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British Naval Forces Germany

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Flag Officer, British Naval Forces Germany
Active1944–1961
CountryUnited Kingdom
AllegianceBritish Empire
BranchRoyal Navy
TypeCommand
Part of
  • Admiralty (1944–1961)
Garrison/HQHMS Royal Charlotte, Minden
North Rhine-Westphalia
West Germany

British Naval Forces Germany was a command (military formation) of the Royal Navy that was active from 1944 to 1961 under three titles.

It was administered originally by the British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany from 1944 to 1946. In 1946 the commander's title changed to Vice-Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany from 1946 to 1947, before being renamed to Flag Officer, British Naval Forces Germany until 1961.[1]

History

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In 1944, the Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief, Expeditionary Force, was also given the title of British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany. In addition, he became also Head of the Naval Division of the Control Commission for Germany, not always in attendance in Berlin, he was represented by a Deputy Head who attended the BERGOS (Chiefs of Staff) meetings.[2]

His headquarters were initially at Hamburg and then transferred later at Minden. His title was altered in 1946 to Vice Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany.[3] In 1947 the post holders title was changed to Flag Officer Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany. Apart from his additional role as Chief British Naval Representative in the Allied Control Commission (Germany), he was responsible for all naval matters in Western Germany, Denmark, Holland and Norway.[4]

As British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany, he was supported by a number of flag officers some of whose titles changed, due to an expanding of their particular command areas and duties. Rear-Admiral Harold Tom Baillie-Grohman began his appointment in 1944 as Flag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel but then became Flag Officer, Schleswig-Holstein. Baillie-Grohman's main task was eliminating remnants of the Kriegsmarine. Flag Officer, Wilhelmshaven became Flag Officer, Western Germany.[5]

In May 1951 the admiral's title was changed again to Flag Officer, Germany.[6] In 1955 the Secretary of State for Defence described the admiral's duties as "The Flag Officer, Germany, in his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation capacity as the Commander, Allied Naval Forces, Northern Area, Central Europe, is responsible to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, for naval planning matters in the British Zone and for the operational control of the Royal Naval forces in Germany. He is the naval member of the Commanders-in-Chief Committee (Germany) which is responsible to the Chiefs of Staff Committee in this country. The entry into force of the Paris Treaties will not affect the foregoing duties of the post until at least the future German navy is capable of performing the tasks required of naval forces in Germany."

In 1961 the post was disestablished.

The command had its headquarters in four successive locations:

Unit Location Dates Notes/Ref
HMS Royal Henry Hamburg State, Germany 1944–1945 [7]
HMS Royal Albert Hamburg State, Germany/West Germany 1946–1950 [8][9]
HMS Royal Prince Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany 1950–1956 [10]
HMS Royal Charlotte Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany 1957–1961 [11]

Flag Officers

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British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany

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Post holders included:

Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany
1 Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay 27 April 1944 – May 1945
2 Admiral Sir Harold M. Burrough May 1945 – March 1946 [12]

Flag Officer, Holland

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Holland
1 Rear-Admiral Gerald C. Dickens 1944–1945 [13] ret. Adm recommissioned as Radm.

Flag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel
1 Rear-Admiral Harold Tom Baillie-Grohman 1944–1945 [14][15] title changed to FOS-H[16]

Flag Officer, Norway

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Norway
1 Rear-Admiral James Stewart McClaren Ritchie 1944–1945 [17]

Flag Officer, Schleswig-Holstein

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Schleswig-Holstein
1 Rear-Admiral Harold Tom Baillie-Grohman 1945–1946 [18]

Flag Officer, Western Germany

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Western Germany
1 Rear-Admiral G. C. Muirhead-Gould 1945–1946 [19]

Flag Officer, Wilhelmshaven

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Wilhelmshaven
1 Rear-Admiral G. C. Muirhead-Gould 1944–1945 [20] title changed to FOWG[21]
Commodore-in-Charge, Hamburg
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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Commodore-in-Charge, Hamburg
1 Commodore Hugh England 1944–1945 [22]

Vice-Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Vice-Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany
1 Vice-Admiral Sir Harold T.C. Walker March 1946-June 1947 [23]

Flag Officer Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany
1 Rear-Admiral Stephen H. T. Arliss June 1947 – August 1949 [24]
2 Rear-Admiral Archibald Day August 1949 – April 1950 [25]
3 Rear-Admiral Lachlan D. Mackintosh April–November 1950 [26]
4 Rear-Admiral George W. G. Simpson November 1950 – -May 1951 [27]

Flag Officer, Germany

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Rank Flag Name Term Notes/Ref
Flag Officer, Germany
1 Rear-Admiral George W. G. Simpson May–November 1951 [28][29]
2 Rear-Admiral Robert St. V. Sherbrooke November 1951 – November 1953 [30]
3 Rear-Admiral Robert S. Warne November 1953 – March 1955 [31]
4 Rear-Admiral Keith McN. Campbell-Walter March 1955 – May 1958 [32]
5 Rear-Admiral Michael S. Townsend May 1958 – 1961 [33]

Units and shore establishments

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Shore establishments and units in Germany at various times from 1945 included:[34][35]

Location Unit In command Dates Notes/Ref
Berlin HQ HMS Royal Prince Flag Officer, Berlin March–August 1945 shore establishment
Hamburg HQ HMS Royal Alfred Flag Officer-in-Charge, Hamburg 1944 shore establishment
Kiel/Travemünde HQ HMS Royal Alfred Flag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel 1945–1946 shore establishment
Ploen HQ HMS Royal Alfred Flag Officer, Schleswig Holstein 1945–1946 shore establishment
Wilhelmshaven HQ HMS Royal Katherine Flag Officer, Wilhelmshaven 1944–1945 shore establishment
Wilhelmshaven HQ HMS Royal Katherine Flag Officer, Western Germany 1945–1946 shore establishment
Kiel/Travemünde HQ HMS Royal Alfred Senior Naval Officer Schleswig Holstein 1945–1946 shore establishment
Bad Oeynhausen HQ British Army on the Rhine Royal Navy Representative C-in-C Committee, Germany 1958
Berlin HQ HMS Princess Irene Senior Naval Officer, Royal Navy Headquarters, Germany shore establishment
Brunsbüttel HMS Princess Louise 1945–1946 shore establishment
Cuxhaven Minesweeping Unit Control Commission Germany 1948–1951
Cuxhaven Elbe Squadron Commanding Officer, Elbe Squadron
Cuxhaven HMS Augusta 1945–1946 administrative unit ms
Cuxhaven HQ HMS Royal Albert Naval Officer-in-Charge, Cuxhaven 1945–1948 accounting base
Eckernförde HQ HMS Princess Caroline 1945–1946 shore establishment
Flensburg HQ HMS Royal Alexandra Naval Officer-in-Charge, Flensburg 1945–1946 shore establishment
Flensburg HQ HMS Royal Alexandra Senior Naval Officer-in-Charge, Flensburg 1946–1947 shore establishment
Kiel British Baltic Fishery Protection Service 1949–1955 covert intelligence unit[36]
Kiel HQ Land Commissioner, Schleswig-Holstein Naval Liaison Officer to LC, Schleswig-Holstein
Kiel HMS Royal Charlotte Senior Officer Intelligence Kiel 1945 intelligence unit
Kiel HMS Royal Harold Naval Officer-in-Charge, Kiel 1945–1948 shore establishment
Krefeld Rhine Flotilla Commanding Officer, Rhine Flotilla 1950 [37]
Krefeld Rhine Squadron Commanding Officer, Rhine Squadron 1954 [38]
Lübeck HQ Royal Caroline Naval Officer in Charge, Lubeck 1945–1946 shore establishment
Lübeck 1 Commando Brigade Commander 1st Commando Brigade May–July 1945 Royal Marines
Sylt HMS Royal Adelaide Naval Officer-in-Charge, Sylt May–October 1945 shore establishment
Tonning HMS Royal Adelaide 1945–1946 shore establishment
Travemünde HMS Royal Caroline shore establishment
Wilhelmshaven HQ HMS Royal Rupert Naval Officer in Charge, Wilhelmshaven 1945–1950 shore establishment

References

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  1. ^ Archives, The National. "Admiralty: Office of the British Naval Commander in Chief, Germany: Papers". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 22 October 2018. ADM 228
  2. ^ Archives, The National. "Admiralty: Office of the British Naval Commander in Chief, Germany: Papers". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 22 October 2018. ADM 228
  3. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (July 1946). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 1869.
  4. ^ Archives, The National. "Admiralty: Office of the British Naval Commander in Chief, Germany: Papers". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 22 October 2018. ADM 228
  5. ^ Madsen, Chris (1998). The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942–1947. Cambridge, England: Psychology Press. p. 149. ISBN 9780714648231.
  6. ^ Navy List May 1951. p. 386
  7. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (July 1945). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 2348.
  8. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (July 1946). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 1868.
  9. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (October 1948). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 1038.
  10. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (April 1956). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 303.
  11. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (January 1958). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 303.
  12. ^ "HyperWar: London Gazette No. 38171". www.ibiblio.org. United States: University of South Carolina. 6 January 1948. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  13. ^ "HyperWar: London Gazette No. 38171". www.ibiblio.org. United States: University of South Carolina. 6 January 1948. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  14. ^ "HyperWar: London Gazette No. 38171". www.ibiblio.org. United States: University of South Carolina. 6 January 1948. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  15. ^ Grehan, John; Mace, Martin (2014). "Prospects of Opening a North German Port: 30". Liberating Europe: D-Day to Victory in Europe 1944–1945. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781473838277.
  16. ^ Grehan and Mace 2014.
  17. ^ Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939–1945 - R". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  18. ^ "HyperWar: London Gazette No. 38171". www.ibiblio.org. United States: University of South Carolina. 6 January 1948. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  19. ^ "HyperWar: London Gazette No. 38171". www.ibiblio.org. United States: University of South Carolina. 6 January 1948. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  20. ^ "HyperWar: London Gazette No. 38171". www.ibiblio.org. United States: University of South Carolina. 6 January 1948. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  21. ^ Grehan and Mace 2014.
  22. ^ Madsen, Chris (1998). The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942–1947. Cambridge, England: Psychology Press. p. 46. ISBN 9780714648231.
  23. ^ House of Commons. "Naval Commands and Flag Officers (Hansard, 10 April 1946)". api.parliament.uk. London, United Kingdom: Hansard. Retrieved 22 October 2018. Vol 421 cc1897-9
  24. ^ Mackie, Colin (October 2018). "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865: Flag Officer, Germany" (PDF). gulabin.com. C. Mackie. p. 162. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  25. ^ Mackie p. 162
  26. ^ Mackie p. 162
  27. ^ Mackie p. 162
  28. ^ Mackie p. 162
  29. ^ Admiralty, Great Britain (May 1951). "Flag Officers in Commission". Navy List. London, England: HM Stationery Office. p. 386.
  30. ^ Mackie p. 162
  31. ^ Mackie p. 162
  32. ^ Mackie p. 162
  33. ^ Mackie p. 162
  34. ^ Kindell, Don; Warlow, Lt Cdr Ben (October 1995). "Naval Party, Royal Navy, 1942–1991 by Ben Warlow". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  35. ^ "BOAR Locations: Royal Navy Germany". www.baor-locations.org. The Baor Organisation. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  36. ^ Hess, Sigurd (2001). "The Clandestine Operations of Hans Helmut Klose and the British Baltic Fishery Protection Service (BBFPS) 1949–1956". Journal of Intelligence History. 1 (2). LIT Verlag Münster: 169. doi:10.1080/16161262.2001.10555054. ISBN 9783825806439. S2CID 162499902. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  37. ^ Archives, The National (6 June 1950). "Memorandum Number 192 of 1950. Royal Naval Rhine Flotilla: memorandum by the First Sea Lord". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 23 October 2018. DEFE 5/21/192
  38. ^ Archives, The National (1954). "Reports of Proceedings: Royal Navy Rhine Squadron: autumn cruise including visit to Basle". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. London, England: The National Archives. Retrieved 23 October 2018. ADM 1/25565

Further reading

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