Leader of Torpedo-boats

The Leader of Torpedo-boats (Führer der Torpedoboote) was the oldest naval type command of the pre-World War II German Navy, dating back to the beginning of the First World War. The title was also used in the Reichsmarine as well as the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany.

First World War

The Imperial German Navy established the position of Leader of Torpedo-boats in 1907 to oversee the development and deployment of all medium sized surface craft, including attack craft and torpedo boats. During the First World War, this position continued to exist as an administrative posting, while operational deployment of torpedo boats was directed through the various German fleet commands[1]

The following officers held the position of Leader of Torpedo Boats during World War I.

Subordinate to the Leader of Torpedo-boats was a II Führer der Torpedoboote (II F.d.T.). Johannes Hartog was the first officer to hold this position, later assuming the higher position of Führer der Torpedoboote. The last officer to hold the position of Deputy Leader of Torpedo-Boats was Fregattenkapitän Hans Quaet-Faslem.

Inter-war years

After the First World War, the position of Leader of Torpedo-Boats was disbanded. After the Nazi Party gained power in Germany, the posting was reactivated in Swinemünde, as an office of the Reichsmarine, in September 1933. Fregattenkapitän Kurt Fricke was the first Leader of Torpedo-boats in Nazi Germany and held the position until he was replaced by Kapitän zur See Oskar Kummetz in October 1934.

The Führer der Torpedoboote under the Reichsmarine held considerable authority and was responsible for the development and deployment of all surface craft, including cruiser type vessels as well as the original mandate of torpedo boats and smaller attack craft.[2]

Upon the founding of the Kriegsmarine, Oskar Kummetz held the position in the new German Navy until October 1937 when he was succeeded by Rear admiral Günther Lütjens. Lütjens was the last peace time Leader of Torpedo-boats, holding the posting until the outbreak of World War II.

World War II

In October 1939, the Kriegsmarine reorganized its surface fleet, appointing the position known as Befehlshaber der Aufklärungsstreitkräfte, which oversaw cruiser type vessels, to serve as a senior officer to the Leader of Torpedo-boats. At the same time, authority for destroyers was separated from torpedo boats and formed into a separate command known as the Führer der Zerstörer.

Günther Lütjens became the new Befehlshaber der Aufklärungsstreitkräfte while Kommodore Friedrich Bonte became the now subordinate Führer der Torpedoboote. He in turn was replaced the following month by Kapitän zur See Hans Bütow who served as the final Leader of Torpedo-boats.

In April 1942 the command of Leader of Torpedo-boats was dissolved with attack boats placed under the command of the Führer der Schnellboote (F.d.S.) while remaining medium sized surface craft where administratively placed under the Leader of Destroyers.

References

  1. ↑ Hildebrand H., Die organisatorische Entwicklung der Marine nebst Stellenbesetzung 1848 bis 1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück (2000)
  2. ↑ Lohmann W. & Hildebrand H., Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine, Verlag Hans-Henning Podzun, Bad Nauheim (1956)
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