Hugo Meurer
Encyclopedia
Hugo Meurer was a Vice-Admiral of the Kaiserliche Marine
(German Imperial Navy). Meurer was the German naval officer who handled the negotiations of the surrender of the German fleet in November 1918 at the end of World War I
.
.
During World War I
he served as commander
of at the Battle of Jutland
, and from 1916 to 1917 as captain
of the battleship
. In 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral (Konteradmiral), as the second Admiral of the 4th Battle Squadron of the High Seas Fleet
, which he remained until the end of the war.
From 21 February to 2 May 1918, as commander of the special unit (Sonderverband) of the Baltic Sea
, he led the naval expedition for the liberation of Finland
. In November 1918 Meurer negotiated as representative of Admiral Franz von Hipper
with Admiral David Beatty
the details of the surrender of the German fleet.
Meurer was also the naval station commander of the Baltic, based in Kiel. He retired in 1920 with the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Reichsmarine
.
He died in 1960 in Kiel, where he was buried.
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
(German Imperial Navy). Meurer was the German naval officer who handled the negotiations of the surrender of the German fleet in November 1918 at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Life
Meurer was born in Sallach in Styria. In 1886 he joined the Kaiserliche MarineKaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served as commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of at the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
, and from 1916 to 1917 as captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
of the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. In 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral (Konteradmiral), as the second Admiral of the 4th Battle Squadron of the High Seas Fleet
High Seas Fleet
The High Seas Fleet was the battle fleet of the German Empire and saw action during World War I. The formation was created in February 1907, when the Home Fleet was renamed as the High Seas Fleet. Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was the architect of the fleet; he envisioned a force powerful enough to...
, which he remained until the end of the war.
From 21 February to 2 May 1918, as commander of the special unit (Sonderverband) of the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, he led the naval expedition for the liberation of Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In November 1918 Meurer negotiated as representative of Admiral Franz von Hipper
Franz von Hipper
Franz Ritter von Hipper was an admiral in the German Imperial Navy . Franz von Hipper joined the German Navy in 1881 as an officer cadet. He commanded several torpedo boat units and served as watch officer aboard several warships, as well as Kaiser Wilhelm II's yacht Hohenzollern...
with Admiral David Beatty
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty
Admiral of the Fleet David Richard Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO was an admiral in the Royal Navy...
the details of the surrender of the German fleet.
Meurer was also the naval station commander of the Baltic, based in Kiel. He retired in 1920 with the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Reichsmarine
Reichsmarine
The Reichsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Weimar Republic and first two years of Nazi Germany. It was the naval branch of the Reichswehr, existing from 1918 to 1935...
.
He died in 1960 in Kiel, where he was buried.