Arthur Godenau

Arthur Godenau (19 January 1903 - 16 February 1983) was a German Kriegsmarine officer who was born in Przyłęki (Netzort) and took part in the German operation against Norway.

Career
Godenau was born on 19 January 1903 in Netzort, Kreis Bromberg in Province of Posen within the German Empire, present-day Przyłęki. At birth, his name was Artur Leo Gadaszewski, later renamed to Godenau. He joined the military service of Reichsmarine, the German Navy during the Weimar Republic, on 1 April 1925 with the 1st department of the standing ship division of the North Sea. On 26 September, Godenau was transferred to the 3rd Half-Flotilla for further training. On 1 April 1927, he was promoted to Obermatrose (Seaman 1st Class).

On 31 August 1934, Godenau was appointed commander of R-11, an R boat in the 1st Minesweeper-Half-Flotilla, commanding this boat for four months. On 1 January 1939, he was promoted to Stabsobersteuermann, a non-commissioned officers rank.

World War II
During Operation Weserübung, the German the invasion of Denmark and Norway, Godenau commanded R-17. On 9 April 1940, a German task force consisting of the torpedo boats GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT Albatros and GERMAN TORPEDO BOAT Kondor, accompanied by R-17 and R-21, heavily laden with troops attacked the Norwegian naval base at Horten which became the Battle of Horten Harbour. During the assault, R-17 was sunk by the minelayer HNOMS Olav Tryggvason.

He earned significant awards, such as Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 May 1940 when he commanded R-17 in R-Boat Flotilla I (for successfully helping to ensure the capture of the Horten harbor in an undamaged state).

Godenau was then scheduled to take command of R-51. This was cancelled and he was given command of R-73 which he commissioned on 21 May 1941. On 24 December, Godenau was promoted to Leutnant zur See (lieutenant at sea), effective as of 1 January 1942.

In 1944, Godenau became an instructor with the (BSN—Commander of the Defense of the North Sea), training new officers at Hörnum.

He later died in Laboe, the circumstances of his death are yet unknown. Buried in Laboe.

Awards

 * Wehrmacht Long Service Award
 * 4th Class (2 October 1936)
 * 3rd Class (31 March 1937)
 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (10 October 1939)
 * 1st Class (9 May 1940)
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 May 1940 as Stabsobersteuermann and commander of Räumboot R-17 in the 1. Räumbootflottille
 * Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände (6 November 1940)