Hans-Joachim Dönitz
Encyclopedia
Hans-Joachim Dönitz was a Rear Admiral (Konteradmiral) in the East German Navy (Volksmarine
).
His father was a sales representative. After leaving school Hans-Joachim Dönitz studied from 1948 to 1952 in the specialty of sales representative. On May 12, 1952, he entered the service in the Maritime People Police (Volkspolizei See (VP-See)), forerunner of the East German People’s Navy “Volksmarine”. From 1952-54 he studied at the VP-See Officer's School in Stralsund
.
After his graduation until 1956, he served as an operations officer in the Sassnitz
coastal region. From 1956 to 1959 he attended naval training courses in the Soviet Union
. In 1957 he joined the East German Socialist Unity Party
(SED). From 1959 to 1961, he served as a navigator in a minesweeper unit. From 1961-62 he was a senior officer for navigation and for engineering in the Volksmarine's training command. He then served as Chief of Staff
and navigator in the anti-submarine division in the 4th Flotilla
, based at Warnemünde
. This was followed by service as Chief of Staff of the Torpedo Boat
Brigade in the 6th Flotliia on the island of Ruegen. From 1963-65 he commanded this Brigade.
From 1965 to 1968 Dönitz attended a staff course at the Soviet Naval Academy in Leningrad
. After returning from the Soviet Union, he was again appointed commander of Torpedo Boat Brigade. In 1971 he became Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Flotilla. On December 1, 1974 he was promoted to Captain (Kapitän zur See).
From 1974 to 1983 he served as the commander of the 6th Flotilla, succeeding Kapitän zur See Theodor Hoffmann
, the future Minister of National Defense of East Germany. He was promoted to Rear Admiral (Konteradmiral) on October 7, 1980. From 1983 to 1987 he served as the Deputy Chief of Training and Head of the Department for Combat Training for the People's Navy. In 1987 he joined the Ministry of National Defense (MfNV), as the Chief Inspector of the People's Navy responsible for administrative inspection. He retired on September 30, 1990 just days before the reunification of Germany.
Volksmarine
Volksmarine was the official designation of the maritime forces of the German Democratic Republic . It was part of the National People's Army, established in 1956.-History:...
).
His father was a sales representative. After leaving school Hans-Joachim Dönitz studied from 1948 to 1952 in the specialty of sales representative. On May 12, 1952, he entered the service in the Maritime People Police (Volkspolizei See (VP-See)), forerunner of the East German People’s Navy “Volksmarine”. From 1952-54 he studied at the VP-See Officer's School in Stralsund
Stralsund
- Main sights :* The Brick Gothic historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.* The heart of the old town is the Old Market Square , with the Gothic Town Hall . Behind the town hall stands the imposing Nikolaikirche , built in 1270-1360...
.
After his graduation until 1956, he served as an operations officer in the Sassnitz
Sassnitz
Sassnitz is a town on the Jasmund peninsula, Rügen Island, in the Federal State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The population as of 2007 was 10,747....
coastal region. From 1956 to 1959 he attended naval training courses in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In 1957 he joined the East German Socialist Unity Party
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
(SED). From 1959 to 1961, he served as a navigator in a minesweeper unit. From 1961-62 he was a senior officer for navigation and for engineering in the Volksmarine's training command. He then served as Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
and navigator in the anti-submarine division in the 4th Flotilla
Flotilla
A flotilla , or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers...
, based at Warnemünde
Warnemünde
Warnemünde is a sea resort and northmost district of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, situated on the Baltic Sea in the northeast of Germany at the estuary of the river Warnow.- History :...
. This was followed by service as Chief of Staff of the Torpedo Boat
Torpedo boat
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval vessel designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs rammed enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes, and later designs launched self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes. They were created to counter battleships and other large, slow and...
Brigade in the 6th Flotliia on the island of Ruegen. From 1963-65 he commanded this Brigade.
From 1965 to 1968 Dönitz attended a staff course at the Soviet Naval Academy in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. After returning from the Soviet Union, he was again appointed commander of Torpedo Boat Brigade. In 1971 he became Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Flotilla. On December 1, 1974 he was promoted to Captain (Kapitän zur See).
From 1974 to 1983 he served as the commander of the 6th Flotilla, succeeding Kapitän zur See Theodor Hoffmann
Theodor Hoffmann (admiral)
Theodor Hoffmann East German Admiral who served as the head of the People's Navy and as the last Minister of National Defense of the Germany Democratic Republic and head of the National People's Army.-Early life:Hoffmann worked from 1949 to 1951 in agriculture...
, the future Minister of National Defense of East Germany. He was promoted to Rear Admiral (Konteradmiral) on October 7, 1980. From 1983 to 1987 he served as the Deputy Chief of Training and Head of the Department for Combat Training for the People's Navy. In 1987 he joined the Ministry of National Defense (MfNV), as the Chief Inspector of the People's Navy responsible for administrative inspection. He retired on September 30, 1990 just days before the reunification of Germany.
Medals and decorations
- Vaterländischen Verdienstorden (VVO) in Bronze
- Kampforden „Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland“ in Silver