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) An honorary rank in the German Empire. 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 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)