Wilhelm Karlowitsch Withöft
Wilgelm Vitgeft ( Russian Вильгельм Карлович Витгефт , scientific. Transliteration Vil'gel'm Karlovič Vitgeft * 2 . Jul / 14. October 1847 greg. In Odessa , † July 28 jul. / 10. August 1904 greg. On the Liner Zessarewitsch in the Yellow Sea ) was an admiral in the Russian Navy .
Life
Wilhelm Karlowitsch Withöft, of German descent, was born in Odessa in 1847. After successfully completing the naval school together with Roschestvensky in 1868 , he took part in the circumnavigation of the world by the clipper Vzadnik . In 1870 he was promoted to NCO and in 1873 to lieutenant. From 1875 to 1878 Withöft trained as an artillery and mining specialist. He then served in the Russian Baltic Fleet as an officer on various ships.
In 1885 he received his first command of the gunboat " Grosa ". From 1892 he commanded the torpedo cruiser Wojewoda . In 1894 he was promoted to captain 1st rank (equivalent to a sea captain ). On October 26, 1899, he was transferred to the Russian Pacific Fleet , where he worked as chief of staff of the Russian governor Yevgeny Ivanovich Alexejew . At the same time Withöft was promoted to rear admiral.
After the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War , Admiral Makarov was appointed commander of the Russian naval forces in East Asia. After his death on April 13, 1904 Withöft was appointed commander of the 1st Pacific Squadron on April 22, 1904 .
He remained with the fleet inactive in the port of Port Arthur , where the ships were threatened by the heavy siege guns of the Japanese during the siege of Port Arthur . His hesitant behavior subsequently earned him strong criticism. By telegraphic order from Tsar Nicholas II , Withöft had to attempt an escape on August 10, 1904. About 40 nautical miles from Port Arthur he met the fleet of the Japanese admiral Togo . In the ensuing naval battle in the Yellow Sea , Withöft was killed by a detonating grenade on board his flagship, Zessarevich .
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Withöft, Wilhelm Karlowitsch |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Витгефт, Вильгельм Карлович (Russian) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Russian admiral |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 14, 1847 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Odessa |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 10, 1904 |
| Place of death | on the ship Zessarewitsch, Yellow Sea |