List of admirals of Germany explained

Admirals of Germany have existed since the founding of German sea forces, first with the Reichsflotte and then most predominantly that of the Prussian Navy. German admirals led the German Navy through World War I, as leaders of the Imperial German Navy, as well as through the inter-war years of the Reichsmarine.

Flag officers of the Kriegsmarine were the leadership of the Germany Navy during World War II under the authority of Nazi Germany. The modern day German Navy exists after the navies of Germany being separated into the West German Navy and the Volksmarine of East Germany.

Großadmirale

The rank of Grossadmiral (Grand admiral) was introduced in 1905 as the naval equivalent to the five-star rank of the Generalfeldmarschall (general field marshal) OF-10 in Heer (en: Army). Hans von Koester was the first German flag officer to hold this rank. Wilhelm II. would wear the uniform of a Großadmiral on occasions. Since as Emperor he was Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and thus not subject to promotions.

Name Born Died Date of rank Crew/Year Notes
29 April 1844 21 February 1928 28 June 1905 21 June 1859
King 21 January 1821 8 December 1907 13 July 1905 30 August 1888 honorary rank (a la suite)
14 August 1862 20 April 1929 4 September 1909
19 March 1849 6 March 1930 27 January 1911 24 April 1865
9 January 1853 6 June 1919 31 May 1918 11 April 1869
24 April 1876 6 November 1960 1 April 1939 16 April 1894
16 September 1891 24 December 1980 31 January 1943 4 April 1910

Generaladmirale

Name Born Died Date of rank Crew/Year Notes
executed by the Soviet Union
zV
suicide

Admirale

The rank of admiral was the highest rank until the rank of Großadmiral was introduced in 1905. Prince Adalbert of Prussia was the first and only admiral of the Prussian Navy and later the Navy of the North German Confederation. The rank was not used in the Imperial German Navy until 1892. In the Reichsmarine Admiral was again the highest of three flag officer ranks. With the creation of the Kriegsmarine and the expansion of the fleet a new rank, Generaladmiral, was introduced in 1936, followed by the rank of Großadmiral in 1939. Thus the rank of admiral became the third-lowest, roughly equivalent of a general in the Heer or Luftwaffe. When the Bundeswehr was formed in 1955 Admiral became the highest rank again. The Volksmarine of the National People's Army of the German Democratic Republic used ranks similar to those in the Soviet Navy. While technically there was a rank of Flottenadmiral (Fleet Admiral), Admiral was the highest rank any naval officer achieved.

Name Born Died Date of rank Crew/Year Navy Notes
ennobled 16 June 1913
entered Prussian Army 1 January 1862
ennobled 27 January 1905
ennobled 15 June 1908
executed by Nazi Germany
suicide
zV
zV
(Ing.)
(San.) Admiraloberstabsarzt
(San.) Admiraloberstabsarzt
Inspector General of the Federal Armed Forces
Inspector General of the Federal Armed Forces; DSACEUR
Inspector General of the Federal Armed Forces
DSACEUR
DSACT
(ret.)
(ret.)
(ret.)

Vizeadmirale

Vizeadmiral was a flag officer rank introduced in the Prussian Navy in 1858 and used subsequently in all other German navies.

Name Born Died Date of rank Crew/Year Navy Notes
entered French navy in 1812, transferred to Dutch navy February 1814, character as Schout bij Nacht, 22 November 1882
ennobled 1882
entered Prussian Army 1 January 1850
Entered Austro-Hungarian Navy on 1 October 1849
entered Seewehr on 15 December 1863
entered Austro-Hungarian Navy on 1 October 1866
ennobled 7 November 1914
died in Soviet captivity
suicide
zV, KIA
zV
zV
suicide
zV
KIA
zV
entered Bundesmarine as Vizeadmiral on 1 March 1956
KIA
missing, body found 6 August 1971
(I./14)
KIA
(VII./15)
war volunteer
(VII./15) entered Bundesmarine as Konteradmiral on 1 March 1956
(IV./16)
(I./16)
(VII./16)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.) zV
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(San.)
(San.) Marinegeneraloberstabsarzt
(San.) Admiralstabsarzt, volunteered for the Bavarian Army on 1 May 1915
(V./56)
(IV./61)
(IV./59)
(IV./58)
(VII./76)
(IV./62)
(V./56)
(IX./56)
(VII./78)
(X./68)
(X./68)
October 2014 1976

Vizeadmirale (Charakter)

Name Born Died Date of rank Crew/Year Navy Notes
entered Prussian Army on 29 April 1854
skipper of Meteor
Chamberlain to Wilhelm II. (1911–1935)

Konteradmirale

Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) has been a flag officer rank in the naval forces of Germany since 1849.

Name Born Died Date of rank Crew/Year Navy Notes
Reichsflotte
?
1855
1866
1866/68
1871
1907
(I./16)
1 March 1956
(VII./16) temporary rank of Vizeadmiral from 28 March - 31 December 1962
(VII.16)
(VII./18)
(I./15)
(VIII./15)
(IV./15)
(X./15)
(VII./16)
(VII./16)
(X./15)
(I./16)
(VII./15)
(VII./15)
(X./16)
(X./15)
(X./15)
(IV./16)
(I./16)
(X./16)
(I./17)
1910/40
(X./17)
25 May 1898 23 September 1967 (VII./16) Flottillenadmiral 1957-60father of Dieter Ehrhardt
(IV./17)
(IV./16)
(VII./16)
(X./16)
(IV./17)
(VII./15)
22 March 1935 IV.1918
22 July 1900 6 December 1989 22 December 1958 (VII./18)
(VII./18)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.) VIII./
(Ing.) VIII./
(Ing.)
(Ing.) (IV./16)
(Ing.)
(Ing.)
(Ing.) (IV./17)
(San.) 1854; 1857
(San.) 1866; 1871
(San.) 1873; 1906
(San.) 1875; 1879
(San.) 1883; 1886
(San.) 1888; 1891
(San.) 1904; 1911
(San.) 1906; 1913
(San.) 1907; 1914
(San.) 1911; 1914
(San.) 1899; 1904
(San.) 1911; 1914
(San.) 1907; 1913
(San.) 1901; 1907
(San.) served as reservist with the navy in WWI
(San.)
(San.) 1914; 1922
(San.) 1914; 1922
(San.) 1913; 1922
(San.)
(San.) 1914; 1922
(San.) 1914; 1922
(San.)
(San.) 1915; 1922
(San.) 1915; 1922
(San.) 1918; 1923
(W)
(W)
(W)
(V)
1940
VII/81
2008
7 December 1932
14 May 1927 son of Werner Ehrhardt
15 July 1908 19 March 1992 April 1927
29 October 1921 2 February 2002 1979 XII/39
1 March 1938 1991 1958
6 March 1915 13 May 1988 31 October 1968 Crew 34
19 April 1936
30 January 1949
26 February 1938 IX/57
30 October 1945
20 March 1921
23 October 1937
5 February 1918 2 February 1982
17 June 1915 11 January 1992
12 December 1911 29 January 2008 2 April 1968 1 April 1931
29 February 1952
19 September 1927
27 December 1935 2013
7 September 1912 11 October 1990 1 April 1966 7 April 1931
17 September 1941 IV/61
5 June 1930 28 February 2007 1983 1956
30 August 1928
10 February 1935
27 November 1951 1971
12 March 1908 21 July 2009 1926
16 September 1922 27 October 2005 1977 XII/39
17 September 1918 6 December 2003 1 September 1973 1938
23 September 1916 3 June 2003 27 February 1970 3 April 1936
3 January 1918
2 November 1915
28 September 1905 16 December 2004 13 November 1962 31 March 1924
31 July 1914 22 September 2001 1966 1 April 1934
30 August 1903 11 January 1984 31 October 1961 1922
12 March 1938
17 May 1932 14 January 2006 1986 I/56
27 June 1925 27 October 2000 1979 1 June 1942
2 July 1914 26 December 2005 21 December 1966 1934
4 December 1923 2 July 1996
17 December 1904 30 December 1981
6 October 1931 7 October 1988 4 August 1950
26 June 1934 31 December 2010 7 October 1980 12 May 1952 no relation to Karl Dönitz
4 July 1924 2 March 2002 30 November 1984 V./41
24 March 1906 15 December 1991 1 October 1952 15 May 1945 later Generalmajor
3 October 1935 1 March 1986 11 August 1954
30 March 1933 21 February 1985 1 March 1974 3 September 1950
7 April 1929 7 October 1979 18 November 1950
25 May 1929 7 October 1982 18 November 1950
6 July 1920 September 2004 1 March 1971 1950
15 December 1917 27 July 1987 1 March 1974 1 August 1945
9 February 1935 7 October 1979 10 January 1953
3 September 1931 7 October 1982 4 August 1950
4 July 1920 1 March 1976 1 July 1945
24 February 1929 1996 7 October 1982 1 August 1952
27 January 1944 7 October 1989 1962
10 July 1932 7 October 1984 18 November 1950
18 May 1941 21 February 1989 1 August 1960
21 February 1928 7 October 1982 3 August 1954
9 May 1934 19 May 2011 1 March 1987 20 January 1953
28 February 1930 8 June 2012 1 March 1988 21 September 1949
14 June 1933 7 October 1984 10 July 1951
5 April 1940 17 October 2013 7 October 1983 1 September 1958
9 February 1915 13 March 1986 1 October 1952 1950
17 March 1931 11 January 2008 1 March 1984 1 November 1953
17 January 1921 22 February 1990 1 May 1964 10 February 1950
27 May 1923 20 July 1995 7 October 1968 1950
6 April 1935 7 October 1984 1 April 1952
VII./73
1949
1972 active
active
1974; 1977 active
1977 active

Konteradmirale (Charakter)

Name Date of birth Date of death Date of rank Crew/Year Notes
27 October 1808 16 February 1873 11 April 1862 1822; 1850 served in the Royal Danish Navy prior to 1849
29 December 1814 27 October 1884 4 August 1863 1834; 5 June 1852 served in the Royal Swedish Navy prior to 1852
3 October 1831 17 January 1890 22 March 1864 1848; 29 January 1854 served in the Royal Danish Navy and Royal Navy prior to 1854
3 July 1824 21 June 1882 22 March 1873 1848; 1849 served in the Prussian Army
6 March 1831 9 October 1902 17 December 1878 24 October 1848
6 June 1838 14 January 1912 13 November 1883 24 June 1854
Graf 26 July 1839 1 February 1892 15 January 1885 24 April 1856
Graf 3 March 1841 29 April 1897 17 February 1885 24 June 1854 18 March 1886
18 July 1842 6 April 1924 15 November 1887 24 April 1856
16 February 1838 6 March 1915 15 November 1888 17 December 1863 28 August 1865 retroactive commission
5 October 1844 15 September 1906 18 February 1890 16 June 1860
14 February 1844 29 November 1896 2 December 1890 16 June 1860
11 April 1846 11 August 1928 21 September 1891 9 June 1864
15 June 1848 29 October 1910 17 October 1892 15 June 1863
27 September 1850 28 February 1914 13 April 1896 21 April 1866
5 February 1912 1 May 1865
4 October 1848 17 October 1917 29 March 1897 24 April 1865
6 July 1848 26 July 1913 12 April 1898 24 April 1865
5 November 1850 4 April 1905 10 October 1898 15 April 1867
25 May 1851 7 March 1920 7 March 1899 9 June 1864
6 January 1849 2 November 1907 7 May 1900 24 April 1865
7 March 1850 7 May 1900 15 April 1867
15 December 1849 5 June 1931 7 May 1900 15 April 1867
12 December 1849 10 March 1907 17 September 1900 15 April 1867
21 April 1850 3 February 1925 28 May 1901 15 April 1867
1901 1868
1901 1867
1901 1867
1902 1869
1902 1868
1902 1869
1903 1869
1903 1870
1903 1866
1903 1868
1904 1870
1869
1904 1871
1904 1873
1904 1870/73
1905 1868
1905 1868
1905 1868
1855 1918 1906 1872
1868
1906 1872
1872
1907 1874
1907 1874
1907 1877
1907 1873
1907 1874
1907 1873
1907 1874
1907 1876
1907 1874
1876
1908 1876
1860 1929 1908 1878
1908 1876
1877
1908 1877
1909 1877
1909 1874
1909 1879
1909 1879
1909 1859
1909 1873
1909 1874
1909 1875
1909 1878
1910 1878
1910 1867
1910 1880
1910 1879
1910 1880
1910 1880
1910 1880
1911 1881
1911 1882
1861 1918 1911 1879
1913 1884
1913 1876
1913 1884
1913 1884
1914 1883
1914 1866
1916 1878
1916 1881
1916 1874
1916 1883
1916 1885
1917 1887
1918 1884
1918 1887
1918 1887
1919 1888
1919 1889
1919 1888
1863 1945 1919 1882
1919 1885
1919 1884
1919 1888
1919 1888
1919 1888
1919 1888
1919 1885
1919 1888
1919 1888
1889
1863 1927 1919 1881
1919 1887
1889
1889
1885
1919 1888
1919 1887
1919 1889
1919 1890
1919 1888
1871 1932 1919 1888
1919 1883
1919 1888
1919 1889
1919 1890
1919 1890
21 November 1870 19 September 1933 26 January 1920 13 April 1889 22 November 1919
1871 1936 1920 1889
1920 1890
1920 1890
1920 1889
1920 1889
1920 1888
1920 1889
1920 1888
1920 1888
1920 1890
20 November 1871 12 August 1953 1920 1889
1873 1964 1920 1890
1920 1890
1920 1889
1920 1891
1920 1888
1920 1890
1920 1890
1920 1891
1920 1863
1920 1891
11 March 1872 1 March 1932 15 July 1920 1891
1920 1891
1920 1891
1920 1891
1920 1882
1920 1889
1921 1893
1922 1892
1922 1894
1923 1895
1923 1894
1923 1896
1923 1896
1924 1895
1926 1897
1926 1897
1896
1927 1898
1928 1899
1929 1899
1929 1899
1929 1899
1929 1900
1929 1900
1930 1899
1930 1899
1931 1902
1932 1901
1932 1901
1932 1902
1933 1902
1933 1903
1933 1904
1934 1903
1936 1902
1938 1905
1874 1945 1939 1891
1939 1893
(Ing.) 1919 1878
(Ing.) 1919 1879
(Ing.) 1922 1880
(Ing.) 1924 1893
(Ing.) 1928 1897
(Ing.) 1929 1898
(Ing.) 1930 1899
(San.) 1903 1869; 1870
(San.) 1914 1881; 1885
(San.) 1860 1943 1914 1880; 1887
(San.) 1916 1878; 1882
(San.) 1916 1878, 1884
(San.) 1916 1884; 1889
(San.) 1918 1880; 1884
(San.) 1919 1885/89
(San.) 1919 1881; 1887
(San.) 1920 1891; 1894
(San.) 1920 1880; 1886
(San.) 1920 1882; 1886
(San.) 1920 1884; 1889
(San.) 1921 1885; 1889
(San.) 1921 1887; 1891
(San.) 1921 1889
(San.) 1922 1883; 1888
(San.) 1923 1890; 1895
(San.) 1925 1894; 1900
(San.) 1926 1899; 1900
(San.) 1927 1898; 1902
(San.) 1928 1899; 1904
(San.) 1930 1903; 1908
(San.) 1934 1903; 1910

Flottillenadmirale

The rank of Flottillenadmiral (Rear Admiral, lower half) was newly established in 1955 as the naval equivalent to Brigadegeneral. The rank roughly corresponds to the position of Kommodore in earlier German naval forces.

Name born died retired
2013
(died)
active
active
active
1991
2001
active
active
active
active
active
active
active
active
active
died
died
active
2004
active

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