Imperial Admiralty
The Imperial Admiralty was an imperial authority in the German Empire . By order of Kaiser Wilhelm I , the former Prussian Navy Ministry was given the name Imperial Admiralty with effect from January 1, 1872 . The head of the admiralty was to lead the administration of the Imperial Navy under the responsibility of the Reich Chancellor and the supreme command according to the orders of the Emperor (Imperial Command). It remained the supreme naval authority until 1889, after several reorganizations. Due to the constant expansion and the expansion of the Imperial Navy, the Admiralty were dissolved and created in its place three top authorities on 1 April 1889 the High Command of the Navy , Naval Office , Imperial Naval Cabinet . The high command of the Navy was replaced on March 14, 1899 by the Admiralty's staff.
construction
At the top was the head of the Imperial Admiralty, who had the supreme command according to the orders of the Emperor , directed the administration under the responsibility of the Imperial Chancellor and exercised higher jurisdiction and disciplinary penalties.
| Chiefs of the Imperial Admiralty | |||
| Surname | Taking office | Term expires | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albrecht von Stosch (1818-1896) | January 1, 1872 | March 20, 1883 | |
| Leo von Caprivi (1831–1899) | March 20, 1883 | July 5, 1888 | |
| Alexander von Monts (1832-1889) | July 5, 1888 | January 19, 1889 | |
There were the following departments:
- the ministerial office as the central point for the various branches of business and for personal details,
- the military department for the movements and operations of the Navy, the training of the crews, personnel matters, the substitute and educational system, the medical and hospital affairs,
- the technical department (naval department) for shipbuilding and marine engineering, equipment, shipyard management; Artillery , torpedo beings , weapons, port fortifications,
- the departments for budgets and treasury matters, garrison administration, construction, legal services, accounting,
- the hydrographic office, maritime meteorology , nautical instruments,
- Surveying office, pilotage, beacon and buoyancy, cartography, magnetism, etc.
The admiralty was responsible for the general auditor , the general physician of the navy, the command and administrative authorities, the educational institutions and the German naval police station in Hamburg .
There was also an Admiralty Council , which was composed of the members of the latter appointed by the Chief of Admiralty as well as of the sea officers, officials and technicians appointed to advise on difficult questions of an organizational and technical nature, but was only appointed by the Chief of Admiralty in rare cases .
literature
- Walther Hubatsch: The admiralty staff and the highest naval authorities in Germany, 1848-1945 . Frankfurt a. M .: Bernard & Graefe, 1958.
