Wolfgang Kaden – Kommandant of “UJ-116” (Unterseebootsjagdflottille) – Wartime Signed

Original wartime signature on a wartime photograph of Wolfgang Kaden. Kapitänleutnant der Reserve Wolfgang Kaden (05.12.1899, Leipzig † 09.07.1942, near Hammerfest) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 18 December 1940 as Kommandant of UJ 116, 11. Unterseebootsjagdflottille. Since the outbreak of the war, Kaden served as commander of a submarine chaser and distinguished himself during the Norwegian Campaign in escort, security, and anti-submarine operations. He gained particular recognition through his success in U-boat hunting, being credited with the destruction of at least three enemy submarines, including the British submarine HMS H49 on 18 October 1940 off Texel and the Soviet submarine K-23, commanded by Magomet Gadzhiyev, on 12 May 1942 off Nordkyn. For his exceptional leadership, boldness, and effectiveness in anti-submarine warfare, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross. Kaden was killed in action on 9 July 1942 when his submarine chaser U-Jäger 1110 struck a naval mine and sank near Hammerfest. He was posthumously promoted to Korvettenkapitän der Reserve.

His known awards included the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (15 December 1939), Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boots-, Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände, and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.

A highly desirable original autograph of Knight’s Cross holder Kapitänleutnant der Reserve Wolfgang Kaden, signed in period on an attractive wartime portrait photograph.

Provenance: From the estate of former HJ member Reinhold Brennfleck (1928–2022) from Lauda, Baden, who wrote to numerous Ritterkreuzträger in 1943–1944 requesting signatures and signed photographs, forming an exceptional wartime autograph collection.