Hermann Boehm (18 January 1884,

Rybnik Rybnik (Polish pronunciation: ; ) is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, around 38 km (24 mi) southwest of Katowice, the region's capital, and around 19 km (11 mi) from the Czech Republic, Czech border. It i ...

– 11 April 1972,

Kiel Kiel ( ; ) is the capital and most populous city in the northern Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. With a population of around 250,000, it is Germany's largest city on the Baltic Sea. It is located on the Kieler Förde inlet of the Ba ...

) was a German naval officer who rose to the rank of General Admiral during the

Second World War 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 ...

Military service

Boehm joined the on 1 April 1903 as a cadet and did his basic training on SMS ''Stein''. He was promoted to on 19 September 1914 and during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

commanded various torpedo boats (such as SMS G41 during the

Battle of Jutland The Battle of Jutland () was a naval battle between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet, under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer, durin ...

and later SMS V 69). In 1919 he was dismissed from the service but when the navy was reactivated as the in 1920 he was recalled to it, mainly serving in staff posts until 1933. On 3 October 1933 Boehm was made the commander of the ''Hessen'' for a year, until he was promoted to in autumn 1934 and appointed commander in chief of the navy's reconnaissance forces. From 25 August 1936 to 3 August 1937, during the opening stages of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

, he commanded the German naval forces off the Spanish coast. On 1 April 1937 he was promoted to vice admiral and put in command of the North Sea Station. Early in 1938 he became a full admiral and in November the same year (fleet commander). Shortly after the Battle of the River Plate, Boehm was relieved of command and left without a post for several months. After the

Operation Weserübung Operation Weserübung ( , , 9 April – 10 June 1940) was the invasion of Denmark and Norway by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign. In the early morning of 9 April 1940 (, "Weser Day"), Ge ...

, the invasion of Norway, in April 1940, he was made the commander of German naval forces there on 10 April 1940, being promoted to General Admiral on 1 April the following year. In March 1943 he was recalled from Norway and on 31 May that year officially discharged from active service, effective on the following 1 June. From 1 March 1944 to 31 March 1945 he commanded the inspectorate of the 's education programme, at the end of which post he was fully discharged from the .

Decorations

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 and 1st class * Knight's Cross of the House Order of Hohenzollern with swords *

Friedrich-August-Kreuz The Friedrich-August Cross was a German decoration of the First World War. It was set up on 24 September 1914 by Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, with two classes, for (to quote its citation) "all persons of military or civilian st ...

2nd and 1st class *

Verwundetenabzeichen The Wound Badge () was a German military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was first awarded to soldiers of the German Army who were wounded during World War I. Between the world wars, it was awarded ...

(1918) in black * Medalla de la Campaña *

Spanish Cross The Spanish Cross () was an award of Nazi Germany given to German troops who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for nationalist general, later Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco. History With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil W ...

* Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st class *

Anschluss Medal The ''Anschluss'' Commemorative Medal () was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the first in a series of German Occupation Medals, Occupation Medals. Description Instituted on 1 May 1938, the medal commemorated ...

Clasp to the Iron Cross Clasp, clasper or CLASP may refer to: * Book clasp, fastener for a book cover * Folding clasp, a device used to close a watch strap * Lobster clasp, fastener for jewellery * Wrist clasp, a dressing accessory * Medal bar, an element in militar ...

2nd and 1st class *

German Cross The War Order of the German Cross (), 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 repeated acts of bravery or military leade ...

in Gold on 20 November 1941

Bibliography

* Hans H. Hildebrand und Ernest Henriot: ''Deutschlands Admirale 1849–1945 Band 1: A-G'', Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1988, , pp. 126–127

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Boehm, Hermann 1884 births 1972 deaths People from Rybnik Military personnel from the Province of Silesia Counter admirals of the Reichsmarine General admirals of the Kriegsmarine German military personnel of the Spanish Civil War Recipients of the Gold German Cross Imperial German Navy personnel of World War I