Oskar Kummetz Explained

Oskar Kummetz
Birth Date:21 July 1891
Birth Place:Illowo in the district of Neidenburg, East Prussia, German Empire
Death Place:Neustadt an der Weinstraße, West Germany
Allegiance:

Branch:

Serviceyears:1910–45
Rank:Generaladmiral
Commands:Kampfgruppe "Oslo"
Battles:
Awards:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Oskar Kummetz (21 July 1891 – 17 December 1980) was an admiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He also served in the Kaiserliche Marine during World War I. Kummetz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions in the Battle of Drøbak Sound, during which his command, the, was hit in the superstructure by two 28 cm shells from Norwegian fortress Oscarsborg, 15 cm shells from Kopås fortress and 5.7 cm gunfire from Husvik fortress. From Kaholmen Blücher was hit by two torpedoes and she sank 84 metres below the sound.

Along with hundreds of other survivors, including Generalmajor Erwin Engelbrecht, Kummetz was detained by Norwegian guardsmen at a farm near Drøbak on 9 April, before the Germans arrived and they were abandoned by their captors.[1]

His next command, the, unsuccessfully attacked a British convoy during the Battle of the Barents Sea, and the Hipper was damaged by British cruisers, while his escort, the was sunk with all hands by .

On 1 March 1944, Kummetz became the Commander-in-Chief of Naval High Command Baltic Sea in Kiel. On 16 September 1944 he was promoted to Generaladmiral. In the final months of the war, Kummetz was responsible for Operation Hannibal, the evacuation of German refugees and military personnel from Courland, East Prussia, West Prussia and Pomerania through the Baltic Sea.

Oskar Kummetz died on 17 December 1980 at the age of 89.

Awards

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: Arneberg, Sven T. . Kristian Hosar . Vi dro mot nord : felttoget i Norge i april 1940, skildret av tyske soldater og offiserer: (Oslo, Østfold, Akershus, Hedmark, Oppland, Møre og Romsdal) . Aventura . Oslo . 1989 . 62 . no.
  2. Dörr 1995, p. 380.
  3. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 279.
  4. Scherzer 2007, p. 484.