Minesweeper flotillas of the Kriegsmarine were administrative units which grouped German minesweepers together. There were three types of minesweeper flotillas: standard minesweepers, auxiliary minesweepers, and "mine barrage" vessels. Flotilla commanders operated from a shore office, and were usually commanded by an officer ranked as a Korvettenkapitän. All minesweeper flotillas were under the command of the Führer der Minensuchboote (Leader of Minesweepers) which, by 1940, had been divided into three separate offices for activities in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and off the coast of France.

When operationally deployed, the minesweepers were under a separate chain of command under the authority of harbor security commanders.Lott, A., Most Dangerous Sea: A History of Mine Warfare and an Account of U.S. Navy Mine Warfare Operations in World War II and Korea, Naval Institute Press (1959)

Minesweeper flotillas

The first minesweeper flotilla of the Kriegsmarine was formed in 1936 from pre-existing units of the Reichsmarine, which had maintained two minesweeper and one auxiliary minesweeper flotillas during the inter-war years. The standard German minesweeper flotilla of World War II contained between seven and fifteen minesweeper class vessels.

+List of minesweeper flotillas Flotilla Formed Operational areas Original vessels assigned Additional vessels assigned1st1936German Bight (1939), Norway (1940), France (1942), North Sea (1944)M 1, M 3, M 4, M 5, M 6, M 7, M 8Originally, the first flotilla contained the M 1915- and M 1916-class vessels M 66, M 89, M 111, M 122, M 132, and M 146. By 1938, the flotilla had been reformed with M 1935-class vessels.M 36, M 37, M 155, M 203, M 204, M 255, M 2562ndDanzig (1939), Norway (1940), Netherlands (1942), France (1944)M 2, M 6, M 9, M 10, M 11, M 12, M 13.Originally, the second flotilla contained the M 1915- and M 1916-class vessels M 98, M 104, M 117, M 133, and M 145. By 1939, the flotilla had been reformed with M 1935-class vessels.M 21, M 25, M 38, M 152, M 153, M 2563rd1940North Sea (1940), Finland (1942)M 15, M 16, M 17, M 18, M 19, M 22, M 29, M 30.4th1939Norway (1940), Atlantic Coast (1942)M 36, M 81, M 101, M 132, M 151, M 203, M 204, M 255Originally, the fourth flotilla contained the M 1915- and M 1916-class vessels M 61, M 82, M 84, M 89, M 111, M 132, M 134, and M 136. The flotilla was reformed in 1941 with M 1935-class vessels.5th1940North Sea (1940), Baltic Sea (1941), Norway (1943)M 4, M 23, M 31, M 201, M 202, M 205, M 251, M 252, M 2536th1939North Sea (1939), French Coast (1943)M 72, M 104, M 117, M 122, M 126, M 145, M 146M 38, M 39, M 82, M 83, M 84, M 85, M 102, M 133, M 155, M 156, M 206, M 256, M 265, M 267.7thBaltic Sea (1939), North Sea (1941)M 75, M 84, M 85, M 102, M 122, M 126M 82, M 83, M 154, M 205, M 206.8th1941French Coast (1941)M 24, M 26, M 27, M 28, M 32, M 34, M 152, M 254, M 256, M 265, M 277, M 292, M 329, M 370.9th1943Norway (1943)M 272, M 273, M 274, M 276, M 306, M 326, M 346, M 348, M 364, M 365.10thAtlantic Coast (1943)M 236, M 264, M 275, M 307, M 347, M 366, M 367, M 385, M 408, M 428, M 438.11thNorth Sea (1943)M 264, M 291, M 307, M 327, M 329, M 347, M 348, M 368, M 386.12th1944Baltic Sea (1944)M 601, M 602, M 603, M 604, M 605, M 612, M 801, M 802, M 803, M 804.13th1939Baltic Sea (1939), Norway (1940), Netherlands (1942)M 1301, M 1302, M 1303, M 1304, M 1305, M 1306, M 1307, M 130814thBaltic Sea (1939), , , , , , M 1407, M 140815thBaltic Sea (1939), Norway (1940)M 1501, M 1502, M 1503, M 1504, M 1505, M 1506, M 1507, M 150816thNorth Sea (1939), France (1943)M 1601, M 1602, M 1603, M 1604, M 1605, M 1606, M 1607, M 1608, M 160917thBaltic Sea (1939), Norway (1940)M 1701, M 1702, M 1703, M 1704, M 1705, M 1706, M 1707, M 1708.18thNorth Sea (1939), Northern France (1942)M 1801, M 1802, M 1803, M 1804, M 1805, M 1806, M 1807, M 1808.19thBaltic Sea (1939)M 1901, M 1902, M 1903, M 1904, M 1905, M 1906, M 1907, M 1908.21st1942Norway (1942)M 82, M 103, M 261, M 305, M 323, M 324, M 327, M 341, M 342, M 343, M 362, M 383.M 504, M 526, M 545.22nd1941North Sea (1941), Norway (1943), Baltic Sea (1945)M 301, M 302, M 303, M 321, M 322, M 361, M 368, M 381, M 382, M 436.23rd1942Norway (1942), Baltic Sea (1945)M 324, M 401, M 411, M 423, M 431, M 441, M 443, M 467, M 468.24thEnglish Channel (1942)M 343, M 402, M 412, M 422, M 432, M 442, M 452, M 475, M 483.25thNorth Sea (1942), Baltic Sea (1944)M 278, M 294, M 295, M 328, M 330, M 341, M 342, M 403, M 413, M 423, M 433, M 443, M 451, M 453, M 459, M 46026th1943French Coast (1943)M 404, M 424, M 434, M 444, M 454, M 476, M 486, M 49527thNorth Sea (1943), Netherlands (1944)M 261, M 271, M 304, M 323, M 327, M 329, M 362, M 369, M 4ß5, M 414, M 425, M 434, M 435, M 461, M 469, M 471, M 484.28th1942English Channel (1942), French Coast (1943)M 262, M 271, M 304, M 325, M 344, M 345, M 363, M 384, M 463.29th1943Norway (1943)Reserve command for the 19th Minesweeper FlotillaM 406, M 415, M 426, M 436, M 445, M 455, M 462, M 470.30thReserve command for the 15th Minesweeper FlotillaM 403, M 406, M 415, M 426, M 436, M 445, M 455, M 462, M 470.31st1940North Sea (1940), Baltic Sea (1942)M 3101, M 3102, M 3103, M 3104, M 3105, M 3106, M 3107, M 3108, M 3109, M 3110, M 3111, M 3112, M 3113, M 3114, M 3115, M 3116, M 3117, M 3118, M 3119, M 3120, M 3121, M 3122, M 3123, M 3124, M 3125, M 3126, M 3127, M 3128, M 3129, M 3130, M 3131, M 3132, M 3133, M 3134, M 3135, M 3136, M 3137, M 3138, M 3139.32ndNetherlands (1940), Scheldt River (1944)M 3200, M 3201, M 3202, M 3203, M 3204, M 3205, M 3206, M 3207, M 3208, M 3209, M 3210, M 3211, M 3212, M 3213, M 3214, M 3215, M 3216, M 3217, M 3218, M 3219, M 3220, M 3221, M 3222, M 3223, M 3224, M 3225, M 3226, M 3227, M 3230, M 3231, M 3232, M 3233, M 3234, M 3235, M 3236, M 3237, M 3238, M 3239, M 3240, M 3241, M 3242.34thNetherlands (1940)M 3400, M 3401, M 3402, M 3403, M 3404, M 3405, M 3406, M 3407, M 3408, M 3409, M 3410, M 3411, M 3412, M 3413, M 3414, M 3415, M 3416, M 3417, M 3418, M 3419, M 3420, M 3421, M 3422, M 3423, M 3424, M 3425, M 3426, M 3430, M 3431, M 3432, M 3433, M 3434, M 3435, M 3436, M 3437, M 3438, M 3439, M 3440, M 3441, M 3442 M 3443, M 3444, M 3445.36thDenmark (1940)M 3600, M 3601, M 3602, M 3603, M 3604, M 3605, M 3606, M 3607, M 3608, M 3609, M 3610, M 3611, M 3612, M 3613, M 3614, M 3615, M 3616, M 3617, M 3618, M 3619, M 3620, M 3621, M 3622,M 3623, M 3624, M 3625, M 3626, M 3627, M 3630, M 3631, M 3632, M 3633, M 3634, M 3635, M 3636, M 3637, M 3638, M 3639.38thEnglish Channel (1940)M 3800, M 3801, M 3802, M 3810, M 3811, M 3812, M 3813, M 3814, M 3815, M 3816, M 3817, M 3818, M 3819, M 3820, M 3821, M 3822, M 3823, M 3824, M 3825, M 3826, M 3827, M 3828, M 3829, M 3830, M 3831, M 3832, M 3833, M 3834, M 3835, M 3836, M 3837, M 3838, M 3840, M 3841, M 3846, M 3848, M 3851, M 3852, M 3853, M 3854, M 3855, M 3856, M 3857, M 3860, M 3861, M 3862, M 3863, M 3864, M 3865, M 3866, M 3867, M 3868, M 3869, M 3870, M 3871, M 3872, M 3873, M 3874, M 3875, M 3880, M 3881, M 3882, M 3883, M 3884, M 3885, M 3886, M 3887, M 3889, M 3890, M 3891, M 3892, M 3893, M 3894, M 3895, M 3896.40thFrench Coast (1940)M 4000, M 4001, M 4002, M 4003, M 4004, M 4005, M 4006, M 4007, M 4008, M 4009, M 4010, M 4011, M 4012, M 4013, M 4014, M 4020, M 4021, M 4022, M 4023, M 4024, M 4030, M 4031, M 4032, M 4033, M 4040, M 4041, M 4042, M 4043, M 4044, M 4045, M 4046, M 4047, M 4055.42ndAtlantic Coast (1940)M 4202, M 4203, M 4204, M 4205, M 4206, M 4207, M 4208, M 4209, M 4211, M 4212, M 4213, M 4214, M 4215, M 4216, M 4217, M 4218, M 4219, M 4221, M 4222, M 4223, M 4224, M 4225, M 4226, M 4227, M 4230, M 4231, M 4232, M 4233, M 4234, M 4235, M 4236, M 4237, M 4238, M 4241, M 4242, M 4243, M 4245, M 4246.44thFrench-Atlantic Coast (1940)M 4401, M 4402, M 4403, M 4404, M 4405, M 4406, M 4407, M 4408, M 4409, M 4410, M 4411, , , , , , , M 4421, M 4422, M 4423, M 4424, M 4425, M 4426, M 4427, M 4428, M 4429, M 4430, M 4431, M 4432, M 4433, M 4434, M 4435, M 4436, M 4437, M 4438, M 4440, M 4441, M 4442, M 4443, M 4444, M 4445, M 4446, M 4447, M 4448, M 4449, M 4450, M 4451, M 4452, M 4453, M 4454, M 4455, M 4456, M 4457, M 4458, M 4459, M 4460, M 4461, MM 4462, M 4463, M 4464, M 4465, M 4470, M 4471, M 4472, M 4473, M 4474, M 4475.46th1941M 4600, M 4601, M 4602, M 4603, M 4604, M 4605, M 4606, M 4607, M 4608, M 4609, M 4610, M 4611, M 4612, M 4613, M 4614, M 4615, M 4616, M 4617, M 4618, M 4619, M 4620, M 4621, M 4622, M 4623, M 4624, M 4625, M 4628.52nd1940NorwayM 5201, M 5202, M 5203, M 5204, M 5205, M 5206, M 5207, M 5208, M 5209, M 5210.54thM 5401, M 5402, M 5403, M 5404, M 5405, M 5406, M 5407, M 5408, M 5409, M 5410, M 5411, M 541256thM 5601, M 5602, M 5603, M 5604, M 5605, M 5606, M 5607, M 5608, M 5609, M 5610, M 5611, M 5612, M 5613, M 5614, M 5615, M 5616, M 5617, M 5618, M 5619, M 5620, M 5621, M 5622v, M 5623, M 5624, M 5631, M 5632.70th1943ItalyM 7002, M 7003, M 7004, M 7005, M 7006, M 7007, M 7008, M 7009, M 7010, M 7011, M 7012, M 7013, M 7014, M 7015, M 7016, M 7017, M 7018, M 7019, M 7020, M 7021, M 7022, M 7030, M 7031, M 7032, M 7033, M 7034, M 7601, M 7602, M 7603, M 7604, M 7605, M 7606, M 7607, M 7608.

Auxiliary Minesweeper flotillas

In addition to the standard minesweeper flotillas, twenty "auxiliary minesweeper" (R boat) flotillas (Räumboots-Flottille) were formed during the Second World War. 1. Räumboots-Flottille Established in October 1937, with boats: R 17, R 18, R 19, R 20, R 21, R 22, R 23, R 24. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 43, R 52, R 65, R 66, R 67, R 68, R 69, R 70, R 71, R 72, R 73, R 74, R 75, R 76, R 106, R 119, R 120, R 127, R 128, R 145, R 150, R 249, R 259, R 260, R 268. Escort ship assigned: Nettelbeck, Nordpol. 2. Räumboots-Flottille Established in November 1938, with boats: R 25, R 26, R 27, R 28, R 29, R 30, R 31, R 32. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 74, R 77, R 84, R 86, R 113, R 114, R 116, R 125, R 129, R 169. In 1945 was composed by boats: R 412, R 413, R 414, R 415, R 416, R 417. Escort ship assigned: tender Brommy. 3. Räumboots-Flottille Established in 1939 at Pillau, with boats: R 33, R 34, R 35, R 36, R 37, R 38, R 39, R 40. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 163, R 164, R 165, R 166, R 196, R 197, R 203, R 204, R 205, R 206, R 207, R 208, R 209, R 216, R 248. Escort ship assigned: tender Von der Groeben. In 1945 was composed by boats: R 270, R 288, R 289, R 418, R 420, R 421, R 422, R 423. Escort ship assigned: Gazelle. 4. Räumboots-Flottille Established in April 1940, with boats: R 41, R 42, R 43, R 44, R 45, R 46, R 47, R 48, R 49, R 50, R 51, R 52. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 80, R 83, R 115, R 120, R 126, R 128, R 138, R 143, R 150, R 218, R 240, R 243, R 244, R 245, R 246, R 255, R 262, R 274, R 275, R 290, R 291. 5. Räumboots-Flottille Established in August 1939, with boats: R 1, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6, R 7, R 8, R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13. In 1941 was composed by boats: R 53, R 54, R 55, R 56, R 57, R 58, R 59, R 60, R 61, R 62, R 63, R 64. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 89, R 90, R 113, R 121, R 122, R 124, R 238, R 250, R 269, R 273. Escort ship assigned: Elbe. 6. Räumboots-Flottille Established in July 1941 at Cuxhaven, with boats: R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, R 15, R 16. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 1, R 3, R 4, R 6, R 7, R 8, R 115, R 187, RA 10 (former English motor torpedo boat), and RD-boats: RD 116, RD 117, RD 118, RD 119, RD 120, RD 121, RD 122, RD 127, RD 128, RD 129, RD 130, RD 131. 7. Räumboots-Flottille Established in October 1940, with boats: R 151, R 152, R 153, R 154, R 155, R 156, R 157, R 158, R 159, R 160, R 161, R 162. Other boats assigned during its existence: R 173, R 202, R 223, R 262, R 277. Escort ship assigned: Weser 8. Räumboots-Flottille