Erich Bey

Konteradmiral Erich Bey (23 March 1898-26 December 1943) was a German naval officer who most notably served as a commander of Nazi Germany's destroyer flotillas and who led the German force in the Battle of North Cape on 26 December 1943, during which the light battleship Scharnhorst was sunk. He was killed during that action.

Related Topics:
Konteradmiral - 23 March - 1898 - 26 December - 1943 - German - Naval - Officer - Nazi Germany - Destroyer - Battle of North Cape - Battleship - ''Scharnhorst''

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Bey joined the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) on June 13, 1916 and served most of his years in the destroyer arm of that organization and its successors.

Related Topics:
Kaiserliche Marine - June 13 - 1916

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As a fregattenkapitän (commander) in the Kriegsmarine, he led the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, consisting of the destroyers Brend von Arnim, Erich Giese, and Erich Koellner as part of the group that assaulted the port of Narvik during the invasion of Norway. In the following Battles of Narvik, Bey distinguished himself by leading a small group of destroyers in a brave though unsuccessful action against a superior Royal Navy force which included the battleship Warspite.

Related Topics:
Kriegsmarine - 4th Destroyer Flotilla - ''Brend von Arnim'' - ''Erich Giese'' - ''Erich Koellner'' - Narvik - Invasion of Norway - Battles of Narvik - Royal Navy - ''Warspite''

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After Narvik, Bey was promoted to the rank of Führers der Zerstörer (Commander of Destroyers), replacing his predecessor who had been killed at the first battle in that port. He also received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (or Ritterkreuz), on May 5, 1940.

Related Topics:
Iron Cross - May 5 - 1940

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Later in the war he was promoted to the rank of Konteradmiral. On 25 December 1943, Bey led a task force consisting of the battleship Scharnhorst and the destroyers Z 29, Z 30, Z 33, Z 34, and Z 38 out of Alta Fjord in an operation named Ostfront. Intending to intercept an Arctic convoy en route to Murmansk and without adequate aerial reconaissance, Bey divided his force before unintentionally encountering several Royal Navy ships. In the following Battle of North Cape, Scharnhorst was sunk and some 1,932 sailors were killed. Bey was reported to have been observed in the water, but he was not rescued.

Related Topics:
Konteradmiral - 25 December - 1943 - Battleship - ''Scharnhorst'' - ''Z 29'' - ''Z 30'' - ''Z 33'' - ''Z 34'' - ''Z 38'' - Alta Fjord - ''Ostfront'' - Arctic convoy - Murmansk - Royal Navy - Battle of North Cape

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