by Gareth Collins

Formed in Pillau in East Prussia in 1924. In September/October 1939 it was employed in the Polish Campaign around the Danzig Bay for Minesweeping & Security Operations, then for anti-submarine tasks. In November 1939 it was used for Minesweeping & Escort service in the North Sea. For Operation 'Weserübung' the Flotillas boats were used by various Kriegsschiffgruppen then until February 1942 it was employed on security service in the North Sea, Holland, France & Biscaya. In February 1942 it was used as a Minesweeping Escort for the Battleships during the 'Channel Dash'. Until February 1944 the Flotilla was on Security & Escort Service, then laying a mine blockade in the area of Holland & the North Sea. In February 1944 it moved to Finnenbusen for Narva Bay Patrols, with the retreat of the Front it was lastly used for Security Operations in the Baltic Sea.

After the capitulation of Germany it, along with the 3. Minensuchflottille, was employed with the Deutscher Minenräumdienst (DMRL, the German Mine Sweeping Administration, GMSA; Kriegsmarine vessels under Allied control used for mine sweeping duties 1945-1948) with the 1. & 2. Minenräumdivisionen in the Baltic & North Seas. It was dissolved in the summer of 1946 and its boats given to the USSR & France.

Flottillenchef

Korvettenkapitän Karl Weniger (00 Oct 1938-00 Dec 1939)
Korvettenkapitän Karl Neitzel (00 Dec 1939-00 Mar 1941)
Fregattenkapitän Karl Bergelt (00 Mar 1941-00 Mar 1943)
Korvettenkapitän Claus Henning von Grumbkow (00 Mar 1943-00 Oct 1944)
Korvettenkapitän Georg Pinkepank (00 Oct 1944-00 000 1946)

Subordinate Units & Vessels

1936
M 146
M 89
M 111
M 122
M 132
M 66

1939-1945
M 1
M 3
M 4
M 5
M 7
M 8
M 14
M 15
M 17
M 18
M 20
M 36
M 37
M 132
M 155
M 203
M 204
M 255
M 256

Sources used

Research by Gareth Collins
Erich Gröner - Die Schiffe der deutschen Kriegsmarine und ihr Verbleib 1939-1945, J.F. Lehmanns Verlag, München (1976)
Hans H. Hildebrand - Die organisatorische Entwicklung der Marine nebst Stellenbesetzung 1848 bis 1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück (2000)
Hans H. Hildebrand & Ernest Henriot – Deutschlands Admirale 1849-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück (1989)
Hans H. Hildebrand, Albert Röhr & Hans-Otto Steinmetz – Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe, Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg (1980)
Walter Lohmann & Hans H. Hildebrand – Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine, Verlag Hans-Henning Podzun, Bad Nauheim (1956)

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -