Stefan Walden De, ORP
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Stefan Walden De, ORP
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| ORP Wicher | Kmdr ppor. | Destroyer | Jan 1938 | 3 Sep 1939 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Destroyer ORP Wicher ()
1 Sep 1939
Wicher (Komandor Podporucznik Stefan de Walden) was escorting the minelayer Gryf off Hela. The Polish vessels were attacked by a group of Ju-87 (Stuka) dive bombers from Lehrgerschwader 1. During the attacks, Gryf suffered some damage from near misses. Some of the attacking German aircraft were also damaged, but none was shot down.
In the afternoon Wicher was ordered to cover the mine laying Operation Rurka conducted by Gryf. The operation was cancelled, but nobody informed the commanding officer of Wicher about this fact. At 22.00hours the Polish destroyer spotted two German destroyers(most likely the Richard Beitzen and Georg Thiele) at distance of about 4500 meters. There was excellent opportunity for gun or torpedo attack but the Wicher didn't open fire, because she was ordered to attack only when the enemy spots the Gryf (which stayed in harbour!). A few minutes later another German ship appeared this one wasn't attacked too. It was most likely another German destroyer. Wicher's crew claimed her as cruiser, but this was impossible, because German cruisers were positioned in a different area.
2 Sep 1939
Wicher shot down an enemy aircraft which was trying to attack a fishing vessel. (1)
3 Sep 1939
Wicher took part in naval combat off Hela. Two German destroyers, the Leberecht Maa? and Wolfgang Zenker under command of Rear Admiral G?nther L?tjens approached to Polish naval base at Hela and opened fire at 0700hours. Wicher and the minelayer Gryf answered few minutes later. A Polish coastal battery (4 guns of 152mm) was also involved in combat. After short time Germans hit the Gryf twice, but suffered heavy damage on Leberecht Maa?. Wolfgang Zenker (also damaged) laid a smokescreen and both destroyers retreated. Later that day Hela was attacked by German Ju-87 (Stuka) dive bombers. They conducted four attacks. Wicher was hit by four bombs (two 250 kg and two 50 kg) and sank. Gryf was also sunk. (1)
Sources
- Personal communication
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