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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Kemnade, Friedrich |
| Date of birth: | December 12th, 1911 (Schwarmstedt-Fallingbostel/Hannover, Germany)
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| Date of death: |
January 29th, 2008 (Hamburg, Germany)
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| Nationality: |
German |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Friedrich Kemnade was born December 12th, 1911 in Schwarmstedt. Having finished his education in March 1931, he joined the Reichsmarine on April 1st 1931 as Seeoffiziersanwärter (candidate naval officer). On October 1st he was commissioned as Seekadett (cadet). After military training he served aboard a sailing training vessel. In 1932 he served aboard the cruiser Karlsruhe and was promoted to Gefreiter (sergeant) on April 1st. In 1933, Kemnade was sent to the Naval Academy in Mürwick and subsequentle served as Divisionsfähnrich aboard the cruiser Königsberg. After being promotd to Fähnrich zur See and to Obermaar he was posted as Divisionsleutnant and 2nd torpedo officer aboard respectively the cruiser Königsberg and Nürnberg. After being promoted to Oberfähnrich zur See and to Leutnant zur See in 1935, he was made Schnellbootkommandant in 1.Schnellboot-Halbflotille in 1936. In 1937, following his promotion to Oberleunant zur See, he was posted to a torpedoschool as an instructor.
At the onset of World War Two in September 1939, Kemnade was commissioned as 1. Torpedo officer and Adjutant on the cruiser Emden where he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant in October. In 1940 he was given command of 3.Schnellbootsflotille; at 22:04 on September 11th, 1940, during a British bombardment on Vlissingen, he was seriously injured whilst aboard Schnellboot S13.
After recuperation, he came back to his old post and was promoted to Korvettenkapitän in 1943. Subsequently he served as Referent in the Oberkommando (Supreme Command) of the Kriegsmarine witihn the SKL (Seekriegsleitung, director naval operations), a post he held until Germany surrendered on May 8th, 1945.
Immediately after he German capitulation, Kemnade was made liaison officer in the OkK (Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine, Supreme Comand Navy) for the Allied Naval Commission and placed under British supervision. On February 27th, 1946, he was released from supervision. Until 1956 he was employed as agent, later as district inspector and management assistent of the Allianz Versicherung-AG (Insurance comp. Ltd) and became branch manager in 1952.
April 1st, 1956 he entered service with the Navy in the newly established Bundeswehr. He received the rank of Fregattenkapitän and he became administrator on the staff of the German Military Mission with NATO in Washington. In 1958 he was promoted to Kommandeur der Schnellboote and in 1960 he took the post of director of operations with the commander of naval forces in the Ostsee. In 1961 Kemnade was made director of operations Flottenkommando and in 1963 he became its Chief of Staff. October 1st of that year, he was appointed Kommandeur der Abteilung Marine Führungsakademie of the Bundeswehr. He remained in this post until April 1st, 1968 when he was appointed Befehlshaber Wehrbereich 1 (Commander Defense Sector 1) and the German Plenipotentiary to AFNORTH (Allied Forces Northern Europe).
Kemnade retired on September 30th, 1970 and on that occassion was awarded the Grosses Verdienstkreuz des Bundesverdienstorden (Grand Cross of Merit) for his contribution to the work of the Bundeswehr.
Promotions:
Kriegsmarine:
April 1st, 1931: Seeoffiziersanwärter;
October 1st, 1931: Seekadett;
April 1st, 1932: Gefreiter;
January 1st, 1933: Fähnrich zur See;
July 1st, 1933: Obermaat;
January 1st, 1935: Oberfähnrich zur See;
April 1st, 1935: Leutnant zur See;
January 1st, 1937: Oberleutnant zur See;
October 1st, 1937: Kapitänleutnant;
March 1st, 1943: Korvettenkapitän;
Bundesmarine:
April 1st, 1956: Fregattenkapitän;
August 15th, 1959: Kapitän zur See;
April 17th, 1964: Flottillenadmiral;
April 2nd, 1968: Konteradmiral.
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VERWUNDETENABZEICHEN 1939 IN SCHWARZ
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Rank:
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Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
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Unit:
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3. Schnellbootflotille
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Awarded on:
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September 20th, 1940
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Action:
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Kemnade was badly wounded during a British Air raid dd 11-09-1940 on the Dutch Harbour Vlissingen (Flushing)on board of hte S 13.
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EISERNES KREUZ 1. KLASSE
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Rank:
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Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
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Unit:
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3. Schnellbootflotille
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Awarded on:
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December 24th, 1940
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DEUTSCHES KREUZ IN GOLD
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Rank:
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Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
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Unit:
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3. Schnellbootsflotille
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Awarded on:
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February 2nd, 1942
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WEHRMACHTBERICHT
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Rank:
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Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
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Unit:
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Chef 3. Schnellbootsflotille
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Awarded on:
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June 18th, 1942
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Action:
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Mentioning:
"A German fast attack flotilla, under the leadership of their flotilla chief Kapitänleutnant Kemnade, was involved in the defeat of the British convoy in the eastern Mediterranean. The flotilla torpedoed two British cruisers, of which a cruiser was hit by two torpedoes and was most likely sunk. The fast attack crafts already in previous ventures off the Libyan coast sank one destroyer, an escort ship, a submarine hunter and 15 000 tons of shipping supplies."
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FLOTTEN-KRIEGSABZEICHEN
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Rank:
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Käpitanleutnant (Lieutenant)
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Unit:
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3. Schnellbootsflotille
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Awarded on:
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January 2nd, 1943
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CROCE AL VALORE DI GUERRA
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Rank:
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Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
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Unit:
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3. Schnellbootsflotille
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Awarded on:
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March 17th, 1943
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RITTERKREUZ MIT EICHENLAUB
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Rank:
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Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
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Unit:
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Chef 3. Schnellbootsflotille
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Awarded on:
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May 27th, 1943
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Details:
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249th Award.
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ÄRMELBAND AFRIKA
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Rank:
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Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander)
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Unit:
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3. Schnellbootsflotille
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Awarded on:
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October 12th, 1943
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Provide alterations or additional information |
| Picture source: |
- Wilco Vermeer collectie, Nederland |
| Information source(s): |
- FELLGIEBEL, W.P., Elite of theThird Reich, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003.
- PATZWALL, K. & SCHERZER, V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001.
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
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