23.9.1935 “Point Blue 10” 74°17’N, 18°26’E, 23rd day at sea
The “Wachtfels” arrived at 06:00 hrs. and the Kommandant of the freighter Korv.Kpt. Siegfried Becker boarded Schiff 30 to give a report and for a conference with Freg.Kpt. Hartmann, Obstlt Foerster (Luftwaffe), and Hptm Deutsch (Heer). In a meeting the day before they decided to hold an exercise on Kapp Thor, Hoppen Island for the 3 branches of that make up the ship’s company this would in Hartmann’s view weld the three branches together and be able to develop tactics for future Hilfskreuzers.
In a separate report to the Kommandant of Schiff 30, Korv.Kpt. Becker stated that he had run into a storm in the North Sea but no damage had been sustained. He also reported that the “Wedemark” and the “Lindenfels” had not departed Stettin or Wilhelmshaven when he departed on the evening of the 18th. from Kiel this meant that the ships would not arrive until early October at the earliest. This would hamper Hartmann’s plans for the exercise if the ships did not show by October 5th. he would have no choice but to scrap his plans and resume his voyage south in spite of this the crew, besides the daily shipboard routines, are building a mock harbor on the raiders decks from canvas and wood.
There has been no radio message from operations in regards to the delay of the freighter and tanker. Freg.Kpt. Hartmann summed it up to the inefficacy and bureaucratic red tape of deskbound officers working in the Shipping Office of the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine. A message will be sent on the evening of the 31st. to see what if any update can be given on the status of the “Lindenfels” and “Wedemark”.
So far this “merchant raider” has become, to Hartmann’s dismay a passenger/cargo ship for the Kriegsmarine. But soon, events in Spain 10 months from now would give the ship her legendary reputation.
"Wachtfels" arrives, Schiff Nr. 30 photographed from the funnel of the freighter.
"Wachtfels" photographed from the fore crosstrees of Schiff 30
Another photograph of "Wachtfels" from the deck of Schiff 30. One of the 4 seaplanes was moved to Hold Nr. II for repairs (damage sustained while landing on rough seas)