Führer der Zerstörer

The organization of the Kriegsmarine refers to the operational and administrative structure of the German Navy from 1935 to 1945. Many of the organizational tenets of the Kriegsmarine were inherited from its predecessor the Reichsmarine. As World War II unfolded, the Kriegsmarine expanded to cover additional regions and responsibilities, most significant of which was the occupation of France and the Battle of the Atlantic.

The ultimate command authority for the Kriegsmarine was the Oberkommando der Marine (OKM), which was headed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Germany Navy (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine). OKM in turn answered to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht; naval affairs were often run independently from the wishes of the Army, under the authority of the Oberkommando des Heeres. The Navy and the Luftwaffe (Air Force) further had little coordination, leading to serious delays in the development of naval aviation.

The following personnel served as Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy from the inception of the Kriegsmarine in 1935 until the downfall of Nazi Germany ten years later.

Internal to the OKM were several additional offices, the most important of which was the Seekriegsleitung (SKL), which coordinated naval warfare and operational plans. Offices also existed for naval construction, weapons, as well as general office for naval affairs (Allgemeines Marineamt). A supply and logistics office, known as the Marinekommandoamt, was in charge of all quartermaster needs.

The Kriegsmarine did not maintain an independent naval intelligence branch, but instead relied upon the Abwehr, which coordinated intelligence for all branches of the German military. Admiral Wilhelm Canaris was Chief of the Abwehr for most of its existence until he was replaced just prior to the 20 July plot against Hitler. Thereafter the Abwehr was folded into the Sicherheitsdienst and was run by the SS under Walter Schellenberg.

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