Adalbert von Blanc (11 July 1907 – 7 November 1976) was a German naval officer during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and later an admiral in the West German Navy. During World War II he was awarded the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight' ...

and served as 1st Officer on the auxiliary cruiser ''Orion''. Blanc was born in Wilhelmshaven. He joined Weimar Germany Weimar German Navy in 1926 and was trained on the "Niobe". After

Blanc joined the British controlled

German Mine Sweeping Administration The German Mine Sweeping Administration (GMSA) was an organisation formed by the Allies from former crews and vessels of the Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' for the purpose of mine sweeping after the Second World War, predominantly in the North Sea ...

on 15 August 1945. Blanc held command of the 1. Minenräum-Division (1st mine sweeping division) in

Kiel Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland ...

. When the administration was disbanded on 31 December 1947, Blanc transferred to the follow organization called ''Minenräumverband Cuxhaven'' and became its chief. On 18 December 1950 the students Georg von Hatzfeld and René Ledesdorff from

Heidelberg Heidelberg (; Palatine German: ') is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Neckar in south-west Germany. As of the 2016 census, its population was 159,914, of which roughly a quarter consisted of students ...

occupied the isle of Helgoland. The two were joined by Prince Hubertus zu Loewenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg on 29 December 1950. The number of occupants had grown to 13 when Blanc was ordered by the British authorities to send two boats for the evacuation of Helgoland. Blanc refused to obey the order, even when he came under severe pressure and suspended from his command post. A legal proceeding against Blanc was initiated on 3 January 1951. The British court ruled that the order was not among his contractual obligations and he was re-instituted in his position as chief of the ''Minenräumverband Cuxhaven''.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (german: link=no, Eisernes Kreuz, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). King Frederick William III of Prussia es ...

(1939) 2nd Class (15 September 1940) & 1st Class (17 October 1940)Dörr 1995, p. 51. *

Wehrmacht Long Service Award The Wehrmacht Long Service Award () was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service. History On 16 March, 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered the institution of a service awar ...

4th Class (2 October 1936) & 3rd Class (1 April 1938) *

Sudetenland Medal The 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal (german: Die Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938), commonly known as the Sudetenland Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the second in a series of Occupa ...

(20 December 1939) *

Auxiliary Cruiser Badge The Auxiliary Cruiser War Badge () was a World War II German military decoration awarded to officers and men of the Kriegsmarine for service on Auxiliary Cruisers or the supply ships that supported them for a successful large voyage. The award w ...

(23 August 1941) *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (german: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or ''Deutsches Kreuz'', was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repe ...

in Gold on 11 September 1942 as ''

Korvettenkapitän () is the lowest ranking senior officer in a number of Germanic-speaking navies. Austro-Hungary Belgium Germany Korvettenkapitän, short: KKpt/in lists: KK, () is the lowest senior officer rank () in the German Navy. Address The off ...

'' in the 2. Sicherungs-Division *

Minesweeper War Badge The Minesweeper War Badge or Minesweepers, Sub-Chasers and Escort-Vessel War Badge () was a World War II Nazi Germany, German military decoration awarded to Kriegsmarine members for service on minesweepers vessels. The award was instituted on 31 Au ...

(25 March 1943) *

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (german: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. The Knight' ...

** Knight's Cross on 27 November 1944 as ''

Fregattenkapitän Fregattenkapitän, short: FKpt / in lists: FK, () is the middle field officer rank () in the German Navy. Address In line with ZDv 10/8, the official manner of formally addressing military personnel holding the rank of ''Fregattenkapitän'' ...

'' and leader of the 9. Sicherungs-Division ** (866th) Oak Leaves on 10 May 1945 as ''Fregattenkapitän'' and leader of the 9. Marine-Sicherungs-DivisionFellgiebel 2000, p. 103. *

Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...

in 1964

Footnotes

References

Citations

Bibliography

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanc, Adalbert Von 1907 births 1976 deaths People from Wilhelmshaven People from the Province of Hanover Flotilla admirals of the German Navy Reichsmarine personnel Kriegsmarine personnel of World War II Recipients of the Gold German Cross Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Military personnel from Lower Saxony