First Thoughts
Addi Dreier, a former crewmember of „Emden IV“, was also member of the „Marinekameradschft Ahrensburg“ (naval association) since 1992. This association was located near the city of Hamburg, so Addi, living himself in Berlin, could attend its meetings only every second month. By that time the idea was born to call for meeting with all shipmates that have been with Addi at the same time in early seventies.
Difficult Search
In January 1993 Addi contacted some crewmembers of „Emden IV“, who had been his shipmates in the early seventies and proposed a meeting. The investigation was very cumbersome and required great efforts and patience by all involved. Finally, Addi obtained about 60 addresses which all of them had to be verified. The whole operation took nine month untill 48 addresses were those Addi was looking after.
High and dry:
"Emden V" in the dry dock during the visit at Wilhelmshaven in 1993
Meeting after 21 Years
In October 1993 Addi invited for a first meeting starting November, 15th 1993 in Wilhelmshaven. 32 former Emden crewmembers showed up and attended it. Surprisingly, it seemed as if the last 21 years had been wiped out. Although 21 years have left traces in the appearance of the old chaps, their character, sense of humor and fighting spirit was still the same and after finding out who was who it was all about cheering, refreshing memories and chatting about good old times.
The group used the opportunity to tour „Emden V“, which was in the dry dock of the Marinearsenal (naval yard) Wilhemshaven at that time.
Time leap:
In the NCO-Mess of "Emden V": Joachim Kolvenbach (left), commanding officer of "Emden IV" from 6thOctober 1971 until 6th February 1973, and Fregattenkapitän Hartmuth Wichmann, commanding officer of "Emden V" during our visit in 1993
The former commanding officer of „Emden IV“, Kapitän zur See.a.D. (Captain retired) Joachim Kolvenbach got a warm welcome from the commanding officer of „Emden V“, Fregattenkapitän (Commander s.g.) Wichmann, who briefed him about the new „Emden“. On the very last evening of that meeting a remainder group, consisting of Michael Müllner, Detlev Westphal, Jürgen Bartelt, Addi Dreier and some others, suggested to hold a meeting every other year, but nobody thought about the foundation of a „Bordgemeinschaft“ (ship´s association) at that time.
Again at sea:
A journey on board of "steamboat" at the Flensburg Fjord was part of the meeting at Flensburg 1996. Addi Dreier shows: "The water is THAT cold:"
The Launch of an Idea
While preparing the meeting for 1995 Addi Dreier received the information that a group of former Emden crewmembers intended to meet 1996 in Flensburg -organized by Klaus Hülskopf, Peter Leuendorf and Erich Stenz. It was no question at all that the group of 1993 would join this meeting scheduled from May, 16th to 18th. In the end 212 persons, 114 crewmembes and their families met at the soldiers mess rooms in Flensburg-Mürwik. That was the time when the idea of the foundation of an independent „Bordgemeinschaft Fregatte Emden“ was born, following the line of Addi Dreiers proposal to comprise all former „Emden IV“ crewmembers that hat served from 1970 to 1974 in a „Marinekameradschaft“.
The Foundation
In August 1996 Addi Dreier took the first step for the ship association and contacted a small group of his former shipmates. During that year they prepared the foundation of the „Bordgemeinschaft Fregatte Emden“, which came in force in 1996 and officially started on January,1st 1997. Dated on January, 15th the DMB (Deutscher Marinebund – German Naval Association) informed the „Bordgemeinschaft Fregatte Emden“ about their DMB-membership beginning on January, 1st 1997. The membership ended on 31st December 2006.
