Heinrich Garbers Naval officer, reserve lieutenant. Date of Birth: 14.03.1909 Country: Germany

1. Lieutenant Commander Reserve
2. Abwehr and Kriegsmarine
3. Covert Missions
4. Sailing Yacht "Passim"
5. Long-Distance Voyages
6. Five Voyages
7. Extensive Sea Time
8. Allied Interrogation and Imprisonment

Lieutenant Commander Reserve

During World War II, Hans-Joachim Garbers served as a Lieutenant Commander in the German Navy Reserve, known as the Kriegsmarine. He was not a career officer and had no formal military training.

Abwehr and Kriegsmarine

Garbers was transferred to the Abwehr (German military intelligence) as a Sonderführer (a specialist without formal military rank) and later officially commissioned into the Kriegsmarine. He served on an ocean-going sailing vessel under the command of H. Nissen, which was assigned to the Abwehr and operated under the direct authority of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris.

Covert Missions

This ship carried out covert missions, such as transporting agents, weapons, and equipment. Garbers' first mission during World War II was to Ireland and his second in 1941 to South America.

Sailing Yacht "Passim"

Garbers was tasked with acquiring a vessel in Brest, France, for a covert mission across the Atlantic. He chose the 16-meter sailing yacht "Passim," which had a small internal combustion engine as auxiliary power. He continued to carry out special operations on this vessel.

Long-Distance Voyages

Garbers made a third voyage from August 2 to December 24, 1943, from Germany to Namibia and experienced a severe storm before reaching Bayonne, France. On his fourth mission, he delivered two agents to Cabo Frio, Brazil.

Five Voyages

His fifth voyage was to Punta Mogotes, Argentina, where he delivered two agents and medical supplies. On the return trip, he transported three agents to Vigo, Spain. From there, Garbers was flown to Berlin on a Focke-Wulf 200 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on November 1, 1944.

Extensive Sea Time

In total, Garbers spent 545 days at sea during his covert operations, more than any other Kriegsmarine ship commander, covering over 35,000 nautical miles (68,000 kilometers).

Allied Interrogation and Imprisonment

After the war, Allied intelligence questioned Garbers about the submarines he had allegedly used during his missions, but his answers raised skepticism. He spent three years in captivity after the war ended and later ran a small shipyard in Hamburg.