30th November 1939

A loose translation of the typewritten message

'Today, after returning from a short sea voyage, you too should receive a greeting from me. After all our great successes, I feel like a million bucks, but I have to have some time to relax soon, since we've been doing our duty up here at the see since the beginning of the war with Poland and England and haven't had a moment's rest yet, while our grey comrades at the Westwall have been beating their fingers bloody playing skat for a long time. Well, no task is too difficult for us and we will spare no effort if only we can give our western mortal enemy a good beating. Hopefully I will be able to come to Kempten for a few days while my dear father is still there, and then we can sit down in a cosy corner one evening and talk about our experiences. At the moment I have a lot to do, because we have been joined by two fast destroyers, which are now being integrated into the new 'Fast Flotilla' and of course make most of the work for the flotilla adjutant. I am proud to be the only one of my year to be able to serve on such a splendid front line unit. In this respect, I have really become a mighty swine to my comrades, most of whom are now loafing around in a land formation. You poor warrior woman is now usually alone, too, or has your husband already been released for home service? Now I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you again. Now I'm going out again for a few days, and so I'd like to send you many heartfelt greetings.'

'After all our great successes, I feel like a million bucks...'

(extract from Wikipedia)

On the night of 17th-18th October 1939, Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp led Z16 Friedrich Eckoldt, Z17 Diether von Roeder, Z18 Hans Lüdemann, Z19 Hermann Künne, and Z20 Karl Galster as they laid a minefield off the mouth of the River Humber. The British were unaware of the minefield's existence and lost seven ships totaling 25,825 gross register tons (GRT). On the night of 12th-13th November Z21 Wilhelm Heidkamp, now the flagship of the Commander of Destroyers (Führer der Zerstörer), Captain (Kapitän zur See) Friedrich Bonte, escorted Z18 Hans Lüdemann, Z19 Hermann Künne, and Z20 Karl Galster as they laid 288 magnetic mines in the Thames Estuary. Once again unaware of the minefield's existence, the British lost the destroyer Blanche and thirteen merchant ships displacing 48,728 GRT.

Note: Z17, Z18, Z19, and Z20 were all part of the 5. Zerstorer Division, 3. Zerstorer Flottille, in which Hanns Hagl served, possibly onboard one of the ships in these actions.

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