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1.
INTRODUCTION TO DIE
KAISERLICHE MARINE 1914-1918
SMS Brandenburg, launched 1891, II Squadron, 1893 Battle Fleet (Photo Ships) It is not the purpose of this article to examine the two most controversial aspects of the Kaiserliche Marine. Was it a 'Luxury Fleet' designed by the Kaiser to fulfil his vanity by creating a battle fleet which would tell the world that Germany had arrived on the world stage? Or was it an instrument of Admiral Tirpitz's 'risk strategy'? This meant creating a battle fleet sufficiently strong as to make the Royal Navy unwilling to engage it in battle, and so damage or lose its supremacy on the world's oceans. This article will provide the basic information on the leadership and organisation of the KM which will help readers arrive at their own views on the above questions. This information might help answer the question of why and how did Germany lose the war at sea 1914-1918. Highest Level of Leadership and Organisation - Kaiser Wilhelm II was the Commander-in-Chief of the Kaiserliche Marine. All power and authority was in his hands. All decisions and orders were made and issued by him and not just in his name. There was no single senior component of the KM to either advise or challenge his authority. The administration of the KM was not a coherent unified body capable of either advising or carrying out his orders. The KM was divided in to a number of components, all of which were in a direct line of command to the Kaiser. There was no admiral in overall command of the KM. There was no equivalent of the First Sea Lord or the US Chief of Naval Operations. This was a recipe for bureaucratic rivalry, and confusion in the implementation of policies. These bodies were: 1. The Naval Cabinet 2. The Admiralty Staff 3. The Imperial Naval Administration 4. The Inspector-General of the Navy 5. The Baltic Naval Station 6. The North Sea Naval Station the
above are summarised in this Chapter
7. The High Seas Fleet8. The Overseas Squadrons The Naval Cabinet was an integral part of the Imperial Household whose principal tasks were promotions and appointments of officers, and the drafting and issuing of the Kaiser's orders. Since 1906 the Head of the Naval Cabinet was: Admiral Georg von Muller
He would hold the post until 28.10.1918 when the naval cabinet was absorbed into the Imperial Naval Administration. The Admiralty Staff was created 14.3.1899 when the Kaiser ordered the disbandment of the Navy High Command. He took over personal command of the Navy and left a small staff to gather intelligence, and prepare plans for operations. It was a purely advisory body with no executive powers. It was similar to the Royal Navy War Staff 1912-1917 but never became the equivalent of the RN's Naval Staff of 1917-1918. In August 1918, a Supreme Naval Command was created to give clearer direction. The Head of the new command-Admiral Scheer - was co-located with the Kaiser and Army Headquarters in Spa. Scheer's deputy remained in Berlin to administer the domestic affairs of the service. The Chief of the
Admiralty War Staff
12.1899-Vice Admiral
Otto von Diederichs
8.1902-Vice Admiral Wilhelm Buchsel 1.1908-Vice Admiral Friedrich von Baudissin 10.1909-Admiral Max von Fischel 3.1911-Vice Admiral August von Heeringen 4.1913-Admiral Hugo von Pohl 2.1915-Vice Admiral Gustav Bachmann 9.1915-Admiral Henning von Holtzendorff 12.8.1918-Admiral Reinhard Scheer [as Chief Supreme Naval Command] The Deputy Chief of Staff
2.8.1914-Rear Admiral
Paul Behnecke
5.9.1915-Vice Reinhard Koch 12.8.1918-Rear Admiral Friedrich Freiherr von Bulow Other senior members of
the Naval Staff were:
Head Central Bureau
1.10.1911-Rear
Admiral Albert Hopman
18.4.1915-Rear Admiral Friedrich von Bulow-9.4.1916 Head Operations Bureau
7.10.1916-Rear Admiral
Albert Hopman
22.12.1916-Rear Admiral Hermann Nordmann 29.6.1917-Rear Admiral Walter von Keyserligk -5.8.18 The Imperial Naval Administration [Reichsmarineamt] was the equivalent of the Admiralty in Britain or the Navy Department in the USA. It was a government ministry subject to the overall direction of the Chancellor. The head of the Imperial Naval Administration [the State Secretary] was the equivalent of the First Lord of the Admiralty, or the Secretary of the Navy. His range of powers were more limited but he was in charge of budgets, relations with the Reichstag in terms of legal authority for his particular areas of interest which were the ship-building programmes. State Secretary -
6.1897-Admiral Alfred
von Tirpitz
3.1916- Admiral Edward von Capelle [ret] 9.1918- Vice Admiral Paul Behnecke 10.1918- Vice Admiral Ernest Mann Edler von Tiechler Under-Secretary
5.1914-Vice Admiral Edward von Capelle -11.15 Other senior members of the ministry were: Nautical Department Vice Admiral Max von
Gradow
9.1915-Vice Admiral Friedrich Gadecke 12.1916-Vice Admiral Herman Albertus 5.1918-Rear Admiral Carl Heuser Armaments Department Vice Admiral Gerhart
Gerdes
10.1917-Rear Admiral Maximilian Rogge Shipyard Department Vice Admiral Karl Dick
4.1916-Vice Admiral Hugo Kraft -12.17 8.1918-Rear Admiral Carl Hollweg Naval Construction Department 11.1913-Vice Admiral
Freidrich Schrader -9.18
Submarine Bureau 12.1917-Rear Admiral
Ernst von Mann Edler und Tiechler-10.18
German Department 7.1914-Rear Admiral
Friedrich Bodicker
8.1915-Rear Admiral Georg Herbinghaus-10.18 States Department 3.1914-Vice Admiral
Harald Dahnhardt -1.16
The Inspector-General of the Navy was responsible for the efficiency of various components of the navy. The Inspector General from 1.01.09 to 10.8.19 was: Prince Henry of
Prussia [the Kaiser's brother]
The prince was also
supreme commander in the Baltic and therefore superior
to the commander Baltic Naval Station.
2nd Inspector-General
05.08.1914- Rear
Admiral Karl Zimmerman
24.02.1916- Rear Admiral Robert Kuhne 19.01.1918- Rear Admiral Wilhelm Hopfner The principal inspectorates and their Inspector-Generals were: IG Coast Artillery
& Mines
IG Ship Artillery IG Naval Construction IG Torpedoes IG Depots to which was added 1.11.1917-IG Submarine Weapons The Baltic Naval Station was one of two commands which reflected the geographic division of the German coastline. It combined administration, support and operations in its headquarters at Kiel. Major subordinate units were: 1st Seaman Division at
Kiel
1st Marine Artillery Division at Friedrichsort 1st Torpedo Division at Kiel 1st Battalion of Marines. The dockyards and bases at Kiel and Danzig were the most visible components. For coast defence it was sub-divided into three inspectorates: for East and West Prussia
at Neufahrwasser;
for Pomerania and Mecklenburg at Stettin, and for Schleswig-Holstein at Husum. It hosted several organisations and staffs who were responsible to the authorities in Berlin. It had naval forces for local operations Commander, Baltic Naval
Station
7.1914-Vice Admiral
Gustav Bachmann
2.1915-Admiral Friedrich von Ingenohl 9.1915-Admiral Georg Bachmann 10.1918-Admiral Wilhelm Souchon 11.1918-Admiral Konrad Henkel-Gebhardi Chief of Staff
10.1912-Rear Admiral
Georg Herbinghaus
12.1914-Rear Admiral Arthur Tapken 12.1915-Rear Admiral Herman Alberts 12.1916-Rear Admiral Hans Kusel 12.1917-Rear Admiral Ludorf von Ussler -11.18 Commander Kiel Base 7.1910-Vice Admiral
Konrad Henkel-Gebhardi -10.18
Kiel Fortress 8.1914-Vice Admiral
Reinhard Koch
9.1915-Rear Admiral Georg von Ammon 12.1916-Rear Admiral Hans Uthmann 11.1917-Rear Admiral Theodor Fuchs -11.18 Danzig Naval Base 09.10.1911-Rear Admiral
Franz von Hulleben
9.1917-Rear Admiral Carl Hollnet-8.18 Coast Defences, Baltic 7.1914-Rear Admiral
Robert Mische
1.1917-Rear Admiral Harwarth Schmidt von Schmid -8.17 Security, Baltic 1.1916-Rear Admiral
Hugo Langemarck [& TBF Ldr]
8.1917-Rear Admiral Herman Nordmann [& West Baltic 1.18-2.19] 8.1918-Rear Admiral Walter Keyserligk -8.19 Scouting Forces, Baltic 4.1915-Rear Admiral
Albert Hopman
1.1916-Vice Admiral Friedrich Schulz 6.1916-Vice Admiral Albert Hopman -12.17 The
above map was prepared for World War 2 projects, but
includes some locations mentioned here
The North Sea Naval Station had similar responsibilities as the Baltic Naval Station. Headquarters were located at Wilhelmshaven. In addition, it was the 'host' for the High Seas Fleet. Major subordinate units included: 2nd Seaman Division
2nd, 3rd, 4th Marine Artillery Divisions 2nd Torpedo Division 2nd Battalion of Marines. Its prime facility was the dockyard and base at Wilhelmshaven. Coast defence was divided between three inspectorates: for Elbe and Weser at
Bremerhaven;
for the Jade at Wilhelmshaven; and Heligoland. It had naval forces for local operations . Commander-
7.1914-Vice Admiral
[3.15-Admiral] Gunther Krosigk -12.18
Chief of Staff
8.1914-??
12.1916-Rear Admiral Constanz Feldt -7.18 Wilhelmshaven Base 3.1914-Rear Admiral
Hugo Kraft
3.1916-rear Admiral Richard Engel -3.19 Wilhelmshaven Fortress Rear Admiral Friedrich
Schulz
10.1914-Rear Admiral Alfred Erlich 6.1916-Vice Admiral Friedrich Schulz 11.1917-Rear Admiral Hans Uthmann 12.1917-Rear Admiral Edward Varrentraps -1.19 Wesermunde Fortress 8.1914-Vice Admiral
Johannes Schroder
2.1916-?? Helgoland Fortress 10.1912-Vice Admiral
Leo Jacobsen -1.19
2.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIGH SEAS FLEET AND OVERSEAS
STATIONS
The
High Seas Fleet
(FF-
Fleet flagship, F - Flagship)
The battle fleet was formed in 1891 when two squadrons were formed, each of which was activated during the summer months. In winter, they remained in the relevant home port. In 1893, the battle fleet
consisted of 2 squadrons of four battleships each:
In 1897, the organisation
of the fleet was:
The Home Battle Fleet was
formed on 4th August 1903, with the ships being active
all year.
On 16th February 1907 the
Home Battle Fleet was retitled the High Seas Fleet. This
basic structure of two battle squadrons of eight ships
each, and a cruiser force was retained. In May
1908 its strength was:
By 1912, the High Seas
Fleet had evolved into:
The torpedo boat
flotillas had increased to six - 3rd & 6th
[Manouevre]; 1st and 4th [School]; and 2nd and 5th
[Reserve]. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd were based at Kiel, and
the 4th, 5th and 6th at Wilhelmshaven.
The III Squadron was to
form 1913-1914.
The
Overseas Squadrons
The German Navy had deployed forces to various parts of the world for several decades. The most important were: The East African
Squadron. which was incorporated into the Cruiser
Squadron in 1886. The Cruiser Squadron operated a vast
area from East Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific
until it was broken up into more manageable stations in
March 1893.
In 1897, the distribution
of German forces was:
East Asia - 1 cruiser
[Kormoran]
Pacific - 3 cruisers [Bussard, Falke, Mowe] East Africa - 2 cruisers [Kondor, Seawolf] West Africa -2 gunboats [Habicht, Hyane] Until 1898, the East Asia
Squadron was a relatively small force which grew
substantially with the German involvement in China. The
seizure of a base at Tsingtao was accomplished by a
substantial force which included the four battleships of
the Active Fleet's 2nd Division/I Squadron, 4 armoured
cruisers, 6 light cruisers, 4 gunboats, and 3 torpedo
boats.
By 1902, the East Asia
Squadron had been reduced to the size which became
relatively fixed for the next 12 years:
2 1st class
cruisers [Furst Bismarck, Kaiserin Augusta]
2 2nd class cruisers [Hansa, Hertha] 5 3rd class cruisers [Bussard, Geier, Seadler, Schwabe, Thetis] By 1912, the East Asia
Squadron included:
2 armoured cruisers
[Gneisenau, Scharnhorst]
3 light cruisers [Leipzig, Nurnberg, Emden] As will be seen below, by 1914 German forces overseas comprised 5 cruisers in the East Asia Squadron, 2 cruisers in South American/West Indian waters, and 1 in East Africa. They were supported by gunboats and smaller vessels. From 1913, a cruiser squadron was deployed to the Mediterranean, composed of battle-cruiser Goeben and the light cruiser Breslau. 3.
DISTRIBUTION OF GERMAN NAVAL FORCES, 10th August
1914
THE HIGH SEAS FLEET Battle Squadrons and Scouting Groups
Torpedo
Boat Flotillas
Ldr - Leader, TBF - as Torpedo Boat Flotilla, HF - as Half-Flotilla *
Boats were ordered in batches of six or twelve, but
each of the flotillas are listed with only 11 boats.
The "missing" 12th boat has been indicated.
U-boat
Flotillas
Mine
Warfare
Baltic
Forces
Harbour Defence Forces
Special
Service
4.
HIGH SEAS FLEET BATTLE SQUADRONS 1914-1918
HIGH
SEAS FLEET
Commander-in-Chief
Admiral Friedrich von Ingenohl
2.2.15-Admiral Hugo von Pohl 9.1.16-Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer [5.6.16-Admiral] 7.8.18-Vice Admiral Ritter von Hipper -30.11.18 [11.8.18-Admiral] Chief of
Staff
8.1914-Captain von Mann Edler von Tiechler
01.09.1914-Vice Admiral Richard Eckermann 04.02.1915-Captain William Michaelis 28.01.1916-Rear Admiral Adolf von Trotha Flagship
Friedrich der Grosse
3.17-Baden I
BATTLE SQUADRON
High
Seas Fleet 8.14-11.18
Commander
Vice
Admiral Wilhelm von Lans
16.2.15-Vice Admiral Richard Eckerman 20.6.15-Vice Admiral Friedrich Gadeke [temp] 27.8.15-Vice Admiral Ehrhardt Schmidt 22.1.18-Vice Admiral Friedrich Boedicker -27.11.18 Second
in command
Rear
Admiral Friedrich Gadeke
28.8.15-Rear Admiral Richard Engel 1.3.16- Rear Admiral Walter Engelhardt 28.5.17-Rear Admiral Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels 5.12.17-Rear Admiral Johannes Hartog Ships:
II
BATTLE SQUADRON
High Seas
Fleet 8.14-12.16 inactive until disbandment 15.8.17
Commander
Vice
Admiral Reinhard Scheer
27.12.14-Rear Admiral Felix Funke 12.8.15- Rear Admiral Franz Mauve [V.Ad 25.11.16] 1.12.16- Vice Admiral Hubert von Rebeur-Paschwitz Second
in Command
Rear
Admiral Franz Mauve
20.8.15-Rear Admiral Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels -30.11.16 Ships:
III
BATTLE SQUADRON
High Seas Fleet 8.14-11.18
Commander Rear
Admiral Felix Funke
27.12.14-Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer 12.1.16- Vice Admiral Paul Behnecke 12.8.18- Vice Admiral Hugo Kraft -4.11.18 Second
in Command
Rear
Admiral Carl Schaumann
12.8.15-Rear Admiral Hermann Nordmann 22.12.16-Rear Admiral Karl Seiferling 15.11.17-Rear Admiral Ernest Goette 19.8.18- Rear Admiral Constanz Feldt Ships:
IV
BATTLE SQUADRON [ii]
High
Seas Fleet 1.12.16-11.18
Commander
1.12.16-Vice Admiral Franz Mauve
4.9.17- Vice Admiral Wilhelm Souchon 13.8.18-Vice Admiral Hugo Meurer Second
in Command
1.12.16- Rear Admiral Freiherr von Dalwigk zu
Lichtenfels
28.5.17- Vice Admiral Hugo Meurer 19.8.18- Rear Admiral Ernst Goette Ships
Kaiser
Kaiserin Konig Albert Prinzregent Luitpold 3.17-Friedrich der Grosse BATTLE
SQUADRONS FORMED ON OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES
IV
BATTLE SQUADRON [i]
Baltic
5.8.14-11.15
Commander
Vice
Admiral Eberhard Schmidt
26.8.15-Vice Admiral Freidrich Schultz -11.11.15 Second
in command
Rear
Admiral Hermann Albers
28.8.15-Kommodore Walter Engelhardt Ships:
V
BATTLE SQUADRON
Baltic
5.8.14- 10.14-North Sea -11.15
Commander
Vice
Admiral Max von Grapow
24.1.15-Rear Admiral Alfred Begas -15.1.16 Second
in Command
Kaptain Alfred Begas- 23.1.15
Ships:
VI
BATTLE SQUADRON
Coast
Defence Ships
Commander
Rear
Admiral Richard Eckermann
3.9.14-Rear Admiral Herwarth Schmidt von Schwind -31.8.15 Second
in Command
Rear
Admiral [ret] Ehler Behring -20.8.14
Ships
[all paid and disarmed as hulks]:
5.
SCOUTING FORCES AND CRUISERS 1914-1918
1st
SCOUTING GROUP
High
Seas Fleet
1st Commander of Scouting Forces & Commander
1st Scouting Group
Vice Admiral Franz Ritter von Hipper
11.8.18-Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter 2nd
Commander, 1st Scouting Group
Rear Admiral Arthur Tapken
26.12.14-vacant 15.10.16- Rear Admiral Friedrich Boedicker 21.1.18- Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter 15.8.18- Kapitan Carl Feldmann Ships:
2nd SCOUTING GROUP
High Seas Fleet
Rear Admiral Leberecht Maass -KIA 28.8.14
26.12.14-Rear Admiral Georg Hebbinghaus 28.8.15- Rear Admiral Friedrich Boedicker 11.9.16- Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter 21.1.18- Kommodore Magnus von Levetzow 6.8.18- Kommodore Victor Harder Ships:
3rd SCOUTING GROUP -ex 4th Scouting Group 25.8.14-17.4.15 North
Sea 3.15-Baltic
Rear Admiral Hubert von Rebeur-Paschwitz [and
2nd Commander of Scouting Forces]
Ships:
4th
SCOUTING GROUP
-ex 3rd Scouting Group 25.8.14 High Seas Fleet
Rear Admiral-vacant
1.1.15- Kommodore Karl von Restorff 26.1.15-Kommodore Georg Scheidt 3.9.15- Kommodore Ludwig von Reuter 11.10.16-Rear Admiral Karl Seiferling 11.12.16-Rear Admiral Max Hahn 2.12.17- Rear Admiral Johannes von Karpf Ships:
5th
SCOUTING GROUP
5th Scouting Group-16.11.14
21.9.14-Baltic
Rear Admiral Gisberth Jasper
Ships
Hansa
Hertha Victoria Louise Vineta 6th
SCOUTING GROUP
or East Baltic Scouting Group Ships
Augsburg [F]
Magdeburg - lost 26.8.14 5.15-Bremen - lost 17.12.15 6.15-Kolberg .16-Strassburg -4.18
East Asiatic Squadron
Scharnhorst [Vice Admiral Graf von Spee] - sunk at
Falklands 8.12.14
Gneisenau - sunk at Falklands 8.12.14 Emden detached to Indian Ocean - lost 9.11.14 Leipzig - lost at Falklands 8.12.14 Nurnberg - lost at Falklands 8.12.14
Western Atlantic
Karlsuhe -lost 4.11.14
Dresden joined East Asiatic Sqn - escaped Falklands battle - lost 14.3.15
East Africa
Konigsberg trapped in Rifuji River, German East
Africa - scuttled 11.7.15
Mediterranean Division
Goeben [Rear Admiral Souchon] - to Turkish
Navy 9.14
Breslau - to Turkish Navy 9.14- lost 20.1.18 6.
TORPEDO-BOAT FLOTILLAS
The German Navy described their destroyers as 'high seas
torpedo boats' and their destroyer flotillas as 'torpedo
boat flotillas.' Considered as boats, the 'high seas
torpedo boats' were not given names. Instead they were
identified by a letter, followed by a number. The letter
identified the ship yard responsible for the
construction of the boat.
There were two sequences of numbers. Up to the fiscal year 1910, boats were numbered in the sequence S.90-S.131. From 1911 boats were numbered in a new series which began with V.1 and reached H.202. The boats of the first series were assigned a new identification number between 1914 and 1918 - the letter T was allocated as these boats were reduced to minor roles. Many of the higher numbered boats in the second series were not completed before the end of the war. The shipyards identified by the letter were: B - Blohm & Voss,
Hamburg
G - Germania Werft, Kiel H - Howaldtswerke, Kiel S - Schichau, Elbing V - A G Vulcan, Stettin Each flotilla was composed of vessels whose construction was authorised in the same financial year. Until 1906. a half-flotilla was authorised each year. From 1907 a full flotilla was authorised. Flotillas consisted of 12 boats, d ivided into two half-flotillas which were numbered in sequence throughout the torpedo boat force. One problem is that the wartime listing show each flotilla to be composed of 1 leader and 2 divisions of 5 boats each, to give a total of 11?. Were there insufficient light cruisers to act as flotilla leader [a role for which the Royal Navy developed small cruisers]. Construction
Fiscal year,
Boats & Flotillas 1914
1898/99 S.90-S.95 1899/1900 S.96-S.101 1900/01 S.102-S.107 1901/02 G.108-G.113 4TBF 1902/03 S.114-S.119 4TBF 1903/04 S.120-S.125 8TBF 1904/05 S.126-S.131 8TBF 1905/06 G.132-G.137 not listed in 1914 order of battle [reason unknown] 1906/07 S.138-S.149 2TBF 1907/08 V.150-V.161 6TBF 1908/09 V.162-G.173 3TBF 1909/10 G.174-V.185 16HF & unknown 1910/11 V.186-G.197 1TBF 1911/12 V.1-V.12 5TBF 1912/13 S.13-S.24 7TBF 1913/14 V.25-S.36 9TBF Wartime additions: 1914 mob. G.37-V.48 to 1TBF & 6TBF 1915 1st wartime S.49-S.66 2rd wartime V.67-V.84 3rd wartime G.85-G.96 ex Russian B.97-V.100, B.109-B.112 ex Argentine G.101-G.104 ex Dutch V.105-V.108 1916 plan S.113, V.116, V.125-S.139, H.145-H.147 [completions only] Commanders
1st Commander of
Torpedo Boats
Rear Admiral
Leberecht Maass -28.8.14 KIA
6.9.14-Kommodore Johannes Hartog 14.4.16-Kommodore Andreas Michelsen 5.6.17- Kommodore Paul Heinrich 2nd Commander of Torpedo Boats Kommodore Johannes
Hartog
29.8.14-Kommodore Karl von Restorff 12.11.15-Kommodore Max Kothner 4.4.16-Kommodore Paul Heinrich 5.6.17-Kommodore Hans Eberius 29.11.17-Kommodore Rudolf Madlung 23.7.18-Captain Hans Queat-Faslem Fotillas
1st TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1910-11 flotilla- was reserve flotilla at Kiel in summer 1914] High Seas Fleet [det.Baltic autumn 1916?]
2nd TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1905-1907 half
flotillas-was active flotilla at Kiel in summer
1914]]
High Seas Fleet [det. Baltic 10.17]
3rd TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1908-09 flotilla -
school flotilla at Kiel in summer 1914]
High Seas Fleet [temp. Baltic 1915] Flanders 10-11.16 & 3.17-9.18
4th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1901-1903 flotilla
-was reserve flotilla at Wilhelmshaven in summer 1914]
High Seas Fleet .14-Baltic/Danish Sound
5th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1910-11 flotilla-was
active flotilla at Wilhelmshaven in summer 1914]]
High Seas Fleet
6th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1907-1908
flotilla-was school flotilla at Wilhelmshaven in
summer 1914]
High Seas Fleet
7th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1912-1913
flotilla-formed at Wilhelmshaven early in 1914]
High Seas Fleet
8th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[1903 & 1904
half-flotillas]
formed on mobilisation -North Sea .15-Eastern Baltic
9th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[formed by 12.14]
High Seas Fleet
10th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
[formed 12.15]
Formed in Baltic 12.15-not listed after 10.17
11th TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
Formed by re-designation
of Baltic Training Flotilla .15-disbanded 3.16 -reformed
1917
FLANDERS TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA
Formed 2.16 as 'Z'
Flotilla-titled Flanders Flotilla 1.17
Throughout the war, many older boats, and those relegated from front-line service were used on patrol duties, and on support services. No adequate listing of their allocation has been found. The principal patrol flotillas were: North Sea:
Heligoland Harbour Flotilla Elbe Harbour Flotilla Jade-Weser Harbour Flotilla Ems Harbour Flotilla by 1917 these had been
consolidated into the North Sea Outpost Flotilla.
In 1918 a further
re-organisation resulted in the creation of:
1st Escort Flotilla,
Wilhelmshaven
1st HF - T.93, T.109,
T.111, T.127, T.165, T.170; T.181, T.182, T.183
2nd HF - T.112, T.113, T.122, T.131, T.135, T.147, T.148, T.185, T.196, T.197, S.18, S.19, S.24 3rd HF - T.136, T.169 4th HF - no tbd's 2nd Escort Flotilla, Emden 5th HF-T.99,
6th HF-T.97 7th HF-T.125 8th HF-T.114 9th HF-T.102 10th HF-T92, T.103, T.128 Many 'A' class coastal
torpedo boats were allocated to these half-flotillas.
In the Baltic:
Kiel Harbour Flotilla
Kiel Outpost Flotilla 1st Half-Flotilla, Warnemunde 2nd Half-Flotilla, Windau 7.
U-BOAT FLOTILLAS
(UBF - U-boat Flotilla, UBHF - U-boat Half Flotilla) Three main types of
U-boats were employed during the War, all with their
own numbering sequence:
The original type of
U-boat retained the prefix 'U'. The various classes
ranged from 238/283 up to 1,930/2483 tons through
the course of the war.
Small coastal boats which came into service had the prefix 'UB'. Minelayer types which followed had the prefix 'UC'.
Commander U-Boats, High
Seas Fleet
Captain Wilhelm Bauer
6.17-Kommodore Andreas Michelsen U-Boats
by type and entry into service
[many others not completed by time of the Armistice]
Strength of the U-Boat Arm
In service August 1914 - 28 boats
U-BOAT
FLOTILLAS
Described as Half-Flotillas (UBHF) until 9.16 Note: The following lists
include only those boats assigned to operational
flotillas. A significant number of boats were either
relegated or assigned to training duties. Others
completed in late 1918 did not complete training in time
for assignment to the remaining operational flotillas.
For ease of identification, boats are listed according to the three main types. The boats assigned to each flotilla are listed at the beginning of each time period, and are followed by the changes which took place during each period. The periods are - August-December 1914; 1915; 1916; 1917; and January-November 1918. * a war loss (following)
1st U-BOAT FLOTILLA
High Seas Fleet
8.14-11.18
Wilhelmshaven 31.3.17-Brunsbuttel
2nd U-BOAT FLOTILLA
High Seas Fleet
8.14-11.18
Heligoland
3rd U-BOAT FLOTILLA
High Seas Fleet
2.15-11.18
Emden
4th U-BOAT FLOTILLA
High Seas Fleet
2.15-11.18
Emden
BALTIC U-BOAT FLOTILLA
[5th U-Boat
Half-Flotilla] 2.17-Kurland Flotilla
2.15-10.17 at Danzig -later Libau
5th U-BOAT FLOTILLA
5.17-5.18 Bremerhaven
FLANDERS U-BOAT FLOTILLA 3.15-Zeebrugge and
Ostend-10.18
2.17-split into Flanders Flotilla 1 and Flanders Flotilla II
ADRIATIC U-BOAT FLOTILLA
9.15-Pola and later
Cattaro as subsidiary base -10.18
CONSTANTINOPLE U-BOAT
FLOTILLA
9.15-Constantinople
-10.18
also used bases at Varna, and, from 5.18, Sevastopol
8. DISTRIBUTION AND FATE OF GERMAN
NAVAL FORCES
November 1918-June 1919 SMS Koenigsberg, light cruiser, to France as FS Metz (Photo Ships) Battleships * The
Fleet Flagship and III Squadron & IV Squadron
surrendered at Rosyth 20.11.18 - scuttled at Scapa
Flow 21.6.19
I Squadron
decommissioned in home ports.
All were broken up except Ostfriesland which was expended in US bombing trials 21.7.21 Battlecruisers and Light Cruisers * Ships surrendered at
Rosyth 20.11.18 - to Scapa and scuttled 21.6.19
Note:
Frankfurt - beached and expended on US bombing trials 18.7.21 Emden - beached, expended in trials by French Navy 1926 Nurnberg - beached, expended in trials by UK 7.7.22 Fate
of the other Light Cruisers
Torpedo-Boat
Flotillas
*
scuttled at Scapa Flow
U-Boat
Flotillas
November 1918 All boats surrendered and
were disposed of except where indicated
9. GERMAN WARSHIPS TAKEN OVER BY THE VICTOR NATIONS
AFTER 1919
SMS M.48, an earlier minesweeper, continued in service with Reichsmarine (Photo Ships)
Many other ships and submarines were allocated to the
victorious powers but were never employed. All French
and most Italian vessels were renamed.
10.
WARSHIPS RETAINED BY THE REICHSMARINE, STRENGTH 1922
SMS Hessen, battleship, not active (Alexander Monreal) An
indication of the strength permitted by the Versailles
Treaty:
11. SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
General background 'Luxury Fleet: The
imperial German Navy 1888-1918' Holger Herwig
Fighting the Great War at Sea' Norman Friedman Technical details Conway's All the World's
Fighting Ships 1859-1905
Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1922 German Warships of World War One, J C Taylor Leadership Rangliste der Kaiserlich
Deutschen Marine - various issues between 1893 and 1914
[The German equivalent of Britain's 'Navy List]
Full details of fleet and squadron commanders can be found on 'The Maritime War' website where articles by Dave Alton can be found. Further material was found on a now defunct French genealogical website-web.genealogie.free.fr Organisation of squadrons and flotillas 'Flottenchronik' by
Harald Fock
'Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918' [edited by Hans Joachim Koerver] Volume 1 - Fleet in Action Volume 2 - Fleet in Being These are transcripts of material compiled in Room 40 by W.F.Clarke and Frank Birch, which are deposited in the National Archives at Kew U-Boats The main source is the
website 'U-Boat.net' which provides detailed career
histories of each boat. The composition of flotillas can
be constructed from this material.
De.Wikipedia Has comprehensive listing
of torpedo-boats and U-boats as well as articles on each
major warship-battleships and cruisers.
My colleague Mike Cox supplied me with much useful material on the composition of torpedo-boat flotillas, as well as the order of battle for 10th August 1914. APPENDIX
FLAG
OFFICERS OF THE IMPERIAL GERMAN NAVY 1914-1918
(IG - Inspector-General)
GRAND ADMIRALS
4.9.09-Prince Henry of Prussia [1862-1927], Inspector-General 10.09-8.19 & Supreme Commander, Baltic 31.7.14-10.9.18 27.1.11-Alfred Tirpitz [1849-1930], State Secretary of the Navy 6.1897-15.3.16 ADMIRALS
27.1.10-Hening von Holtzendorf [1853-1919], 31.5.18-Grand Admiral, retired list 1914, Chief of Admiralty Staff 5.9.15-10.8.18 29.8.10-Alexander von Muller [1854-1940], Chief, Naval Cabinet 5.06-12.18 6.5.12- Carl Coerper [1854-1942], Chief, Baltic Naval Station-7.14 retired 27.1.11-Ludwig von Schroeder [1854-1933], Marine Corps & Flanders Coast 8.14-12.18 27.1.13-Hugo von Pohl [1855-23.2.1916], Chief, Admiralty Staff 4.13-2.15, CinC High Seas Fleet 2.2.15-23.1.16 27.1.13- August von Heeringen [1855-1927], Chief, North Sea Station -7.14 retired 12.4.13-Eduard von Capelle [1855-1931], Under-Secretary of the Navy 5.14-11.15, State Secretary of the Navy 2.16-10.18 15.11.13-Friedrich von Ingenohl [1857-1933], CinC High Seas Fleet 30.1.13-2.2.15, CinC Baltic Station 2.15-8.15 [retired] VICE ADMIRALS
27.1.11- Hermann Jacobsen [1859-1943], retired list, 1st Marine Division 3.11.14-10.1.18 22.3.11- Karl Dick [1858-1928], 17.9.14-Admiral, Naval Shipyard Dept. 8.10-4.16 22.3.11-Johannes Schroder [1858-1933], retired list, Wesermunde Fortress 8.14-2.16 10.4.11-Max von Gradow [1861-1924], 22.3.15-actg Admiral, Nautical Dept. 4.11-9.15, temporary Cmdr 5 Battle Squadron 5.8.14-23.1.15 5.9.11- Gustav Bachmann [1860-1945], 22.3.15-Admiral, to Chief Baltic Station 23.7.14, Chief of Admiralty Staff 2-9.15, CinC Baltic Station 9.15-8.18, State Secretary for the Navy 10-12.18 5.9.11- Gunther von Krosigk [1860-1938], 22.3.15-Admiral, CinC North Sea Station .7.14-12.18 6.5.12- Hans von Dambrowski [1861-1938], Education & Training Dept - 12.16. 27.1.13-Gerhard Gerdes [1861-1941], 30.4.18-actg Admiral, Armaments Dept. 9.09-10.17 27.1.13-Wilhelm von Lans [1861-1947], 18.9.15-ret Admiral, 1st Battle Squadron 1.10.12-14.2.15 15.11.13-Reinhard Koch [1861-1939], 27.1.18-Admiral, Commandant, Kiel 8.14-8.15, Deputy Chief Admiralty Staff 9.15-8.18 15.11.13-Graf Maximilian von Spee [1861-1914], East Asiatic Squadron 12.12-8.12.14 KIA 9.12.13-Reinhard von Scheer [1863-1928], 5.6.16-Admiral, 2nd Battle Squadron 4.2.13-26.12.14, 3rd Battle Squadron 27.2.14-15.1.16, CinC High Seas Fleet 24.1.16-6.8.18, Chief, Supreme Naval Command 11.8.18-14.11.18 22.3.14-Erhard Schmidt [1863-1946], 27.1.18-Admiral, 4th Battle Squadron 7.14-8.15, 1st Battle Squadron 8.15-1.18 31.3.14-Harald Dahnhardt [1863-1944], States Dept. 31.4-1.16 [ret] REAR ADMIRALS
27.5.06 Alfred Erlich [1854-1922], 13.5.16-Vice Admiral, ex retired list, Wilhelmshaven Fortress 10.14-6.16 19.11.10-Konrad Henkel-Gebhardi [1860-1923], 14.7.14-Vice Admiral, 11.6.18-Admiral, Kiel Naval Base 7.10-10.18 19.11.10-Franz von Holleben [ 1863-1938], 13.10.14-Vice Admiral, Danzig Naval Base 9.10-8.17 27.1.11-Leo Jacobsen [1862-1954], 27.1.16-Vice Admiral, Heligoland Fortress 10.12-1.19 27.1.11-Richard Eckermann [1862-1916], 13.10.14-Vice Admiral, IG Torpedoes 2.14-, 6th Battle Squadron 12-31.8.14, Chief of Staff, High Seas Fleet 9.14-2.15, 1st Battle Squadron 16.2.15-19.6.15 12.3.11-Christian Schutze [ -7.15], 27.1.15-Vice Admiral, Commandant, Kiel -9.14 10.4.11-Wilhelm Souchon [1864-1946], 27.1.15-Vice Admiral, 11.8.18-Admiral, Mediterranean Squadron 10.13-9.14, Turkish Fleet 9.14-9.17, 4th Battle Squadron 4.9.17-12.8.18 5.9.11-Konrad Trummler [1864-1936], 17.6.15-Vice Admiral, IG Coast Artillery & Mines 10.13-12.16 27.1.12-Franz von Hipper [1863-1932], 17.6.15-Vice Admiral, 6.8.18-Admiral, Scouting Forces 1.10.13-7.8.18, CinC High Seas Fleet 7.8.18-30.11.18 27.1.12-Friedrich Schulz [1865-1945], 17.6.15-Vice Admiral, Wilhelmshaven Fortress 11.11-10.14, 2nd Marine Division 11.14-8.15, 4th Battle Squadron 21.8.15-18.12.15, Scouting Force, Baltic 1-6.16, Wilhelmshaven Fortress 6.16-10.17, 1st Marine Division 1-12.18 22.3.12-Hubert Reuber von Passchwitz [1863-1933], 18.9.15-Vice Admiral, Naval Academy, 3 Scouting Group 2.8.14-17.4.15, IG Naval Construction 4.15-4.16, 2nd Battle Squadron 1.12.16-15.8.17, Mediterranean 9.17-11.18 18.11.12-Friedrich Gadecke [1866-1935], 2 i/c 1st Battle Squadron 1.10.13-20.6.15, Nautical Dept. 9.15-12.16 [ret] 18.11.12-Felix Funke [1865-1932], 18.9.15-Vice Admiral, 3rd Battle Squadron 1.3.14-26.12.14, 2nd Battle Squadron 27.12.14-11.8.15 [ret] 14.12.12-Robert Mischke [1865-1932], 27.1.16-Vice Admiral, Coast Defences, Baltic 7.14-1.17 14.12.12-Carl Schaumann [1865-1938] 22.3.16-Vice Admiral, 2 i/c 3rd Battle Squadron 2.8.14-11.8.15, IG Artillery, Marine Corps 1.16-1.17, IG Coast Artillery & Mines 1.17-3.18 [ret] 27.1.13-Friedrich Schrader [1865-1937], 27.4.16-Vice Admiral, Naval Construction Dept. 11.13-9.18 12.4.13-Otto Wurmbach [1864-1940], 25.11.6-Vice Admiral, Chief of Staff, North Sea Station, IG Education & Training 12.16-2.19 12.4.13-Gisberth Jasper [1865-1953], 25.11.16-Vice Admiral, 5 Scouting Group 8-11.14, 2nd Marine Division 11.14-11.18 15.11.13-Georg Hebbinghaus [1866-1944], 25.11.16-Vice Admiral, Chief of Staff, Baltic Station 10.12-12.14, 2nd Scouting Group 26.12.14-27.8.15, German Dept. 8.15-10.18 15,.11.13-Hermann Alberts [1865-1946], 25.11.6-Vice Admiral, Coast Defences, North Sea, 2 i/c 4th Battle Squadron 2.8.14-24.8.15, 2nd Inspector-General 8-10.15, Chief of Staff, Baltic 10.15-12.16, Nautical Dept. 12.16-5.18 [ret] 9.12.13-Leberecht Maass [1863-1914], 2nd Scouting Group & Leader Torpedo Forces 1.3.14--28.8.14 KIA 22.3.14-Arthur Tapken [1864-1945], 25.7.17-Vice Admiral, 2i/c Scouting Forces 1.3.14-25.12.14, Chief of Staff, Baltic 12.14-10.15 [ret] 22.3.14-Frank Mauve [1864-1931], 25.11.16-Vice Admiral, 2 i/c 2nd Battle Squadron 1.10.13-11.8.15, 2nd Battle Squadron 12.8.15-30.11.16, 4th Battle Squadron 1.12.16-12.8.17 [ret] 22.6.14-Ehler Bering [1865-1918], 2 i/c 6th Battle Squadron 8.14, 9.14-?, Baltic States 4-5.18, 1st Marine Brigade 5.18-7.7.18 KIA 14.7.14-Paul Benecke [1866-1937], 25.11.16-Vice Admiral, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff 8.14-9.15, ?? High Seas Fleet 9-12.15, 3rd Battle Squadron 12.1.16-11.8.18, Deputy State Secretary 8-9.18, CinC High Seas Fleet 9.18-2.19 14.7.14-Hugo Kraft [1866-1925], 25.11.16-Vice Admiral, Wilhelmshaven Base 3.14-3.16, Navy Shipyard Dept 4.16-12.17, temp 4th Battle Squadron 19.1.18-13.2.18, temp 3rd Battle Squadron 15.4.18-9.5.18, temp 4th Battle Squadron 4.6.18-22.7.18, 3rd Battle Squadron 12.8.18-5.11.18 19.9.14-Harwarth Schmidt von Schmid [1866-1941], 14.10.17-Vice Admiral, 6th Battle Squadron 3.9.14-31.8.15, 1st Marine Brigade 1.16-12.16, Coast Defences, Baltic 1.17-8.17 [ret],
2. PROMOTIONS TO REAR
ADMIRAL 1915
22.3.15- Alfred Begas
[1866-1938],
14.10.17-Vice Admiral, 2 i/c 5th Battle
Squadron 7.8.14-23.1.15, 5th Battle Squadron
24.1.15-15.1.16, Libau 6.16-2.1822.3.15-Georg Scheidt [1865-1943], 16.7.17-Vice Admiral, 4th Scouting Group 26.1.15-3.9.15, IG Naval Depots 9.15-5.17 [ret] 22.3.15-Friedrich Boedicker [1866-1944], 27.12.18-Vice Admiral, German Dept. 7.14-8.15, 2nd Scouting Group 28.8.15-10.9.16, 2 i/c 1st Scouting Group 11.9.16-14.10.16, 2 i/c Scouting Forces 15.10.16-20.1.18, 1st Battle Squadron 22.1.18-27.11.18 22.3.15-Albert Hopman [1865-1942], 14.10.17-Vice Admiral, Scouting Group Baltic 4.15-1.16, Operations Division, Naval Staff 10-12.16, Scouting Forces Baltic & Chief of Staff Baltic 12.16-12.17, Black Sea 1-11.18 22.3.15-Ernst von Mann Edler von Tiechler [1864-1934], 27.1.18-Vice Admiral, IG Torpedoes 11.14-12.17, U-Boat Bureau 12.17-10.18, State Secretary 10.18-1.19 18.9.15-Georg von Ammon [1869-1937], 18.9.18-Vice Admiral, Kiel Fortress 1.15-12.16, 1st Marine Brigade 1.17-11.17, 2nd Marine Brigade 11.17-9.18 18.9.15- Hermann Nordmann [1868-1933], 18.9.18-Vice Admiral, 2 i/c 3rd Battle Squadron 12.8.15-8.12.16, Operations Bureau, Naval Staff 12.16-5.17, Security, Baltic 8./17-2.19 18.9.15-Maximilian Rogge [1866-1940], 18.9.18-Vice Admiral, ??, Armaments Dept, 10.17-12.18 17.10.15-Richard Engel [1866-1954], 29.10.18-Vice Admiral, 2 i/c 1st Battle Squadron 22.8.15-19.2.16, Wilhelmshaven Base 3.16-3.19 16.11.15-Freiherr Gottfried Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels [1868-1936], 2 i/c 2nd Battle Squadron 20.8.15-30.11.16, 2 i/c 4th Battle Squadron 4.12.16-27.5.17, 2 i/c 1st Battle Squadron 28.5.17-2.11.17, Commission, Riga 12.17-9.18, Naval Construction Dept. 9.18-9.19 3.
PROMOTIONS TO REAR-ADMIRAL
1916
27.1.16- Walter Engelhardt
[1867-1943], 2 i/c 4th Battle Squadron
26.8.15-10.11.15, Commandant Kiel 11.15-, 2 i/c 1st
Battle Squadron 1.3.16-27.5.17, Commandant Kiel 5.17-,
IG Coast Artillery 3-12.1827.1.16-Fhr Curt von Rossing [1868-1942], 13.12.17-Vice Admiral, 3rd Marine Brigade 1.16-, 2nd Marine Brigade 5-11.17 27.1.16- Ludolf von Ussler [1867-1939], Chief of Staff, Baltic 9.15-, Security, Baltic 12.17-, Kurland 2.18-, Baltic 5-11.18 27.1.16- Max Witschel [1863-1916] [IG Marine Corps Artillery 11.14-1.16] 23.3.16-Hugo Westphal [??], Technical Commission 10.14-1.17 24.4.16-Hugo Langemarck [??], Torpedo Craft, Baltic 1.16-, Security, Baltic 6-12.16, IG Minecraft 7.17-1.19 24.4.16- Robert Kuhne [1868-1947], 2nd Inspector-General 2.16-1.18 [ret] 25.11.16-Ludwig Reuter [1869-1943], 4 Scouting Group 3.9.15-10.9.16, 2 Scouting Group 11.8.16-2.1.18, 2 i/c 1st Scouting Group 22.1.18-10.8.18, Scouting Forces 11.8.18-17.11.18 25.11.16-Carl Hollweg [1867-1932], Naval Staff, Danzig Naval Base 9.17-, Naval Shipyards Dept 8.18- 25.11.16-Karl Seiferling [??], 4 Scouting Group 11.10.16-11.12.16, 2 i/c 3rd Battle Squadron 22.12.16-31.10.17, IG U-boats 11.17-12.18 25.11.16-Karl Wedding [1867-1952], 4 Marine Brigade 11.14-5.17, 3 Marine Brigade 5.17-11.18 27.11.16-Ferdinand Bertram [1868-1941], Libau Naval Base 11.15-11.17 17.12.16-Adolf von Trotha [1868-1940], Chief of Staff, High Seas Fleet 1.16-11.18 17.12.16-Walter Uthmann [1866-1944], Kiel Fortress 12.16-, Wilhelmshaven Fortress 12.17-, IG Torpedoes or Torpedo Craft 12.17-1.19 4.
PROMOTIONS TO REAR-ADMIRAL
1917
31.5.17- Fhr Walter von Keyserligk
[1869-1946], Operations Staff 6.17-, Security, Baltic
8.18-8.1931.5.17- Richard Lange [1868-1939], IG Naval Depots 6.17-1.19 16.7.17- Ulrich Lubbert [1867-1945], - 17.9.17- Georg Ahlert [1867-1953], - 14.10.17-Hugo Meurer [1869-1960], 2 i/c 4th Battle Squadron 28.5.17-12.8.18, 4th Battle Squadron 13.8.18-12.11.18, High Seas Fleet 11.18-1.19, Cmdr Baltic 3.19-1.20 14.10.17- Constanz Feldt [1867-1942], Chief of Staff, North Sea Station 12.16-8.18, 2 i/c 3rd Battle Squadron 19.8-30.11.18 14.10.17- Max Hahn [1870-1944], 4 Scouting Group 25.12.16-30.11.17, IG Coast Artillery 1.18-5.19 14.10.17-Carl Heuser [1867-1942], Nautical Dept. 5.18-5.19 5.
PROMOTIONS TO REAR-ADMIRAL
1918
27.1.18- Ernest Goette
[1869-1945], 2 i/c 3rd Battle Squadron
15.11.17-18.8.18, 2 i/c 4th Battle Squadron
19.8.18-16.12.1827.1.18- Johannes Hartog [1867-1947], 2 i/c 1st Battle Squadron 5.12.17-30.11.18 27.1.18- Karl Sievers [1868-1940], 1st Inspector-General 9.17-1.19 28.2.18- Siegfried von Jachmann [1867-1945], IG Pomerania/Mecklenberg coast 3.14-2.18 28.4.18- Wilhelm Hopfner [1868-1951], 2nd Inspector-General 1-11.18 28.4.18- Eduard Varrentraps [1868-1928], Wilhelmshaven Fortress 12.17-1.19 29.5.18- Hermann Schroder [1868-1946], 1st Marine Brigade 11.17-5.18 18.9.18- Eberhard von Mantey [1872-1953], POW's Bureau 2.16-6.19 18.9.18- Theodore Fuchs [1868-1942], Kiel Fortress 11.17-11.18 18.9.18- Carl Hering [1868-1948], IG Torpedo Works 10.12-11.18 18.9.18- Johannes von Karpf [1867-1941], 4 Scouting Group 2.12.17-8.11.18 18.9.18- Hans Kusel [1870-1951], Chief of Staff, Baltic 12.16-3.19 18.9.18- Waldemar Pieper [1871-1945], att. Navy Dept 18.9.18- Johannes Redlich [1862-1935], Shipbuilding Commission 9-12.18 9.10.18-Frederick von Bulow [1870-1929], DCNS, Navy 8-12.18 |
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