Knights Move

The terrifying North Atlantic supply convoys to Russia began in September 1941 with Churchill's promise to Stalin to send convoys every 10 days. In the event, treacherous conditions, insufficient ships, limited unloading facilities, and frozen ports, meant that by year end only seven convoys had got through.

The German Navy were quick to react, C in C Grand Admiral Raeder increasing U-boat strength in Norwegian waters, and ordering the mighty battleship Tirpitz to Norway, prompting Churchill to say "Tirpitz is the most important naval vessel in the situation today". He believed her destruction would "profoundly affect the course of the war". The first RAF attack was mounted on the night of 29/30 January, but the great battleship escaped unscathed.

Fearing for the Tirpitz's safety, Hitler ordered more Luftwaffe aircraft to Norway, and the gathering German forces began inflicting mounting losses on the lumbering convoys. As the Arctic spring and summer progressed, bringing perpetual daylight to the Barents Sea, the attacks continued around the clock.

The threat of attack by the Tirpitz was sufficient in itself to cause chaos and disruption to the North Atlantic convoys: The day after Convoy PQ17 set sail from Iceland on June 27, the British Home Fleet learned that Tirpitz had sailed from her hideout in the Norwegian fjords and, considering the threat to their cruiser squadron too serious, and with their battleships and carriers unable to arrive in time. PQ17 was ordered to scatter. U-boats and air attacks took a terrible toll, only 10 of the 34 merchantmen having set sail made it through to the Russian port of Archangel. Tirpitz failed to make contact with the convoy and returned to port without firing a shell, but her very presence in the theater was enough to cause the demise of convoy PQ17.

Robert Taylor’s painting KNIGHTS MOVE shows the awesome battleship Tirpitz under the command of Admiral Schniewind, in company with battleships Scheer and Hipper, setting sail during “Operation Rosselsprung”, destined for the open sea and the North Atlantic convoy traffic. Messerschmitt Me109s of JG5, based at Petsamo, provide overhead cover while flotilla escort vessels make up the fearsome armada. The magnificent Norwegian mountains provide a spectacular backdrop this comprehensively realistic and stirring World War Two image.

Major Erich Rudorffer
When Erich Rudorffer achieved his first victory in May 1940, it was the start of a spectacular career. In November 1942 he transferred to North Africa with II./JG-2 and on one occasion shot down 8 enemy aircraft in 32 minutes. Returning to France he led II./JG-2 and IV./JG-54. Moving to the Eastern Front as Kommandeur of II./JG-54, he acquired a fearsome reputation - achieving more multiple kills than any other fighter pilot. On November 6, 1943 he downed 13 Russian aircraft in a mere 17 minutes! By the end of the war he was flying the Me262 and achieved 12 more victories. Erich Rudorffer flew more than 1000 missions, achieved 222 air victories and was shot down 16 times. He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Fähnrich Arnold Schroeder Arnold Schroeder joined the Kriegsmarine in 1939. In March 1940 he survived the sinking of the cruiser Blucher by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm, before joining the crew of the Tirpitz where he served on the bridge, and as a range-finder. In 1941 he transferred to the U-boat service, joining first the crew of U-645.

Oberleutnant Ernst Scheufele
Joining the Luftwaffe in October 1940, Ernst Scheufele went straight into pilot training. On gaining his wings he was posted, in June 1942, to 4./JG5 in Norway. There, flying the Messerschmidt Bf109, he carried out a total 67 escort missions for the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen, and later for the Tirpitz. In October 1943 he joined II./JG5, flying over Arctic waters, in Finland, and on the Russian Front, before transferring in June 1944 to defense of the Reich. On 3 December 1944 he was shot down by an American flak battery near Saxony, wounded and taken prisoner. He had scored a total of 18 victories.

Leutnant Zur See Willibald Völsing
Joining the Kriegsmarine in 1942, Willi Völsing was Senior Controller in the Gunnery Fire Control Section on Tirpitz, one of the most important gunnery positions on the ship, passing vital information between the ship's guns and the ship's commanders. After the Tirpitz capsized, he was one of the few fortunate survivors to be released from deep inside the ship by rescuers cutting into the upturned hull.