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Stoker 2nd Class Werner Böttner from Hörselgau, Thuringia was trained as a metal worker. Shortly after the war broke out, he joined the Kriegsmarine. Bismarck was his first and last seagoing assignment.
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Stoker 2nd Class Herbert Engmann from Hamburg was transferred to another duty shortly before Bismarck started on Operation Rheinübung.
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Machinist’s Mate Gerhard Gränitz from St. Egidien, Saxony joined the Kriegsmarine after finishing job training as a metal worker. One of his crewmates hailed from the same small village as he.
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Stoker 2nd Class Herbert Jahn from Nünchritz, Saxony, witnessed horrific things during Bismarck’s final battle but was fortunate to have survived and been rescued by the RN. For the next six years he was a British Prisoner of War.
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Right after his graduation from the technical course and his promotion, Machinist’s Mate Hans Luchs from Düsseldorf was sent straight to the Bismarck while she was still under construction at Blohm & Voss. In April 1941 he sent his family one last letter.
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Stoker 3rd Class Richard Rebhan from Lindenau, Thuringia was drafted shortly after his 17th birthday. Originally he had intended to join the Merchant Marine, but the outbreak of the war prevented him. He died at the age of 17.
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Staff Sergeant Werner Seeliger from Silesia was with the small Luftwaffe contingent which manned and maintained Arado Ar 196 seaplanes. He piloted the plane T3+MK.
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Stoker First Class Erich Seifert from Frauenreuth, Thuringia served on the cruiser Karlsruhe which was sunk during the invasion of Norway. However, he did not survive Bismarck’s final battle. He was last seen in the burning superstructure of the sinking ship.
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