Max von der Goltz
Encyclopedia
Otto Ferdinand Maximilian Leopold Freiherr von der Goltz (born April 19, 1838 in Königsberg
, Prussia
, Germany
; died December 20, 1906 in Potsdam
, Germany) was an Admiral of the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine
).
Goltz joined the Prussian Navy
in 1853, and became an Ensign 1859, and Lieutenant in 1865, and Lieutenant-Commander (Korvettenkapitän) in 1870. He was then at the Navy Ministry.
Now a captain (Kapitän zur See), he made several trips as commander of the corvette ‘SMS Augusta’ to South America (Brazil
) and West Indies. Between 1877 and 1882 he was senior director of the shipyard in Kiel
and reorganized the yard. He was then chief of the Mediterranean Squadron during the conflict in Egypt and in 1883 briefly became commander of the German East Asia Squadron
(Ostasiengeschwader) before being appointed Rear Admiral and chief of the German Imperial Admiralty
. Five years later he was made Vice Admiral and appointed commander (Marinetstationschef) of the North Sea Naval Station (Marinestation der Nordsee
) at Wilhelmshaven. In 1889 he became commanding admiral of the Oberkommando der Marine
(Naval High Command) and in 1892 Goltz finally became a full Admiral.
On 13 May 1895 Max Freiherr von der Goltz resigned his position for health reasons. He died on 20 December 1906 in Potsdam.
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, 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...
; died December 20, 1906 in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, Germany) was an Admiral of the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine
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...
).
Goltz joined 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 1853, and became an Ensign 1859, and Lieutenant in 1865, and Lieutenant-Commander (Korvettenkapitän) in 1870. He was then at the Navy Ministry.
Now a captain (Kapitän zur See), he made several trips as commander of the corvette ‘SMS Augusta’ to South America (Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) and West Indies. Between 1877 and 1882 he was senior director of the shipyard in Kiel
Kaiserliche Werft Kiel
Kaiserliche Werft Kiel was a German shipbuilding company founded in 1867, first as Königliche Werft Kiel but renamed in 1871 with the proclamation of the German Empire...
and reorganized the yard. He was then chief of the Mediterranean Squadron during the conflict in Egypt and in 1883 briefly became commander of the German East Asia Squadron
German East Asia Squadron
The German East Asia Squadron was a German Navy cruiser squadron which operated mainly in the Pacific Ocean between the 1870s and 1914...
(Ostasiengeschwader) before being appointed Rear Admiral and chief of the German Imperial 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...
. Five years later he was made Vice Admiral and appointed commander (Marinetstationschef) of the North Sea Naval Station (Marinestation der Nordsee
Marinestation der Nordsee
The Marinestation der Nordsee of the German Imperial Navy Kaiserliche Marine at Wilhelmshaven, Germany came out of the efforts of the navy of the North German Confederation. The land was obtained for the Confederation from the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg by Prince Adalbert of Prussia through the...
) at Wilhelmshaven. In 1889 he became commanding admiral of the Oberkommando der Marine
Oberkommando der Marine
The Oberkommando der Marine was Nazi Germany's Naval High Command and the highest administrative and command authority of the Kriegsmarine. It was officially formed from the Marineleitung of the Reichswehr on 11 January 1936. In 1937 it was combined with the newly formed Seekriegsleitung...
(Naval High Command) and in 1892 Goltz finally became a full Admiral.
On 13 May 1895 Max Freiherr von der Goltz resigned his position for health reasons. He died on 20 December 1906 in Potsdam.