Walter Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen

class="fn" colspan="2" style="background-color: #B0C4DE; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;" | Walter Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen
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Birth date	5 November 1915(1915-11-05)
Place of birth	Palais Ostein in Geisenheim, Kreis Rheingau, Regierungs-Bezirk Wiesbaden, Province of Hesse-Nassau, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
Death date	⚔ 8 October 1943 (aged 27)
Place of death	North Atlantic
Allegiance	Weimar Republic National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1935–1943
Rank	Kapitänleutnant
Commands held	U 52 U 610
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Iron Cross German Cross in Gold
Relations	∞ 1943 Beate Pressentin genannt von Rautter

Walter Hans Albrecht Maria Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen (5 November 1915–8 October 1943) was a German naval officer (U-Boot-Kommandant) and recipient of the German Cross in Gold in WWII. During four patrols (Feindfahrten) and 178 days at sea (including an aborted trip from 4 to 8 September 1943), Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen sank four enemy ships with 21,273 tons and damaged a fifth with 9,551 tons (together 30,824 tons).

Military career

After his Abitur, Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen joined the Reichsmarine as an officer candidate on 5 April 1935 (Crew 35). He received his mandatory naval training (II. Schiffsstammabteilung der Ostsee, Stralsund) and on training ships like the sailer "Gorch Fock" and the cruiser "Emden". He then attended the Naval School (Marineschule, Flensburg-Mürwik) in 1936/37 and was transferred on board the heavy crusier "Blücher" in 1939, where he would serve as adjutant until the "Blücher" was sunk in Oslo fjord during the Norwegian campaign in April 1940. For his service during the Operation Weserübung (Unternehmen Weserübung) he received the Iron Cross 2nd Class.

What followed was more training (torpedo course, communications course, artillery course and submarine watch officer course). On 7 October 1940, he was placed to disposal of the 1. Uboat-Training Department and was named 1st Watch Officer (I. Wachoffizier; I.W.O.) of the brand new Unterseeboot U 552 under Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp.

On 9 June 1941, he was commanded to a course for commandants including a shooting course with the 24th U-Flotilla in Memel. On 7 July 1941, he was named commandant of U 52. On 14 January 1942, he was commanded to the construction instruction for U 610 at the 8th Warship Construction Training Department (Baubelehrung für U 610 bei der 8. Kriegsschiffbaulehrabteilung) in Hamburg. On 19 February 1942, he was named commandant of U 610 with the 5. Flottille (training) and as of 1 October 1942 with the 6. Flottille (active service).

Death

On 8 October 1943, U 610 was sunk in the North Atlantic north-west of Ireland, in position 55.45N, 24.33W, by depth charges from a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (423 Sqn RCAF/J). 51 dead (all hands lost), including the young commandant Walter Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen.

Family

Descent

Walter was the son of Vice Admiral Ernst Alfred Andreas Albrecht Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen and his wife Anna Charlotte Gabrielle Margarete, née Freiin von Brentano. One of his uncles was Generalmajor Egloff Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen. He had four siblings:

• Burk(h)ardt Maria Albrecht Johann Christoph (b. 29 July 1913 in Geisenheim), Dr. med., ⚔ on 7 November 1944 as a medical officer (Sanitätsoffizier); ∞ Lätitia Karoline Isabelle Hildegard Marie Alfrede von Düring
• Gertrud Maria Margarethe Leopoldine (1914–2007); ∞ Hamann Berthold Philipp Anselm Franz Reichsgraf von Ingelheim genannt Echter von und zu Mespelbrunn
• Ursula (1917–1985); ∞ Wolf Siegfried Alexander Graf von Brandenstein-Zeppelin
• Leopoldine Margarete Gabriele Hilaria (1925–1994); ∞ Ludwig Freiherr von Fuchs

Marriage

On 19 August 1943 in Berlin, Lieutenant Captain Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen married his fiancée Ellinor Elisabeth „Beate“ Hermine Pressentin genannt von Rautter (1921−1992). They had only two weeks together, but in this time, he fathered a child, a child he would never see. Son Pankraz (b. 7 June 1944 at Palais Ostein in Geisenheim) would become Dr. phil. and a renowned art historian as well as author, editor and publisher of art and cultural historical works.

On 3 August 1948 in Allmendingen, Beate married Walter's cousin Ernst Otto Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen (1911−1991), a son of Johann Christoph Rudolf Albrecht Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen (1874–1930). Beate and Ernst would have two children of their own, among them the later Roman Catholic priest and philosopher Hubertus Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen (b. 13 March 1958 in Ehingen an der Donau).

Promotions

• 5 April 1935 Offiziersanwärter (Officer Candidate of the Crew 1935)
• 25 September 1935 Seekadett (Cadet at Sea)
• 1 July 1936 Fähnrich zur See (Officer Cadet)
• 1 January 1938 Oberfähnrich zur See (Senior Officer Cadet)
• 1 April 1938 Leutnant zur See (2nd Lieutenant at Sea)
• 1 October 1939 Oberleutnant zur See (1st Lieutenant at Sea)
• 1 June 1942 Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant Captain)

Awards and decorations

• Wehrmacht Long Service Award (Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung), 4th Class in April 1939
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 20 April 1940
  • 1st Class on 28 December 1942
• U-boat War Badge 1939 (U-Boot-Kriegsabzeichen) on 8 May 1941
• High Seas Fleet War Badge (Flotten-Kriegsabzeichen) on 16 April 1942
• German Cross in Gold on 14 February 1944 (postum)

References

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