Hubert Schmundt

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Hubert Schmundt
Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1971-078-74, Hubert Schmundt.jpg
Hubert Schmundt
Born (1888-09-19)19 September 1888
Died 17 October 1984(1984-10-17) (aged 96)
Bad Soden
Allegiance  German Empire (to 1919)
 Weimar Republic (to 1933)
 Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Kaiserliche Marine
Years of service 1908–1944
Rank Admiral
Unit SMS Charlotte
SMS Scharnhorst
SMS Württemberg
Commands held light cruiser Königsberg
light cruiser Nürnberg
Naval Academy Mürwik
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl Julius Gustav Hubert Schmundt (19 September 1888 – 17 October 1984) was an Admiral of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.


Schmundt joined the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) as a cadet in 1908 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1911. He was serving with the German East Asia Squadron aboard SMS Scharnhorst between 1910 and 1913 and returned to Germany in 1913.

During World War I he was flag lieutenant of the 3rd destroyer flotilla and commanded the destroyer V71 being promoted to Kapitänleutnant in 1918. Schmudt was awarded the Iron Cross first and second class.

Schmunt remained in the Navy after the end of the war and in the 1920s commanded the torpedo boat S18 and served as a staff officer. He was promoted to Korvettenkapitän in 1927 and served as an aide to Defence Minister Wilhelm Groener between 1929 and 1932. During the 1930s Schmunt commanded the light cruisers Konigsberg (1934–35) and Nurnberg (1935–36). He became commander of the Naval Academy Mürwik in 1938 and was promoted to Rear Admiral.

In the Second World War Schmundt commanded the Bergen warship group during Operation Weserübung (squadron group consisted of light cruisers Köln (flagship) and the Königsberg, an artillery training ship Bremse, torpedo boat tender "Karl Peters, destroyers " Wolf " and " Leopard ", and a group of small warships). Subsequently Schmundt served as Admiral commanding Northern Norway (1941–42) including commanding Operation Wunderland, and as commander of German forces in the Baltic (1943–44). He was dismissed in April 1944 and taken prisoner by the British in 1945. He was released in 1947.



  1. ^ According to Scherzer as stellvertretender Befehlshaber der Aufklärungs-Streitkräfte und Führer der Kriegschiffgruppe 3 (Zielhafen Bergen)—deputy commander of the reconnaissance forces and leader of the warship group 3 (destination Bergen).[3]


  1. ^ a b c d e f g Dörr 1996, p. 209.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 383.
  3. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 674.

External links[edit]

Military offices
Preceded by
Vizeadmiral Günther Lütjens
Befehlshaber der Aufklärungsstreitkräfte (B.d.A.)
1 April 1940 – 31 July 1940
Succeeded by
Re-designated Befehlshaber der Kreuzer (B.d.K.)