Heinz Neukirchen
Encyclopedia
Heinz Neukirchen was officer in the World War II Kriegsmarine
, Vice Admiral in the People's Navy (Volksmarine
) of the German Democratic Republic as well as President of the East German Directorate of Maritime and Port Industries. He was the author of several maritime books.
Neukirchen was the son of a small farmer and vegetable dealer. After graduation from high school he worked an internship from 1931 to 1932, then one year as a freelancer for the Düsseldorfer News. Neukirchen began service in the Germany Navy Kriegsmarine
in 1935. From 1939 to 1940, he worked as a boatswain's harbor protection commander. Following several warrant officer courses, Neukirchen served from 1943 to 1944 as a watch officer on a mine ship. In the last year of World War II, he was a Lieutenant and commander of U-Boat hunters stationed in Norway. In addition to this duty he served in 1945 as a battery commander of Marine infantry. From 1945 to 1949 he was in Soviet captivity.
He joined the National Democratic Party Germany (NDPD) in 1949, and worked until 1950 as an employee or manager of the NDPD political department in Mecklenburg
. After one year he became the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the NDPD for the Berlin
district.
Neukirchen joined the Main Administration Sea Police
(Hauptverwaltung Seepolizei (HVS)) on March 1, 1951. From 1954 to 1956, Neukirchen was Chief of Staff of the See Police/People's Police - Sea. He was appointed to the rank of Rear Admiral on October 1, 1952. In 1956 he attended the Soviet Naval Academy. Upon his return, he served until 1961 as Deputy Chief of the People's Navy (Seestreitkräfte/Volksmarine) and as Chief of Staff of the People's Navy command.
In 1959, he married Irmgard Neukirchen, a mother of 6 children from a previous husband.
He commanded the People's Navy (Volksmarine) from 1961 to 1963, while Wilhelm Ehm
attended the Soviet Naval Academy. After Ehm's return, he served again as a Deputy Chief of the People's Navy and Chief of Staff of the People's Navy command until his retirement from active service on November 30, 1965. On March 1, 1964, he was promoted to Vice Admiral.
After 1965, Neukirchen served as the President of East Germany's Directorate of Maritime and Port Industries. From 1965-67 he also served as the first chairman of the Football Club FC Hansa Rostock
.
His books have been translated into many languages.
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
, Vice Admiral in the People's Navy (Volksmarine
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:...
) of the German Democratic Republic as well as President of the East German Directorate of Maritime and Port Industries. He was the author of several maritime books.
Neukirchen was the son of a small farmer and vegetable dealer. After graduation from high school he worked an internship from 1931 to 1932, then one year as a freelancer for the Düsseldorfer News. Neukirchen began service in the Germany Navy Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
in 1935. From 1939 to 1940, he worked as a boatswain's harbor protection commander. Following several warrant officer courses, Neukirchen served from 1943 to 1944 as a watch officer on a mine ship. In the last year of World War II, he was a Lieutenant and commander of U-Boat hunters stationed in Norway. In addition to this duty he served in 1945 as a battery commander of Marine infantry. From 1945 to 1949 he was in Soviet captivity.
He joined the National Democratic Party Germany (NDPD) in 1949, and worked until 1950 as an employee or manager of the NDPD political department in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
. After one year he became the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the NDPD for the 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...
district.
Neukirchen joined the Main Administration Sea Police
Main Administration Sea Police
The Main Administration Sea Police was an East German maritime organization established with support of the Soviet Navy on June 16, 1950. It was an armed organization of the East German Ministry of the Interior designed to protect the German Democratic Republic’s maritime border and coastal areas...
(Hauptverwaltung Seepolizei (HVS)) on March 1, 1951. From 1954 to 1956, Neukirchen was Chief of Staff of the See Police/People's Police - Sea. He was appointed to the rank of Rear Admiral on October 1, 1952. In 1956 he attended the Soviet Naval Academy. Upon his return, he served until 1961 as Deputy Chief of the People's Navy (Seestreitkräfte/Volksmarine) and as Chief of Staff of the People's Navy command.
In 1959, he married Irmgard Neukirchen, a mother of 6 children from a previous husband.
He commanded the People's Navy (Volksmarine) from 1961 to 1963, while Wilhelm Ehm
Wilhelm Ehm
Wilhelm Ehm a World War II Wehrmacht veteran and East German Admiral who was Deputy Minister of National Defense of the German Democratic Republic and head of the People's Navy .- Early life :Ehm's father was a carpenter who served as an armorer and a bugler in the...
attended the Soviet Naval Academy. After Ehm's return, he served again as a Deputy Chief of the People's Navy and Chief of Staff of the People's Navy command until his retirement from active service on November 30, 1965. On March 1, 1964, he was promoted to Vice Admiral.
After 1965, Neukirchen served as the President of East Germany's Directorate of Maritime and Port Industries. From 1965-67 he also served as the first chairman of the Football Club FC Hansa Rostock
FC Hansa Rostock
F.C. Hansa Rostock is a German association football club based in the city of Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. They have emerged as one of the most successful clubs from the former East Germany and have made several appearances in the 1. Bundesliga. Rostock currently compete in the 2. Bundesliga...
.
Neukirchen's publications
- Krieg zur See (Deutscher Militärverlag, Berlin 1966)
- Handbuch Seeverkehr. Bd. 1 (1969)
- Handbuch Seeverkehr. Bd. 2. Collective authors: Reinhold Dopatka u.a. Head Author: Günter Babst; (Editor) Reinhold Dopatka und Heinz Neukirchen (1970)
- Handbuch Seeverkehr. Bd. 3. Head author: Gottfried Schulze; Lothar Uhlig; (Editor) Gottfried Schulze und Heinz Neukirchen (1970)
- Seefahrt gestern und heute (Transpress, Berlin 1970)
- "Häfen und Schiffe" (Transpress, Berlin 1974)
- Piraten - Seeraub auf allen Meeren (Transpress, Berlin 1977)
- "Geusen - Lieber ertrunken als gefangen" (Transpress, Berlin 1980)
- "Klar vorn und achtern - Auf einem Schaukelpferd zum Rio de la Plata" (Transpress, Berlin 1983)
- "Mit ungewissem Kurs" (Transpress, Berlin 1985)
- Seemacht im Spiegel der Geschichte (Transpress, Berlin 1982)
- Seefahrt im Wandel der Jahrtausende (Transpress, Berlin 1985)
- Seelord Gerry oder Wiedersehen mit Afrika (Transpress, Berlin 1989)
His books have been translated into many languages.