Karl Smidt
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Karl Smidt
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| Nickname(s) | Karolus |
| Born | 30 August 1903 Neuenhaus |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Rendsburg |
| Allegiance |  Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/ |
 Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine German Navy |
| Years of service | 1922–45 1956–63 |
| Rank | Kapitän zur See (Kriegsmarine) Konteradmiral (Bundesmarine) |
| Unit | SSS Niobe Hannover Berlin cruiser Karlsruhe Panzerschiff Deutschland |
| Commands held | torpedo boat Jaguar destroyer Z12 Erich Giese destroyer Z27 |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
| Other work | German Mine Sweeping Administration |
Karl Ernst Smidt[Note 1] (30 August 1903 – 11 January 1984[Note 2]) was a Kapitän zur See with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and later a Konteradmiral with the Bundesmarine. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Smidt was a member of the Confessing Church. From 1961 to 1963 he was the NATO Commander-in-Chief of the German Fleet of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, i.e. the "Flag Officer Germany" of the NATO (CINCGERFLEET).
Contents
Early life and pre-war service
Smidt was born in Neuenhaus, district of Grafschaft Bentheim, in the Province of Hanover on 30 August 1903, the son of pastor Reinhard Petrus Wolbertus Smidt. He began his naval career with the Reichsmarine on 31 March 1922 as a member "Crew 1922" (the incoming class of 1922) after graduation from the humanistische Gymnasium (humanities-oriented secondary school) in Hameln with his Abitur (diploma). Smidt married Ruth Kühl in 1930. The marriage produced two daughters and a son, Antje, Wolbert K., former director of the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst) and Hilke. Smidt joined the Confessing Church (Bekennende Kirche) with pastor Hermann Steen in Holthusen, district of Weener, after making an official visit to the Emsland-concentration camp Esterwegen near Papenburg in 1935.[3]
Awards
- Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th and 3rd Class (2 October 1936)[4]
- Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (6 June 1939)[4]
- Iron Cross (1939)
- Destroyer War Badge (1939) (19 October 1940)[4]
- Narvik Shield (16 November 1940)[4]
- Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy (11 March 1941)[4]
- German Cross in Gold on 20 November 1941 as Korvettenkapitän on Z27/8. Zerstörer-Flottille[5]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 June 1943 as Kapitän zur See and commander of Z27[2][6]
- Commander Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (14 August 1963)[4]
Notes
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Citations
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External links
- Deutsches Marinearchiv
- World War 2 Awards
- Der Spiegel 34/1961
- Der Spiegel 39/1963
- Ostfriesische Landschaft
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by
Konteradmiral Rolf Johannesson
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Commander-in-Chief German Fleet (CINCGERFLEET) 1961 – 1963 |
Succeeded by Vizeadmiral Heinrich Gerlach |
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Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of the Kriegsmarine surface fleet
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1 Oak Leaves with Navy Group Command West. 2 Knight's Cross on Widder (HSK-3), Oak Leaves on Michel (HSK-9). 3 Knight's Cross with the 2. Räumbootsflottille, Oak Leaves with the 8. Räumbootsflottille.
This along with the ? (question mark) indicates doubt regarding the veracity and formal correctness of the listing. see also List of Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross recipients of the Kriegsmarine |
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Commander-in-Chiefs German Fleet (CINCGERFLEET), Bundesmarine
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- Pages with reference errors
- Articles containing German-language text
- Pages with broken file links
- 1903 births
- 1984 deaths
- Reichsmarine personnel
- Kriegsmarine personnel
- Recipients of the Spanish Cross
- Bundesmarine admirals
- Recipients of the Gold German Cross
- Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Military personnel referenced in the Wehrmachtbericht
- Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- People from Bentheim
- People from the Rhine Province
- Counter admirals of the German Navy
