ID=33892 Name: Leopold, Walter

[tenneyn]

My Grandfather has asked my help finding information on my Great Grandfather Walter Leopold. We found out from a post here that he was on U 309 and U 453. I also saw on a link that was on another thread that his navel record shows U 453. WO.schüler (11.41-06.42) 4 patrols 104 seetage. U 309. WHERE. I'm not sure what all that means. Any assistance in finding out any other information on him would be greatly appreciated. He passed away when my Grandfather was around 9 so he has almost no memory of him.

[Urs Heßling]

hi,

Walter Leopold belonged to the Officers' crew X/40 (October 1940)

These young men joined the navy on September 23, 1940

Their basic Training took place at Daenholm (Island of Rügen) from Sept 23, to Dec 10, 1940.

Individual on-board training followed up to June 3, 1941.

After that, they came together again for an abbreviated Officers' course at Naval School Mürwik from June, 4, to September 26, 1941

During that course, the young men were promoted to Fähnrich zur See

The training was concluded with another time (6-7 months) in a front unit, in Walter Leopold's case, as we already know, in U 453

If he took a submarine watch officers' course from July, 1942, he probably joined U 309 on commissioning in January, 1943.

greetings, Urs

[tenneyn]

Thank you so much for the information. I have one more question if you don't mind. I found the attached document of crew list coming to New York. His name is crossed off and we're not sure why. We can only read part of the comment next to it. "Signed off the last minute..." Why would he sign off and what does that mean? Also, why would he be coming here?

[Urs Heßling]

hi, tenneyn,

His name is crossed off and we're not sure why.

That Walter Leopold was a stoker and 27 years old in 1939.

I must presume that he is just another person with the same name.

greetings, Urs

[tenneyn]

What is a Stoker? My great-grandfather would have been 27 at the time of this document which makes me wonder which is him...

[Urs Heßling]

hi,

a stoker or fireman shovels coal into the fire chamber below a ship's water boiler to produce steam for the ship's engine(s), and that's a very hard, strenuous and dirty task/work

There's a short sequence in the Cameron-movie "Titanic" where you can see the stokers doing their dirty work as the iceberg collides with the ship and the water comes rushing in ...

Thus, I think, that walter Leopold is just another person with the same name

greetings, Urs