11 - 12 Uhr = In the evening between 23:00 and 00:00 hrs.

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
 
Badenser treffen sich
    
   
Zugoff. Ltnt. z. See
  
 
                         auf Robert - Ley
 
   
                Myschke
  
       
       
   
u. Korperäle
  
       
   

 

Badenser treffen sich auf Robert - Ley = "Badenser" (folks from the State of Baden in Southwestern Germany) meet on the Robert Ley

Zugoff. Ltnt. z. See Myschke u. Korperäle = Platoon Officer LTJG Myschke and Corporals

 

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
   

Ausmarsch

bei starker Kälte

    
         
         
         
     

 

Ausmarsch bei starker Kälte = Departure during very cold weather

 

         
         
         
         

Fünfgute Kameraden
         
         
         
         

Ob.Mz. Stahlschmitt

Bts.Mt. Mesekenthal

An Oberdeck
         
 
Vor Sem Schiff
      
         
     

 

Fünfgute Kameraden = Five shipmates and friends

Vor Sem Schiff = In front of the ship

Ob.Mz. Stahlschmitt, Bts.Mt. Mesekenthal = Petty Officer 1st Class Stahlschnitt, Bosn's Mate Mesekenthal

An Oberdeck = On the upper deck

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
 
Abschiedsfeier der 1. Gr. 2. Zg. 3. Komp
 
       
       

von der                

1. U. L. D.

           Pillau

Ltnt. z. See

Myschke

beim

Abschidestrunk
       
       
       
   

 

Abschiedsfeier der 1. Gr. 2. Zg. 3. Komp von der 1. U. L. D.  Pillau = Going-away party of the 1st Group, 2nd Platoon, 3rd Company from 1st Submarine Training Division at Pillau

Ltnt. z. See Myschke beim Abschidestrunk = LTJG Myschke during farewell toast

 

       
       
       
       
 

Danzig         

           Rathaus

  
       
                        Abendslimmung                     Blick über  
 
am Ostseestrand
Danzig Neufahrwasser
  
   

 

Abendslimmung am Ostseestrand = Evening mood at the Baltic beach

Danzig Rathaus = Danzig City Hall

Blick über Danzig Neufahrwasser = View over Danzig-Neufahrwasser

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
Baubelehrung
Danziger Werft
       
       
       
       
       
   

 

Baubelehrung = Pre-commissioning period in the shipyard

Danziger Werft = Danzig Shipyard

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
 
   
       
 
U. A. K. Zeit und
    

Probe -

fahrten

 

 

 

 

 
       
       
       
   

 

U. A. K. Zeit und Probe fahrten = U.A.K. period (UAK = Ubootsabnahmekonmmando - acceptance authority of the Kreigsmarine for submarines) and Sea trials

 

     
 
Indienstsellung ---
 
     
     
 
 
     
 
Besatzung von U-402
  
     
 

 

Indienstsellung = Commissioning

Besatzung von U-402 = Crew of U-402

(May 21, 1941)

 

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
     

 

Commissioning Ceremony, May 21, 1941

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
 
LI Ob.Ltnt. Mayer
    
       
       
       
       
 

Kaleunt. U. Kmdt.

Freiherr von Forstner
Ob.Sturm. Görtz
  
       
   

 

LI Ob.Ltnt. Mayer = L.I. (Leitender Ineniour - Chief Engineer) LT Senior Grade Mayer

Kaleunt. U. Kmdt. Freiherr von Forstner = LCDR and Commanding Officer Baron von Forstner

Ob.Sturm. Görtz = Senior helmsman Görtz

 

       
       
       
       

 

Sehrohr -

Aufnahmen

 
       
       
 
Kielwasser
    
       
       
   

 

Sehrohr - Aufnahmen = Photographs taken through the periscope

Kielwasser = Wake

 

       
       
       
       
 
 
       
Kielwasser - u Heck
Zielschiff - Venus
       
       

Torpedo -

schiessen -

Pillau

Torpedo -

ubernahme -

Geräte
       
 
Zielschiff
    
       
   

 

Torpedo schiessen - Pillau = Torpedo shoot at Pillau

Kielwasser - u Heck = Looking aft at ship's wake

Zielschiff - Venus = Target ship Venus

Zielschiff = Target ship

Torpedo ubernahme Geräte = Torpedo loading device

 

       
       
       
       
       
 
Deutche Werke in Kiel
Blick durchs Sehrohr -
 
 
Kiel - Wick
  
       

Kmdt.

beim

Filmen
       
       
       
   

 

Deutche Werke in Kiel = Deutche Werke (shipyard) in Kiel

Blick durchs Sehrohr - Kiel - Wick = View of Kiel-Wick (Naval Academy) through the periscope

Kmdt. beim Filmen = CO while filming

 

       
       
       
       
       
 
Mit Frei frau von Forstner
  
       
       
       
       
       
   

 

Mit Frei frau von Forstner = In the company of Baroness von Forstner, May 21, 1941

 

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
   

 

Crew posing with Baroness von Forstner, May 21, 1941

(Hapag steamer "New York" used as a dormatory ship for the Naval Academy in the background of the lower left photo)

 

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
   

 

Commissioning party May 21, 1941

 

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
     

 

A makeshift U-boat

 

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

 
       
       
       
   

 

Inner Oslofjord  - the left photos show the Oscarsborg fortress near the small town Drøbak. In the middle to the right in these pictures you can see a small grey structure that is sloping to the left. This is probaly the armor around the cannon "Moses" that sunk the cruiser "Blücher" in the morning of April 9th during the invasion of Norway. The "Blücher" is lying upside down probably right below U-402. (Today it's leaking oil that is causing some concern)

 

       
       
 
 
       
       
 
   
       
       
   

 

Lunch in Oslo harbor

 

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
   

 

Oslo harbour - The picture of the city hall (upper left) is taken from the Akershus harbour "Vippetangen" right below the Akershus fortress. The two pictures to the right are taken from the restaurant in the next block, and show a long building at Olslo's quay for general cargo near the Sailor's school below the Ekeberg height. The upper of these looks into the Bjørvika area where the new opera house is being built today. The picture below is in the direction of "Hovedøya", an island in the inner Oslofjord.

 

       
       
 
 
     
     
 
 
 
   
       
   

 

(Lower left) the masts of the "Oslo radio" and Norwegian Broadcast coorporation at Lambertseter - Photos on the right were taken at the Ekeberg restaurant, a functionalist building that has been restored today.

 

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
   

 

The two upper pictures shows the "Bunnefjord" and the lower picture to the right shows a lake called "Østensjøvannet".

 

         
         

         
 

 
         

         
     

 

Walking in the forest, finding some berries perhaps - The two lower pictures are taken at the Fram Muesum at Bygdøy.  Fram was a ship used by Fridjov Nansen, Roald Amundsen and Otto Sverdrup, the three great Norwegian polar explorers.  On the right a statue of Roald Amundsen.