Friedrich von Hollmann
Encyclopedia
Friedrich von Hollmann was an Admiral of the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) and Secretary of the German Imperial Naval Office
under Emperor Wilhelm II.
Hollmann was born in Berlin
, Germany
. He entered the Prussian Navy
in 1857 and made his first trip as a cadet aboard the SMS Amazone, the SMS Gefion and the SMS Thetis. In 1859-1862 he took part in the expedition to the Far East
along with Karl Eduard Heusner
whom he would follow years later as Secretary of the German Imperial Naval Office.
In 1863 he was appointed to the Central Division (Zentralabteilung) of the Prussian Navy Department
.
During the Second Schleswig War in 1864 he commanded the gunboat SMS Wolf, and then (1864–1867) served as a Lieutenant aboard the cadet school ship SMS Niobe. From 1867 to 1869 he was assigned to the naval school
in Kiel.
In Franco-Prussian War
in 1870-71 Hollmann was a Kapitänleutnant
, then (1871–1873) served the expedition to North and South America aboard SMS Gazelle.
Between 1874 and 1881 in the Central Division (Zentralabteilung) of the Admiralty
, he commanded the cadet ships SMS Undine and SMS Medusa from 1876 to 1878, and then captained the academy corvette SMS Elisabeth of the Arcona class on its global tour from 1881 to 1883, the year the Krakatoa volcano
broke out. On May 20, 1883 the German ship was stationed in the Sunda Strait
, observing the ongoing eruption.
In 1886-87 he was president of the Ship Examination Board (Schiffsprüfungskommission) and in the subsequent two years, Chief of Staff of the Admiralty. Now a Rear Admiral, Hollmann commanded the squadron which accompanied the Kaiser and Kaiserin on their royal visit to Greece and Turkey, 1889 to 1890.
On 22 April 1890, Hollmann became a member of the Federal Council (Bundesrat
, upper house of the Parliament) and State Secretary of the German Imperial Naval Office
(Reichsmarineamt) in the cabinet of Chancellor Leo von Caprivi
, following the resignation of Karl Eduard Heusner
. Here he planned naval construction and maintenance programs, directed the procurement of naval supplies, and represented the navy in the Reichstag. In the same year he was appointed Vice Admiral and in 1896, finally, Admiral.
He was conservative in his attitude to war and especially horrified when he heard talk of war with Britain.
In the mid-1890s the quest for a German naval base in the Far East
was uppermost in the minds of the naval leaders of the German Empire. Many saw the First Sino-Japanese War
(1894–95) as an opportunity to act. For Hollmann, bases were "an absolute necessity for overseas naval operations." In the heated discussions as to where the basse should be, he preferred Amoy
on the Taiwan Strait
. Nevertheless, when the Kaiser demanded that the navy take territory on the Shandong peninsula in September 1895, he demurred because of the uncertain reaction of Japan
, Britain
and Russia
.
In the struggle over the Kaiser's naval expenditures, he admitted in February 1896 that "there are not 10 people in the Reichstag in favor of our great future fleet plans." He resigned in June 1897 because he could not prevail in getting the Kaiser’s desired increases in the 1897 budget of the navy through the Reichstag. He promoted a navy of mainly cruisers as opposed to the heavy battle fleet sought by his successor, Alfred von Tirpitz
.
Hollmann was appointed a member of the Prussian House of Lords
in 1904. In 1906 he became the President of the Institute for Testing of Aerodynamic Models of the Powered Airship Society (Motorluftschiff-Studiengesellschaft
) and its successor company, the Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft
, which dealt with the construction, development and distribution of airships, including for the Navy.
On 27 January 1905 he was appointed to the Order of the Black Eagle
.
He is one of the founders of the German Fleet Association
(Deutsche Flottenverein).
After leaving the military Hollmann was a member of the supervisory board of the Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft AEG
, and later its chairman. He died in Berlin.
German Imperial Naval Office
The German Imperial Naval Office was a government office in the German Empire. In April, 1889 what had been the German Imperial Admiralty was abolished and its duties divided among three new entities: the Imperial Naval High Command , the Imperial Naval Office and the German Imperial Naval Cabinet...
under Emperor Wilhelm II.
Hollmann was born in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He entered the Prussian Navy
Prussian Navy
Throughout the centuries, Prussia’s military consistently concentrated on its land power, and never sought a similar power at sea. Yet historically there were always Prussian naval forces , beginning in the days when "Prussia" meant only the Margraviate of Brandenburg.- The Navy of Electoral...
in 1857 and made his first trip as a cadet aboard the SMS Amazone, the SMS Gefion and the SMS Thetis. In 1859-1862 he took part in the expedition to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
along with Karl Eduard Heusner
Karl Eduard Heusner
Karl Eduard Heusner was a Vice-Admiral of the German Imperial Navy ....
whom he would follow years later as Secretary of the German Imperial Naval Office.
In 1863 he was appointed to the Central Division (Zentralabteilung) of the Prussian Navy Department
Prussian Navy Department
The Prussian Navy Department grew out of that established by the Frankfurt National Assembly for its ‘Imperial Fleet’ Reichsflotte. From 1866 it served additionally as the Navy Department of the North German Confederation...
.
During the Second Schleswig War in 1864 he commanded the gunboat SMS Wolf, and then (1864–1867) served as a Lieutenant aboard the cadet school ship SMS Niobe. From 1867 to 1869 he was assigned to the naval school
Naval Academy Mürwik
The Naval Academy at Mürwik is the main training establishment for all German Navy officers.It is located at Mürwik which is a part of Germany's most northern city, Flensburg. Built on a small hill directly by the coast, it overlooks the Flensburg Fjord...
in Kiel.
In Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
in 1870-71 Hollmann was a Kapitänleutnant
Captain Lieutenant
Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of different navies worldwide.It is generally equivalent to the Commonwealth or US rank of lieutenant, and has the NATO rank code of OF-2, though this can vary....
, then (1871–1873) served the expedition to North and South America aboard SMS Gazelle.
Between 1874 and 1881 in the Central Division (Zentralabteilung) of the Admiralty
German Imperial Admiralty
The German Imperial Admiralty was an imperial authority in the German Empire. By order of Kaiser Wilhelm I the Northern German Federal Navy Department of the North German Confederation , which had been formed from the Prussian Navy Department , became on 1 January 1872 the German Imperial Admiralty...
, he commanded the cadet ships SMS Undine and SMS Medusa from 1876 to 1878, and then captained the academy corvette SMS Elisabeth of the Arcona class on its global tour from 1881 to 1883, the year the Krakatoa volcano
Krakatoa
Krakatoa is a volcanic island made of a'a lava in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. The name is used for the island group, the main island , and the volcano as a whole. The island exploded in 1883, killing approximately 40,000 people, although some estimates...
broke out. On May 20, 1883 the German ship was stationed in the Sunda Strait
Sunda Strait
The Sunda Strait is the strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. It connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean...
, observing the ongoing eruption.
In 1886-87 he was president of the Ship Examination Board (Schiffsprüfungskommission) and in the subsequent two years, Chief of Staff of the Admiralty. Now a Rear Admiral, Hollmann commanded the squadron which accompanied the Kaiser and Kaiserin on their royal visit to Greece and Turkey, 1889 to 1890.
On 22 April 1890, Hollmann became a member of the Federal Council (Bundesrat
Bundesrat
Bundesrat means federal council and may refer to:* Bundesrat of Germany* Federal Council of Austria* Swiss Federal Council...
, upper house of the Parliament) and State Secretary of the German Imperial Naval Office
German Imperial Naval Office
The German Imperial Naval Office was a government office in the German Empire. In April, 1889 what had been the German Imperial Admiralty was abolished and its duties divided among three new entities: the Imperial Naval High Command , the Imperial Naval Office and the German Imperial Naval Cabinet...
(Reichsmarineamt) in the cabinet of Chancellor Leo von Caprivi
Leo von Caprivi
Georg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli was a German major general and statesman, who succeeded Otto von Bismarck as Chancellor of Germany...
, following the resignation of Karl Eduard Heusner
Karl Eduard Heusner
Karl Eduard Heusner was a Vice-Admiral of the German Imperial Navy ....
. Here he planned naval construction and maintenance programs, directed the procurement of naval supplies, and represented the navy in the Reichstag. In the same year he was appointed Vice Admiral and in 1896, finally, Admiral.
He was conservative in his attitude to war and especially horrified when he heard talk of war with Britain.
In the mid-1890s the quest for a German naval base in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
was uppermost in the minds of the naval leaders of the German Empire. Many saw the First Sino-Japanese War
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
(1894–95) as an opportunity to act. For Hollmann, bases were "an absolute necessity for overseas naval operations." In the heated discussions as to where the basse should be, he preferred Amoy
Amoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
on the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
. Nevertheless, when the Kaiser demanded that the navy take territory on the Shandong peninsula in September 1895, he demurred because of the uncertain reaction of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
In the struggle over the Kaiser's naval expenditures, he admitted in February 1896 that "there are not 10 people in the Reichstag in favor of our great future fleet plans." He resigned in June 1897 because he could not prevail in getting the Kaiser’s desired increases in the 1897 budget of the navy through the Reichstag. He promoted a navy of mainly cruisers as opposed to the heavy battle fleet sought by his successor, Alfred von Tirpitz
Alfred von Tirpitz
Alfred von Tirpitz was a German Admiral, Secretary of State of the German Imperial Naval Office, the powerful administrative branch of the German Imperial Navy from 1897 until 1916. Prussia never had a major navy, nor did the other German states before the German Empire was formed in 1871...
.
Hollmann was appointed a member of the Prussian House of Lords
Prussian House of Lords
The Prussian House of Lords was the first chamber of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1850-1918. The second chamber was the Prussian House of Representatives . The House of Lords was created on January 31, 1850 with the adoption of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Prussia...
in 1904. In 1906 he became the President of the Institute for Testing of Aerodynamic Models of the Powered Airship Society (Motorluftschiff-Studiengesellschaft
German Aerospace Center
The German Aerospace Center is the national centre for aerospace, energy and transportation research of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has multiple locations throughout Germany. Its headquarters are located in Cologne. It is engaged in a wide range of research and development projects in...
) and its successor company, the Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft
Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft
Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft, also referred to as LFG, was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. They are best known for their various "Roland" designs, notably the Roland C.II and Roland D.VI, although they also produced a number of airships and experimental...
, which dealt with the construction, development and distribution of airships, including for the Navy.
On 27 January 1905 he was appointed to the Order of the Black Eagle
Order of the Black Eagle
The Order of the Black Eagle was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg . In his Dutch exile after WWI, deposed Emperor Wilhelm II continued to award the order to his family...
.
He is one of the founders of the German Fleet Association
Navy League (Germany)
The Navy League or Fleet Association in Imperial Germany was an interest group formed on April 30 1898 on initiative of Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz through the German Imperial Naval Office which he headed to support the expansion of the Imperial Navy ...
(Deutsche Flottenverein).
After leaving the military Hollmann was a member of the supervisory board of the Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
, and later its chairman. He died in Berlin.
Sources
- Krakatau 1883: The Volcanic Eruption and its Effects. By Richard S. Fiske and Tom Simkin; Smithsonian Instutution Press, Washington, D.C., 1983, 464 pages
- By order of the Kaiser: Otto von Diederichs and the rise of the Imperial German Navy, 1865-1902. By Terrell D. Gottschall; Institute Press, 2003, 337 pages
- The Kaiser and His Court: Wilhelm II and the Government of Germany. By John C. G. Röhl, Translated by Terence F. Cole; Cambridge University Press, 1994, 288 pages
- Kaiser Wilhelm II New Interpretations: The Corfu Papers. By John C. G. Röhl and Nicolaus Sombart; Cambridge University Press, 2005, 336 pages
External links
- http://ees.furman.edu/ees11sm/projects/Krakatau.doc Paper on the 1883 eruption of the Krakatau volcano. Course held 2005 by S. Muthukrishnan, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Furman University, Greenville, S.C.