Commodore (Germany)

(pronounced ''kom-o-'dor-eh'') was the highest senior officer rank () in the German '' Kriegsmarine'', comparable to commodore in anglophone naval forces. There was no counterpart in the German '' Heer'' and'' Luftwaffe'', but ''Kommodore'' would have been comparable to ''Oberführer'' in the ''Waffen-SS''.

History

''Kommodore ''originated as a title used by some ''Kapitän zur See'' and ''Korvettenkapitän'' of the Prussian Navy and the ''Kaiserliche Marine'' (Imperial Navy) during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

A German ''Kommodore'' could hold any naval rank between lieutenant and captain and the title of ''Kommodore'' was held by those officers who held tactical control over more than one vessel. This was most common with U-boat commanders in charge of several submarines that were assigned to a single task force. In the 19th century, German officers of this rank were referred to as fleet captains (''Flottenkapitän'').

By World War II, ''Kommodore'' had at last become an actual - though rarely used - rank in the '' Kriegsmarine''. The position was considered that of a senior captain, with insignia being the shoulder boards of a ''Kapitän zur See'' with one thick admiral's rank stripe (52 mm) on the sleeve. German commodores also were permitted to wear greatcoat lapels and visor insignia of an admiral but were not officially members of the German admiralty. Probably the most prominent holder of this rank was Karl Dönitz, who became ''Kommodore'' and ''Führer der Unterseeboote'' (commander of submarines) on 28 January 1939; however, he held the rank for just over eight months until 1 October 1939, when he was promoted to ''Konteradmiral''.

The World War II rank of ''Kommodore'' existed in a grey zone of seniority, since neither of the other two branches of the ''Wehrmacht'' ('' Heer'' and ''Luftwaffe'') had equivalent ranks; thus, it was very similar to the '' S.S.'' rank of ''Oberführer''.

After the fall of Nazi Germany, and the rebuilding of the German Navy, ''Kommodore'' fell into disuse as a rank, effectively being replaced by the ''Flottillenadmiral'' which is the lowest flag rank. It reappeared as a title in the 1950s. In the modern age, a German commodore is a senior captain who holds the rank of captain but holds such positions as a naval squadron commander.

''Kriegsmarine'' rank insignia

The rank insignia consisted of shoulder strap and sleeve lace. Shoulder straps, corresponding to those of ''Kapitän zur See'', had to be worn on uniform jackets and consisted of twisted silver braids with two gold pips (stars) on padding in navy blue ''Waffenfarbe''. Cuff insignia consisted of one five-pointed star above a big gold lace. The sleeve rings encircled the lower cuffs.

The sequence of ranks in decreasing order of seniority was:
*''Konteradmiral''/ '' Generalmajor''
*''Kommodore'' / no ''Heer'' or ''Luftwaffe'' equivalent
*''Kapitän zur See'' / ''Oberst''

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kommodore
Naval ranks of Germany