A. H. Vedel
| Aage Helgesen Vedel | |
|---|---|
|
Vice Admiral Vedel reviewing Danish sailors, 1945
|
|
| Born |
1 September 1894 Copenhagen |
| Died | 9 February 1981 (aged 86) |
| Buried at | Hørsholm Churchyard, Hørsholm |
| Allegiance |
 Denmark
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Danish Navy
|
| Years of service | 1912–1958 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | HDMS Delfinen HDMS Lindormen HDMS Nordkaperen HDMS Henrik Gerner HDMS Nordstjernen HDMS Flyvefisken HDMS Argus HDMS Godthaab HDMS Høgen Deputy Head of Marine Staff Chief of Navy Command Director General of Ministry of Marine Commander-in-chief of the Navy Danish Flag Officer to NATO |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Gerner medal, Medal of Merit (2nd class), Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog, Galathea Commemoration Medal, Vitus Bering Commemoration Medal |
Aage Helgesen Vedel was a Danish vice admiral and commander-in-chief of the Royal Danish Navy from 1941 until 1958.
Aage Helgesen Vedel was born to Helge Vedel and Charlotte Serene on 1 September, 1894 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Helge Vedel was a Lieutenant in the Danish Navy and Deputy Director of the Naval Dockyard.
On 18 December, 1921, Vedel married Kirsten Lützen.
He died on 9 February, 1981 and was buried at the Hørsholm Churchyard.
A. H. Vedel joined the Danish Navy as a cadet in 1912.
At the time of the German invasion of Denmark, Vedel was the Deputy Head of Marine Staff. The navy did not take part in the fighting, and was left in place by the Germans after the conflict. From 25 July, 1941, Vedel served as acting Chief of Navy Command and Director General of the Ministry of Marine until both these positions were affirmed to him on 1 September, making him the commander-in-chief of the Royal Danish Navy.
Though initially peaceful, the occupation of Denmark began to turn more turbulent as the Danish Resistance increased its activities. With relations between Germany and Denmark breaking down, Admiral Vedel summoned high-ranking Danish naval officers to the Naval Ministry at 22:00 on 27 August, 1943. He briefed them on the political situation and went through several plans of action for the Danish Navy, in the event it were attacked by the Germans. The next day the Danish Parliament responded to a demanding German ultimatum by resigning. With no government over the country, the Germans moved quickly to gain total control in Denmark. On 29 August, the Germans launched Operation Safari in an attempt to seize the Danish Navy and intern all Danish military personnel. Admiral Vedel ordered all ships to head to neutral Sweden or, if this wasn't possible, be sunk at their moorings. Danish sailors managed to successfully scuttle the majority of the fleet before they were interned. Following the operation, the senior-most German naval officer in Denmark, Vizeadmiral Hans-Heinrich Wurmbach, told Vedel, "We have both done our duty." The Germans temporarily dissolved the Danish military.
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