Hendrik Born
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Born is a former Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral
) of the East German Navy (Volksmarine
) and the last chief of the People's Navy and its youngest Vizeadmiral.
in the Soviet Union
. His family moved to Stralsund
, where Hendrik Born attended school at the Hansa Gymnasium. His career goal was to be a teacher. After joining the Society for Sport and Technology (GST), he sailed on the type K-10 Cutter and participated in training courses at the People's Navy "Karl Liebknecht" university. This exposure helped him decide to become a professional sailor.
(SED). He served from 1967 to 1970, as fire control officer on "Riga" type coastal vessels #124 and #122 in the 4th Fleet at Warnemünde
, East Germany. This was followed by command from 1970 to 1972 of a Condor II class minesweeper #345. Born was promoted to the rank of Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) on October 7, 1972. That same year, Born began studies at the Soviet Naval Academy in Leningrad
.
In Leningrad, Born met Enessa Andreewna Komkina who later became his wife. He completed his studies at the Soviet Naval Academy in 1976 and graduated with distinction. On October 1, 1976, Born was promoted to the rank of Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander). Born was selected to take command of a "Koni" coastal frigate 142 in the 4th Fleet. While waiting for the delivery of this ship, Born and his crew trained on board its sister ship the "Rostock" and lived on a 4th Fleet accommodation ship until 1978. However there was a significant delay in delivery of this ship from the Soviet Union. Most of Born's crew were short term specialists who's three years enlistment ended before the ship was delivered. Unfortunately another officer took command of it in 1979 when it was christened the "Berlin".
In 1978, Born was placed on the staff of the 4th Fleet as part of the staff operational work group. In preparation for the large Warsaw Pact
maneuver "Brotherhood of Arms 80" („Waffenbrüderschaft 80“), he worked in a Rostock
, East Germany office building called the Rostocker Ständehaus on the exercise's naval plans including its deception plan. On October 7, 1980, Born was promoted to the rank of Fregattenkapitän (Commander), and in 1981 became the Deputy Director for operational work and later chief of staff of the 4th Protection Brigade.
In 1981, he moved to the 1st Fleet at Peenemünde
, where he served as the Deputy Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff. He assumed command of the 1st Fleet in 1984, a position he held until 1989. On March 7, 1985, he was promoted to Kapitän zur See (Captain) and again promoted on October 7, 1988 to Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral). He became the youngest admiral of the People's Navy. In August 1988, he led a naval visit to the Swedish Navy
in Gothenburg
, Sweden
.
After Admiral Theodor Hoffmann
became the East German Minister of National Defense, he selected Born as his replacement as the Chief of the People's Navy. Born was promoted to Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) on December 11, 1989. He held this position until his retirement on October 2, 1990. Born was the first Chief of the People's Navy, which was not the Deputy Minister of National Defense. After German Reunification
Born served a few weeks as a civilian adviser to Bundesmarine Flottillenadmiral (Commodore) Dirk Horten who had taken command of what was left of the People's Navy.
and later became MAN Turbo AG's sales manager in the Caspian Sea
region and Turkey
.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
) of the East German 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:...
) and the last chief of the People's Navy and its youngest Vizeadmiral.
Childhood
Born's parents had eight children. His father worked for the railway after returning in 1950 from captivity as a prisoner of warPrisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
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....
. His family moved to 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...
, where Hendrik Born attended school at the Hansa Gymnasium. His career goal was to be a teacher. After joining the Society for Sport and Technology (GST), he sailed on the type K-10 Cutter and participated in training courses at the People's Navy "Karl Liebknecht" university. This exposure helped him decide to become a professional sailor.
Naval career
Born entered into military school and began training on August 29, 1963. He was appointed to the rank of Leutnant zur See (Ensign) upon graduation on October 1, 1967. During this time, Born joined the Socialist Unity Party of GermanySocialist 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). He served from 1967 to 1970, as fire control officer on "Riga" type coastal vessels #124 and #122 in the 4th Fleet 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 :...
, East Germany. This was followed by command from 1970 to 1972 of a Condor II class minesweeper #345. Born was promoted to the rank of Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) on October 7, 1972. That same year, Born began studies 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...
.
In Leningrad, Born met Enessa Andreewna Komkina who later became his wife. He completed his studies at the Soviet Naval Academy in 1976 and graduated with distinction. On October 1, 1976, Born was promoted to the rank of Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander). Born was selected to take command of a "Koni" coastal frigate 142 in the 4th Fleet. While waiting for the delivery of this ship, Born and his crew trained on board its sister ship the "Rostock" and lived on a 4th Fleet accommodation ship until 1978. However there was a significant delay in delivery of this ship from the Soviet Union. Most of Born's crew were short term specialists who's three years enlistment ended before the ship was delivered. Unfortunately another officer took command of it in 1979 when it was christened the "Berlin".
In 1978, Born was placed on the staff of the 4th Fleet as part of the staff operational work group. In preparation for the large Warsaw Pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
maneuver "Brotherhood of Arms 80" („Waffenbrüderschaft 80“), he worked in a Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, East Germany office building called the Rostocker Ständehaus on the exercise's naval plans including its deception plan. On October 7, 1980, Born was promoted to the rank of Fregattenkapitän (Commander), and in 1981 became the Deputy Director for operational work and later chief of staff of the 4th Protection Brigade.
In 1981, he moved to the 1st Fleet at Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
, where he served as the Deputy Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff. He assumed command of the 1st Fleet in 1984, a position he held until 1989. On March 7, 1985, he was promoted to Kapitän zur See (Captain) and again promoted on October 7, 1988 to Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral). He became the youngest admiral of the People's Navy. In August 1988, he led a naval visit to the Swedish Navy
Swedish Navy
The Royal Swedish Navy is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet – as well as marine units, the so-called Amphibious Corps .In Swedish, vessels of the Swedish Navy are given the prefix "HMS," short for Hans/Hennes...
in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
After Admiral 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...
became the East German Minister of National Defense, he selected Born as his replacement as the Chief of the People's Navy. Born was promoted to Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) on December 11, 1989. He held this position until his retirement on October 2, 1990. Born was the first Chief of the People's Navy, which was not the Deputy Minister of National Defense. After German Reunification
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
Born served a few weeks as a civilian adviser to Bundesmarine Flottillenadmiral (Commodore) Dirk Horten who had taken command of what was left of the People's Navy.
Later life
After retirement Born was hired by Bremer VulkanBremer Vulkan
Bremer Vulkan AG was a great German shipbuilding company located at the Weser river in Bremen-Vegesack. It was founded in 1893 and closed in 1997 because of financial problems and mismanagement....
and later became MAN Turbo AG's sales manager in the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
region and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Military ranks
- Lieutenant zur See - October 1, 1967
- Oberleutnant zur See - 1969
- Kapitänleutnant - October 7, 1972
- Korvettenkapitän - October 1, 1976
- Fregattenkapitän- October 7, 1980
- Kapitan zur See - March 1, 1985
- Konteradmiral - October 7, 1988
- Vizeadmiral - December 11, 1989
Commands
- 1970-72 - "Condor II" class minesweeper #345
- 1976-78 - "Koni" coastal frigate #142 "Berlin"
- 1981-83 - Chief of Staff of the 4th Protection Brigade in Warnemünde
- 1983-84 - Chief of Staff of the 1st Flotilla in Peenemünde
- 1984-89 - Chief of the 1st Flotilla in Peenemünde
- December 1989 - 2 October 1990 - Chief of the People's Navy