German sailors render extraordinary honors to US at sea

German Embassy, Washington, D.C. ^ | Sept. 15, 2003

[Gorilla44]

Military vessels routinely render honors to military ships of other countries when they pass at sea by dipping their flag, as a sign of respect. The German frigate FGS Niedersachsen went above and beyond this normal gesture of respect when it asked to come alongside the USS Doyle on September 11, 2003, the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US. On this day, as the two ships approached and passed, the entire crew of the German vessel stood top-side in full dress uniforms, holding their hats over their hearts. And as the ultimate gesture of respect, the FGS Niedersachsen was flying the United States flag from its main mast. A US Naval Officer, in an email that also reached the German Embassy in Washington, told of how touched the US crew were by the “classy and emotional” presentation by their German counterparts.

In an interview on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered on September 14, Commander Bernd Kuhbier of the FGS Niedersachsen explained this extraordinary act. “When you are on a warship, you don't fly a foreign flag on the top mast,” Commander Kuhbier told host Steve Inskeep. “But we thought the occasion was suitable to do that, so that's what we did. We were proud to do so.”

The unexpected gesture touched the US sailors, Vice Admiral Timothy LaFleur described in an unclassified email: “From their main mast they flew our flag and they held their covers over their hearts. Needless to say, the whole crew was choked up and a few tears formed in our eyes. Both ships stayed next to each other in silence for about 5 minutes. These are the days that remind me why I joined the Navy.”

The FGS Niedersachsen and the USS Doyle are both part of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a permanent peacetime multinational naval squadron composed of destroyers, cruisers and frigates from the navies of various NATO nations.

[blackie]

Old Navy guy ~ Bump!

[MEG33]

Very touching.

[CatoRenasci]

One of the famous examples of the Army's disdain for Hitler was his initial meeting with Hindenburg. Hitler bowed and addressed Hindenburg as Herr General Feldmarschall Graf Reichspraesident [proper German order of precedence , first earned military rank (Field Marshall), then noble title (count), then civilian political title (President)]. Hindenburg is said to have replied: Herr Gefreiter [corporal].

On the chief of staff arrested, you're probably thinking of Ludwig Beck. Beck was cleared by an honor court, IIRC. I think his successor was von Fritsch, who essentially committed suicide by exposing himself to fire during the Polish campaign, but their might have been one or two in between them. It's been 30+ years since I read Gordon Craig's Politics of the Prussian Army and a couple of other books (Wheeler Bennett comes to mind) on the German army.

[Ready4Freddy]

I know, but I think dts had his tinfoil alert flying high. :)

[CatoRenasci]

A little research helps:

It was General Kurt von Schleicher whom the Nazis murdered during the Night of Long Knives (when Hitler took out Ernst Roehm and the Sturm Abteilung (SA)).

It was von Fritsch whom the Nazis charged (falsely) with being a homosexual and retired him early. He was the one who died in Poland in 1939.

[Valin]

Yeah, we're a ruthless empire alright.

We are? Darn it nobody ever tells me anything!
This is great I'd like to get Ireland if it's not too late.

:-)

[Michael81Dus]

Anyway, I´m going to the send the crew of the FGS Niedersachsen an e-mail, expressing my support for their behaviour:

FGS.NIE@t-online.de

On the website of the German Navy, I read that the idea to express the honor for the victims of 9-11 came up at the evening before the end of the mission, on 9/10/03. All officers agreed, and immediately the crew was informed - according to the Navy, everyone was in full support for this cordial action.

When the moment of passing the USS Doyle finally came, the captain ordered via loudspeaker: "To honour of the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11 2001 - Caps off!"

These are good men and women serving on the Frigate.

[mewzilla]

These are good men and women serving on the Frigate.

I'll second that.

[GOPJ]

bump

[Rebelbase]

The translation is NPR is not to be trusted as it has a socilist/liberal agenda to its reporting....They would love to paint the Germans and French in a good light..after all both countries crapped on us during the build-up/invasion/post-op.

[Michael81Dus]

It is true, my friend. There´s an article on the website of the German Navy, too.

It´s in German, but there´s an email in english in the text:

http://www.deutsche-marine.de/made/dmbas.nsf/vwContentFrame/N255AHMH242MMISDE

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Mr. Silverback]

Their chancellor is an idiot, but the German military are a different breed.

Dang straight. We can think of the current German forces as being much like the US forces under Clinton: Obeying the man because he is the elected choice of the people, but not respecting him, and being loathed in return.

Much different than their grandfathers who my father chased across North Africa...but I digress.

Actually, part of the function of the SS was the same as the Republican Guards and the Special Republican Guard (etc. ad nauseum) was in Iraq: Keep an eye on the army and make sure nobody tries to grow a brain and take out the tyrants. A lot of Wermacht and Kriegsmarine guys were in it for the Fatherland, not for Nazism.

[Mr. Silverback]

Schroeder offers Bush support on Iraq

Maybe Schroeder's lying about forgetting the past, but Dubya isn't. Plus, Germany didn't have any rebuke for us in the UN like Chirac and his toadies did. Are we peeling Germany away? If I were Schroeder (have to pretend half my brain's gone) I wouldn't have given Dubya a cent or a waterboy for Iraq after that speech yesterday...unless I was realizing that all this Euro-posturing was majorly counterproductive. Could be a new day, could be rope-adope, we'll see.

[stanz]

I'm touched. I didn't think we had one European ally except for the Brits and Spain.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Wow.. thanks for posting this Gorilla!!

When I saw this picture posted around the time of the 9-11 anniversary, I didn't know if it was from the first anniversary or this last one. This article just clarified it for me.

How un-believably moving...

I'm with those who feel Schroeder is an idiot.. but not all Germans are! Just as in Canada we had people doing support the US rallies! This isn't the first incident of a German Naval or Military supporting our troops. God Bless em'!! The support is MUCH appreciated.

Now if OUR OWN media would show it and let our troops, THE GUYS LAYING DOWN THEIR LIVES know about it!!

[Mon]

Well said :)

[Charles Martel]

I didn't think we had one European ally except for the Brits and Spain.

Don't forget the Italians; they were quite supportive all during the pre-war U.N. mess and beyond. Quite a few smaller countries in eastern Europe took our side and kicked France in the teeth for its outrageous behavior as well.

[Mon]

They are actually starting to write the truth? Or did I misread it :)

[Mon]

haha!