Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Stabsobersteurmann (Petty Officer 2nd Class)

Unit:

Kommandant "R 51", 1. Räumbootsflottille

Awarded on:

May 31st, 1940

Awarded for helping to ensure the capture of the Horten harbour in an undamaged state during the German operation against Norway in 1940. The following contemporary press excerpt summarizes this action as follows…

“On the 09.04.1940 Stabsobersteuermann Godenau, commander of an R-Boat, succeeded in carrying out a landing with his boat in the naval strongpoint of Horten (in the Oslo fjord) under heavy enemy fire. In conjunction with Kapitänleutnant Erich Grundmann, he made the surprise attack against a Norwegian strongpoint possible and thereby significantly contributed to the success of the operation.”

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)