British Naval Forces Germany


British Naval Forces Germany was a command of the Royal Navy that was active from 1944 to 1961 under three titles.
It was administered originally by the British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany from 1944 to 1946. In 1946 the commander's title changed to Vice-Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany from 1946 to 1947, before being renamed to Flag Officer, British Naval Forces Germany until 1961.

History

In 1944, the Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief, Expeditionary Force, was also given the title of British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany, before the surrender of Germany. In addition he was also Head of the Naval Division of the Control Commission for Germany, not always in attendance in Berlin, he was represented by a Deputy Head who attended the BERGOS meetings. As British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany, he was supported by a number of flag officers some of whose titles changed, due to an expanding of their particular command areas and duties. Flag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel became Flag Officer, Schleswig-Holstein and Flag Officer, Wilhelmshaven became Flag Officer, Western Germany. His headquarters were initially at Hamburg and then transferred later at Minden. His title was altered in 1946 to Vice Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany. In 1947 the post holders title was changed to Flag Officer Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany. Apart from his additional role as Chief British Naval Representative in the Allied Control Commission, he was responsible for all naval matters in Western Germany, Denmark, Holland and Norway.
In May 1951 the admiral's title was changed again to Flag Officer, Germany. In 1955 the Secretary of State for Defence described the admiral's duties as "The Flag Officer, Germany, in his North Atlantic Treaty Organisation capacity as the Commander, Allied Naval Forces, Northern Area, Central Europe, is responsible to the Supreme Allied
Commander, Europe, for naval planning matters in the British Zone and for the operational control of the Royal Naval forces in Germany. He is the naval member of the Commanders-in-Chief Committee which is responsible to the Chiefs of Staff Committee in this country. The entry into force of the Paris Treaties will not affect the foregoing duties of the post until at least the future German navy is capable of performing the tasks required of naval forces in Germany."
In 1961 the post was disestablished.

Head Quarters

Flag Officers

British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany

Post holders included:

Flag Officer, Holland

Flag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel

Flag Officer, Norway

Flag Officer, Schleswig-Holstein

Flag Officer, Western Germany

Flag Officer, Wilhelmshaven

Commodore-in-Charge, Hamburg

Vice-Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany

Flag Officer Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany

Flag Officer, Germany

Units and shore establishments

Shore establishments and units that constituted the Germany Station at various times from 1945 included:
LocationUnitIn commandDatesNotes/Ref
BerlinHQ HMS Royal PrinceFlag Officer, BerlinMarch–August 1945shore establishment
HamburgHQ HMS Royal AlfredFlag Officer-in-Charge, Hamburg1944shore establishment
Kiel/TravemundeHQ HMS Royal AlfredFlag Officer-in-Charge, Kiel1945–1946shore establishment
PloenHQ HMS Royal AlfredFlag Officer, Schleswig Holstein1945–1946shore establishment
WilhelmshavenHQ HMS Royal KatherineFlag Officer, Wilhelmshaven1944–1945shore establishment
WilhelmshavenHQ HMS Royal KatherineFlag Officer, Western Germany1945–1946shore establishment
Kiel/TravemundeHQ HMS Royal AlfredSenior Naval Officer Schleswig Holstein1945–1946shore establishment
Bad OeynhausenHQ British Army on the RhineRoyal Navy Representative C-in-C Committee, Germany1958
BerlinHQ HMS Princess IreneSenior Naval Officer, Royal Navy Headquarters, Germanyshore establishment
BrunsbüttelHMS Princess Louise1945–1946shore establishment
CuxhavenMinesweeping UnitControl Commission Germany1948–1951
CuxhavenElbe SquadronCommanding Officer, Elbe Squadron
CuxhavenHMS Augusta1945–1946administrative unit ms
CuxhavenHQ HMS Royal AlbertNaval Officer-in-Charge, Cuxhaven1945–1948accounting base
EckernfördeHQ HMS Princess Caroline1945–1946shore establishment
FlensburgHQ HMS Royal AlexandraNaval Officer-in-Charge, Flensburg1945–1946shore establishment
FlensburgHQ HMS Royal AlexandraSenior Naval Officer-in-Charge, Flensburg1946–1947shore establishment
KielBritish Baltic Fishery Protection Service1949–1955covert intelligence unit
KielHQ Land Commissioner, Schleswig-HolsteinNaval Liaison Officer to LC, Schleswig-Holstein
KielHMS Royal CharlotteSenior Officer Intelligence Kiel1945intelligence unit
KielHMS Royal HaroldNaval Officer-in-Charge, Kiel1945–1948shore establishment
KrefeldRhine FlotillaCommanding Officer, Rhine Flotilla1950
KrefeldRhine SquadronCommanding Officer, Rhine Squadron1954
LübeckHQ Royal CarolineNaval Officer in Charge, Lubeck1945–1946shore establishment
Lübeck1 Commando BrigadeCommander 1st Commando BrigadeMay–July 1945Royal Marines
SyltHMS Royal AdelaideNaval Officer-in-Charge, SyltMay–October 1945shore establishment
TonningHMS Royal Adelaide1945–1946shore establishment
TravemundeHMS Royal Carolineshore establishment
WilhelmshavenHQ HMS Royal RupertNaval Officer in Charge, Wilhelmshaven1945–1950shore establishment