Kriegsmarine Admiral

Thank you very much Antonio! Klüber, Plath, Schenk and Riedel were all later admirals. Can you please share the documents for these four officers?

I also have a few questions.

4) Otto Ciliax:

For him I have it written as Comendador (Saada). Are you sure he got the Comendador de número (Fajama) instead? Could you please share the document for Ciliax?

6) Hermann von Fischel:

In the document you sent me before, Fischel is listed twice with the dates 5 March 1938 and 5 April 1938. Which one is the correct award date? I can see you wrote 5 April 1938 above. Why?

1) Wilhelm Canaris:

Another document you sent me gives the date 17 November 1938 for Canaris. Why do you have the date 8 November 1938? Can you share the relevant document?

And here is the last topic I need help with. Any additions/corrections are welcome. If you know any more admirals that were awarded the Mehdauia Order, please write below.

1) Wilhelm Canaris:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (17 November 1938)

2) Paul Wenneker:

- Grand Officer's Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (5 November 1937)

3) Leopold Bürkner:

- Grand Officer's Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (23 July 1939)

4) Otto Ciliax:

- Commander's Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (5 March 1938)

5) Rolf Carls:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (5 April 1938, Approved on 3 December 1938)

6) Hermann von Fischel:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (5 March 1938 or 5 April 1938?)

Why are there two award dates for Fischel? Antonio said "Repeated, with a month of difference, but they are not two concessions", what does this mean?

7) Wilhelm Marschall:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (5 November 1937)

8 ) Hermann Boehm:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (5 April 1938)

9) Wilhelm Meendsen-Bohlken:

- Commander's Cross of the of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (13 May 1938)

10) Kurt Böhmer:

- Commander's Cross of the Spanish-Moroccan Order of Mehdauia (13 May 1938)

Unknown #10

Three unknown admirals in (possibly) Brest, 1940.

1: ???

2: ???

3: ???

Here are the Kriegsmarine admirals that were (to my knowledge) awarded the Spanish Order of Military Merit. Any additions/corrections are welcome, especially regarding the award dates.

1) Erich Raeder:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Military Merit with White Decoration (1 January 1941)

2) Wilhelm Canaris:

- Spanish Order of Military Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration (4 May 1939)

3) Joachim Lietzmann:

- Spanish Order of Military Merit (Class unknown) (source: his ribbon bar)

4) Hermann Boehm:

- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Military Merit with White Decoration

It's also possible that some other admirals that received the Order of Naval Merit (see the other thread), also received this award.

Unknown #9

Who is this Konteradmiral?

On 07/01/2022 at 20:18, Deutschritter said:

This surprises me; Bundesarchiv

I know, me too. Both the Personalakte and the Bundesarchiv page state that he was first awarded the 3rd Class in 1927 and then the 2nd Class in 1928. But this simply isn't possible, because, as you said, the 3rd Class is higher than the 2nd Class. We have the proof from the Spanish period document that says he was awarded the 2nd Class in 1928. Until we find the same kind of proof for the 3rd (or more likely 1st) Class, I think the best we can do is guess why there is a mistake present. For now, I would not include the 3rd Class on Canaris' list of awards.

Unknown #8

Who is this?

1 hour ago, Deutschritter said:

I read it here. but I am pretty sure the Personalakte of Canaris got it wrong, seeing the 4th class is the highest. But maybe the German Stellen did this deliberately to avoid mix-ups, because the German counting methods were and are different?

I think you are quite right that they got it wrong. Since we have no proof that he was awarded the 1st Class, I deleted the 3rd Class and kept the 2nd Class with the date 16.11.1928.

1 hour ago, Deutschritter said:

Did you know Canaris had the Deutsches Spanien-Kreuz in Gold mit Schwertern (Bundesarchiv)?

Yes, I knew. There is also photographic evidence as proof.

25 minutes ago, Deutschritter said:

Königlich Spanischer Orden für Verdienste zur See, Kreuz III. Klasse (II. Klasse?) am 16. Mai 1927

Königlich Spanischer Orden für Verdienste zur See, Kreuz II. Klasse (III. KLasse?) am 16. November 1928

Your source? I suppose these are the dates for Canaris' awards.

Thank you very much Antonio!

Regarding Canaris, do you know when he was awarded the 3rd Class then? The info above comes from his Personalakte. Since the 3rd Class was higher than the 2nd Class, I thought the info from his Personalakte was switched. See below, it says he first got the 3rd Class and then the 2nd Class. Isn't this wrong?

Hello Spanish experts!

I need help with the Spanish Order of Naval Merit awarded to Kriegsmarine admirals. Please help me confirm the classes and award dates for some Kriegsmarine admirals. For some admirals I don't have the award dates.

I already got some information regarding this topic from Antonio Prieto. He was unable to find if Paul Fanger was awarded the Order of Naval Merit, but I have photographic evidence.

Also, if you are able, please post the source for the information.

P.S.  I will also make two more threads, one for the Spanish Order of Military Merit and the other for the Order of Mehdauia. Keep an eye out for those.

1) Kurt Fricke: 
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration (21 August 1939)

2) Hellmuth Heye:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration (20 August 1939, Approved on 6 May 1940)

3) Leopold Bürkner:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (28 February 1935)

4) Wilhelm Friedrich (Wilfried) von Loewenfeld:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 1st Class with White Decoration

5) Hasso von Bredow:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 1st Class with White Decoration

6) Edmund Schulz:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 1st Class with White Decoration

7) Gustav Kleikamp:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration

Or possibly the 1st Class?

8 ) Otto Ciliax:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration (21 August 1939)
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with Gold Decoration (21 August 1939)

I guess one of these is wrong.

9) Paul Fanger:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration (not confirmed)

10) Joachim Lietzmann:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (23 January 1932)

11) Rolf Carls:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (25 August 1939, Approved on 6 May 1940)

12) Karl Dönitz:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (10 June 1940)

13) Wilhelm Canaris:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (1927)
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 3rd Class with White Decoration (16 November 1928)
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (1939)

14) Walter Gladisch:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (24 March 1930)

15) Hubert Schmundt:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (21 August 1939, Approved on 19 January 1940)

16) Hermann von Fischel:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (21 August 1939)

17) Otto Schniewind:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (21 August 1939)

18) Hermann Boehm:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration

19) Erich Raeder:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (16 November 1928 or 17 September 1930 ???)
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (21 August 1939)

Why was he awarded it twice?

20) Karl-Jesko von Puttkamer:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 1st Class with White Decoration

21) Walter Georg Lohmann:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit (Class Unknown)

22) Paul Wülfing von Ditten:
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Naval Merit with White Decoration (16 November 1928)

23) Paul Wever:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (23 January 1932, Approved on 28 March 1934)

24) Helmuth Brinkmann:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (21 September 1934, Approved on 8 November 1934)

25) Erhard Maertens:
- Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (21 September 1934)

Many thanks for any help!

Unknown #7

Please help me ID number 1. Thanks!

1: Konteradmiral ???
2: Hubert Schmundt
3: Martin Baltzer
4: Karl Dönitz

Thank you Dave.

Can anyone that owns the book "Die Ritter des Ordens "Pour le mérite" by Hildebrand please post Nerger's bio?

Thanks!

Can anyone post his bio from the book "Die Ritter des Ordens "Pour le mérite" by Hildebrand?

Thanks!

Can anyone post Valentiner's bio from the book "Die Ritter des Ordens "Pour le mérite" by Hildebrand?

Thanks!

Can anyone post his bio from the book "Die Ritter des Ordens "Pour le mérite" by Hildebrand?

Thanks!

Can anyone post his bio from the book "Die Ritter des Ordens "Pour le mérite" by Hildebrand?

Thanks!

He was not reactivated during WW1.

My list of decorations for him:

-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden II. Klasse mit Eichenlaub, Krone und mit dem Stern (22. 08. 1907)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden II. Klasse (17. 01. 1897)
-Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 für Kämpfer
-Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897
-China-Denkmünze in Bronze
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden III. Klasse mit der Schleife
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden IV. Klasse
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden III. Klasse
-Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz
-Komturkreuz des Königlich Bayerischen Militärverdienstordens
-Offizierskreuz der Französischen Ehrenlegion
-Kaiserlich Russischer St. Stanislaus-Orden II. Klasse mit dem Stern
-Großkreuz des k.u.k. Österreichischen Franz-Joseph-Ordens

Here you go. The bottom photo comes from Sandro's collection.

3 hours ago, Bayern said:

Hello Admiral, Number 2 looks certainly as von Ingenohl but number 7 is not Scheer i believe , he ranks as Konteradmiral and Scheer was full Admiral by 1913, the presence of Franz Ferdinand fixes the date of the pic before 1914 and i venture 1913 as the year of the pic was shot .

Actually, Scheer was promoted to full Admiral in 1916. He was a Konteradmiral between 1910 and 1913. I think I was told the photo was taken during Kiel Week in 1910. Also, number 7 is wearing the Offizierskreuz des Königlich Bayerischen Militärverdienstordens. Scheer was a recipient of this medal. I strongly believe it is him on the photo.

On 31/08/2021 at 03:42, Bayern said:

I am almost sure that the number 5 is Admiral  Georg Alexander von Muller  who replaced in 1906 Admiral Gustav von Senden Bibran as Chief of the Naval Cabinet of Wilhelm II until 1918 , everywhere the Kaiser goes ,Von Muller was aside him

Thank you Bayern, I agree with you.

Do you think number 2 is Admiral Friedrich von Ingenohl perhaps?

And do you agree number 7 is Reinhard Scheer?

Please help me ID this Kaiserliche Marine admiral. The photo was taken during WW2 in France. He is wearing glasses and what appears to be either the Roter Adler Orden 2. Klasse or the Kronen Orden 2. Klasse around the neck.

1 hour ago, avsaribar said:

Just a correction on the photo ;

 

(1) marked Breast Star  is an Osmanie as mentioned . But (1) marked Osmanie Badge is Not an Osmanie Badge , it is an Medjidie Badge . Btw , can not guarantee without measuring but i think that set is a Grand Cross set of Osmanie  ..

 

(2) marked Breast Star is Medjidie , it is right but (2) marked badge is the Osmanie's badge , not Medjidie ...

 

So there was criss-cross mistake ...  

: )

 

Avsar

 

 

Thank you Avsar! Yes, now I see that I marked them wrongly.

So, you think the Osmaniye Set is 1st Class (Grand Cross) and the Medjidie Set is 2nd Class, correct?

I still think the Osmaniye Set is 2nd Class, because I have information that he was awarded this order on 6 April 1904, when he was still a Kapitan zur See. This rank is too low for him to be awarded the Grand Cross.

Yes, this helps a lot.

Thank you!