Ready to output.During the Second World War, the 24. Minensuchflottille was an operational unit of the German Kriegsmarine tasked primarily with minesweeping, escort duties, and coastal security operations in Western European waters. Established and deployed within the framework of the naval command structure, the flotilla was strategically subordinated to the 3. Sicherungs-Division, operating extensively along the occupied French coastline, the English Channel, and the Channel Islands. Stationed initially in major naval bases such as Brest, the unit utilized specialized vessels like the robust Minensuchboot types, including well-known boats like M 442 commanded by officers such as Oberleutnant zur See Wilhelm Scheidhauer, and M 452. Throughout its operational history documented in historical archives and military records, the flotilla faced intense Allied air and naval opposition while keeping vital sea lanes clear for German shipping and military logistics. As the strategic situation shifted following the Allied invasion of Normandy, elements of the unit adapted their deployment patterns to support defensive operations and localized raids. One of the most notable engagements associated with the personnel of the flotilla occurred on the night of 8 to 9 March 1945, when a daring raid against the French port of Granville was led by Kapitänleutnant Karl-Friedrich Brill. During this aggressive operation, participating German forces successfully damaged harbor locks and port facilities, inflicted heavy damage on several allied vessels, and captured a collier full of coal alongside numerous prisoners before returning safely. Following the German unconditional surrender in May 1945, surviving vessels and personnel of the 24. Minensuchflottille were subsequently integrated into the Allied-controlled German Mine Sweeping Administration to clear the hazardous minefields they had previously helped lay or defend, thereby playing a critical post-war maritime safety role across European coastal waters.
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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER
Fregattenkapitän Fritz Breithaupt (1892-1944) was born on 5 September 1892 in Bromberg and entered the Kaiserliche Marine as a Kadett in April 1911, serving initially aboard the cruiser Hansa before completing officer training at the Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik. During the First World War he advanced to Leutnant zur See in March 1916 while assigned to the battleship Rheinland, later transferring to torpedo boats as Wachoffizier on S 167, S 168 and A 27, and eventually becoming Gruppenführer in the 6. Minensuch-Halbflottille by war’s end after promotion to Oberleutnant zur See on 26 April 1917; he left active service in June 1920. Reactivated at the outbreak of the Second World War as Kapitänleutnant der Reserve, he assumed command of the 14. Minensuchflottille, briefly led the 34. Minensuchflottille after the Western Campaign, and from September 1940 served as Chef of the 12. Minensuchflottille. On 3 August 1941, as Korvettenkapitän der Reserve and Chef of the 12. Minensuchflottille, he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes for repeatedly conducting difficult Geleit-Fahrten and Sicherungsaufgaben under intense enemy pressure in the English Channel and along the northern French coast, where his flotilla maintained vital supply routes despite constant threats from British surface forces and aircraft. After the 12. Minensuchflottille was dissolved in October 1942 its personnel formed the nucleus of the newly raised 24. Minensuchflottille, which Breithaupt commanded in the Channel and Channel Islands area under the 3. Sicherungs-Division. On 10 February 1944 he was awarded the Eichenlaub as Korvettenkapitän der Reserve and Chef of the 24. Minensuchflottille for successfully repelling three major enemy attacks on the Channel Islands, actions that preserved the islands’ defensive integrity and supply lines through determined minesweeping, escort and combat operations conducted in immediate proximity to superior Allied forces. Promoted to Fregattenkapitän der Reserve on 1 September 1944, he continued to lead the flotilla until he was killed on 25 December 1944 in an aircraft crash while returning from Guernsey. His decorations also included both classes of the Iron Cross from 1914 and 1939, the Cross of Honor, the Minesweeper War Badge and the War Merit Cross with Swords Second Class.
Source :
https://wwwstatic.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/km/mboote/m21-30.htm
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