__NOTOC__ Wilhelm Meisel (4 November 1891 – 7 September 1974) was an

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

of the ''

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official military branch, branche ...

'' of

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and a recipient of the

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (), 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. While it was order of precedence, lower in preceden ...

. Meisel was born in Zwickau and joined the Navy as a midshipman in 1913. During the First World War he served on the battlecruiser , the light cruiser and the . He later served as a staff officer on Torpedo boats and was interned in Scapa Flow. After the scuttling of the

High Seas Fleet The High Seas Fleet () was the battle fleet of the German Empire, German Imperial German Navy, Imperial Navy and saw action during the First World War. In February 1907, the Home Fleet () was renamed the High Seas Fleet. Admiral Alfred von Tirpi ...

he was held as a POW by the British and repatriated in 1921. During the 1920s Meisel commanded a torpedo boat flotilla and held several staff posts and commanded the in 1929. During World War II Meisel commanded a destroyer flotilla in the

invasion of Poland The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Second Polish Republic, Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak R ...

of 1939 and was appointed commander of the heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper in 1940. He was made Chief of Staff of Naval Group west in 1943 and Chief of Naval staff in 1943.

Awards

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

(1914) 2nd Class (17 March 1915) & 1st Class (15 April 1917)Dörr 1996, p. 54. * Hanseatic Cross of Hamburg (June 1916) *

Albert Order The Albert Order () was created on 31 December 1850 by King Frederick Augustus II of Saxony to commemorate Albert III, Duke of Saxony (known as Albert the Bold). It was to be awarded to anyone who had served the state well, for civil virtue, s ...

of Saxony, 2nd Class with Swords (May 1916) * The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (December 1934) * Spanish Cross in Silver (6 June 1939)Dörr 1996, p. 55. * Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (26 October 1939) & 1st Class (8 May 1940) * Destroyer War Badge (July 1941) * High Seas Fleet Badge (1 November 1941) *

on 26 February 1941 as ''

Kapitän zur See Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The rank is equal to the army rank of colonel and air force rank of group captain. Equivalent ranks worldwide include ...

'' and commander of the heavy cruiser "Admiral Hipper"Scherzer 2007, p. 535. *

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...

, 2nd class (Japan)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Meisel, Wilhelm 1890s births 1974 deaths People from Zwickau Imperial German Navy personnel of World War I Reichsmarine personnel Admirals of the Kriegsmarine Recipients of the clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st class German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd class German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Military personnel of the Kingdom of Saxony Military personnel from Saxony