Bernhard Rogge
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Bernhard Rogge (November 4, 1899 - June 29, 1982) was a Kapitän zur See of the German Kriegsmarine who, during World War II, commanded a merchant raider.
Born in Schleswig, he was one of many German officers who were forced to apply for a German Blood Certificate, that would allow their racial background to be overlooked (he had a Jewish grandparent).[1]
He was awarded a Japanese ornate Samurai sword and the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions as the commander of the Hilfskreuzer (auxiliary cruiser) Atlantis (Schiff 16).
Rogge became a Vizeadmiral (vice-admiral) by the end of World War II, and eventually became a Konteradmiral (rear-admiral) of the West German Bundesmarine.
Rogge also was one of the few German officers of flag rank who was not arrested by the Allies after the war. This was due to the way he had exercised his command of Atlantis.
[edit] Compliments
The skipper of the British vessel, City of Baghdad, which the Atlantis sunk in July of 1941, stated, "His treatment of prisoners left respect, instead of hatred." The Captain of the"City of Bagdad was Captain J. Armstrong White. He wrote the foreword in "Atlantis, The story of a German Surface Raider" written by U. Mohr & A.V. Sellwood.
[edit] Military Career of Bernhard Rogge
- 1915 -- Joins the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) as an ensign
- After World War I -- serves on various cruisers
- Mid-1930's to 1939 -- commander of the German Navy's sail training ship Albert Leo Schlageter
- September 1939 -- assigned to the Hilfskreuzer Atlantis
- mid-December 1939 -- the Atlantis is formally commissioned
- March 31, 1940 -- the Atlantis sets out to sea
- November 22, 1941 -- the Atlantis is sunk by HMS Devonshire
- After World War II -- discharged
- June 1, 1957 -- Enteres the post-World War II West German Bundesmarine with the rank of Konteradmiral
- June 1, 1957 - September 29, 1957 Delegated with the Command of Military Area Command I
- September 30, 1957- March 31, 1962 -- Commander of Military Area Command I.
- April 15, 1958- March 31, 1962 -- At the same time, NATO Commander of Land Forces in Schleswig-Holstein (COMLAND-SCHLESWIG)
- March 31, 1962 -- Retires from the German Bundesmarine as a Konteradmiral
