Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Steuermannsmaat

Unit:

Boot 10, 36. Minensuchflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

February 28th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obersteurmann (Petty Officer 1st Class)

Unit:

Boot 10, 36. Minensuchflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Obersteurmann (Petty Officer 1st Class)

Unit:

Boot 10, 36. Minensuchflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

October 9th, 1941

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zu See der Reserve

Unit:

Gruppenführer, Kommandant, "M 3619", 36. Minensuchflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

December 15th, 1943

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Oberleutnant zu See der Reserve

Unit:

Gruppenführer, 36. Minensuchflottille, Kriegsmarine

Awarded on:

September 7th, 1944

Blasberg’s Knight’s Cross recommendation reads as follows…

“1. Has continued to operate off the coast of Flanders as a group leader in the 36. MS.-Fl. Soldier with inspiring willingness to fight. Has operated for 4 uninterrupted years in the English Channel. Has scouted out routes for important channel breakthroughs (by auxiliary cruisers, tankers, destroyers). Through this he has had a major share in the successes of the western naval war. His achievements are all the more noteworthy considering he only had 6 slow, obsolete and relatively weakly armed loggers. These materiel weaknesses were balanced out by Blasberg’s skill and boldness.

2. Details:

a) A total of over 500 channel operations, of which 129 were after the award of the German Cross in Gold. 124 mines cleared, of which 63 were after the German Cross in Gold. 66 engagements with aircraft, and 14 aircraft kills since the start of the Invasion. These successes against aircraft are a singular achievement!

b) Blasberg cleared a number of dangerous single mines from a fishing boat. This required him to approach to within a few metres of the mines. Every sweep was a total success. Blasberg personally swept 23 individual mines after being awarded the German Cross in Gold. In the process enemy fighter-bombers flew just 20 metres over him several times. A singular accomplishment of cold-bloodedness and courage.

c) Heavy losses were suffered during a fighter-bomber attack on the 15.07.1944. Blasberg filled in for a wounded gun commander. Attack fended off, his sinking boat was brought to Ostend and he immediately set out again in another boat.

d) Blasberg’s ruthless devotion to duty has become legendary on the Channel front. He is responsible for the disproportionate degree of success achieved by his logger group. Small boat leader of exemplary bravery.

3. Biography and photo follows.”