Knight’s Cross awarded for: “A German Schnellbootflottille under the leadership of its commander, Kapitänleutnant Kemnade, participated in the smashing of the British convoy in the eastern Mediterranean. The flotilla torpedoed two British cruisers, of which one cruiser was hit by two torpedoes and likely sunk. Already in its earlier operations along the Libyan coast this flotilla sank a destroyer, a convoy escort, a submarine chaser as well as 15000 GRT worth of supply shipping.”
“Korvettenkapitän Klemande, born on the 12.12.1911 in Schwarmstedt (in the Lüneburger Heide) as the son of an imperial official, grew up and graduated in Hanover. He was born in the same year as Günther Prien, and having formed particularly strong ties of camaraderie to him (they were both officer candidates for a year together on the cruiser “Königsberg”, among other things) he joined the Kriegsmarine in 1931. After the usual training to be a naval officer Friedrich Kemnade came to already be a captain in the first Schnellbootsflottille as a young Leutnant.
Since being appointed commander of the Schnellbootsflottille in the middle of 1940, a post which he has held to this day, Kemnade has participated in over 150 sorties and led his ships with distinction and great dedication. The flotilla was first deployed in the west against England, the east against the Soviets, shortly afterwards once again in the English Channel and finally in the entire Mediterranean area of operations. After the Anglo-American landing in North Africa Kemnade’s Schnellbootflottille, in conjunction with the Luftwaffe, had the mission of supporting the formation of a bridgehead in Tunisia as the first German/Italian naval unit to be so assigned. In the harbours of Tunis and Bizerta he was the first to raise the German flag. His presence ensured that it was possible to land the incoming German and Italian troops and secure the supply of material.
Accordingly the losses inflicted by this flotilla, to which the Kapitänleutnant Wuppermann (recently awarded the Oakleaves by the Führer) also belongs, are especially great. They include both the destruction of almost 100000 GRT worth of enemy merchant shipping as well as the torpedoing and sinking of numerous warships, especially destroyers. Korvettenkapitän Friedrich Kemnade has proven himself as an exemplary and skillful commander in all of these operations.
The Führer awarded him the Knight’s Cross to the Iron Cross on the 23.07.1942, the Italian king and dictator have twice given him the Silver Bravery Medal. Korvettenkapitän Kemnade is also a holder of the German Cross in Gold and the Wound Badge.”
