Harbor security commands of the Kriegsmarine

Harbor security commands of the Kriegsmarine were operational commands controlling waterborne security within German harbors during the years of Nazi Germany, to include during and before World War II. These commands were maintained by a separate chain of command from the traditional shore establishment, and in many cases even bypassed the administrative command of the German ports themselves.

The security of all harbors in Nazi occupied Europe was under the authority of three senior geographical regions lead by a Befehlshaber der Sicherung (Commander of Security). The first such position was established in 1937 as the Befehlshaber der Sicherung der Nordsee (B.S.N.) (Commander of Security in the North Sea) and was led by Vizeadmiral Otto von Schrader. The North Sea security region originally only oversaw the major port of Wilhelmshaven, as well as some smaller naval stations, but during World War II was greatly expanded under Eberhard Wolfram. The final North Sea security commander, appointed April 1943, was Rear admiral Ernst Lucht.

Baltic sea harbor and water security was overseen by the Befehlshaber der Sicherung der Ostsee (B.S.O.). The command was established in January 1939 under Vice admiral Hermann Mootz. For the majority of the Second World War, Hans Stohwasser served as security commander with the final command, Rear admiral Hans Bütow, appointed in June 1944. In October 1940, the German Navy also established its largest security area covering all harbors and ports in occupied western Europe. The command was known as the Befehlshaber der Sicherung West (B.S.W.) with Hermann Mootz appointed as its first commander in October 1940. Command passed through two other officers in 1941 (Hermann von Fischel and Friedrich Ruge), with the security area commanded by an acting deputy in early 1943. The final western area security commander was Read admiral Erich Alfred Breuning who served from June 1943 until the end of the war.

In 1944, an inland waterways security command was established known as the Führer der Sicherungsstreitkräfte (B.d.Sich.). The command was headquartered in Swinemünde and was the administrative command for waterborne security on the Danube; operationally, units were commanded by a subordinate unit known as the "Sicherungs-Lehr-Division". The command was later transferred to Bergen where it operated one transport flotilla and commanded the U-boat service training school for boats stationed in Norway. The unit's final commander was Rear admiral Ernst Lucht.

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