| Otto Schniewind | |
|---|---|
| 14 December 1887 – 26 March 1964 (aged 76) | |
| Place of birth | Saarlouis |
| Place of death | Linz am Rhein |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch |  Kaiserliche Marine Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine |
| Years of service | 1907-1945 |
| Rank | Generaladmiral |
| Commands held | German cruiser Köln |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Otto Schniewind (14 December 1887 – 26 March 1964) was a General Admiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Schniewind entered the Kaiserliche Marine in 1907 as a cadet. During the First World War he served as a commander of torpedoboats. When the German fleet surrendered to the British he commanded a suadron of torpedo boats, with this he partook in the Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow, after which he was taken prisoner by the British.
After being released Schniewind continued to serve in the Reichsmarine. From 1925 to 1926 he served as adjudant to the Minister of War Otto Gessler. In 1932 Schniewind became captain of the light cruiser Köln. In 1934 Schniewind was appointed to an other staff function. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1937 and to vice admiral in 1940.
He served as Chief of Staff of the Seekriegsleitung from 1938 to 1941. After the sinking of the Bismarck Schniewind was appointed as successor to Günther Lütjens who was lost with the ship. In 1943 Schniewind became commander of Marinegruppenkommandos Nord. On March 1, 1944 Schniewind was promoted to Generaladmiral. On July 30, 1944 Schniewind was relieved of command and for the duration of the war he saw no further employment.
After the War he was arrested and prosecuted during the High Command Trial for his role in the invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung) but he was acquitted, after which he was released from captivity. From 1949 to 1952 he served with the Naval Historical Teams in Bremerhaven.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class
- Friedrich-August-Kreuz 2nd and 1st Class
- Cross of Honor
- Order of the Sword, Commander 2nd Class
- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung 4th to 1st Class
- Memel Medal
- Sava-Orden 2nd Class (1 June 1939)
- Order of the Crown of Italy, Grand Officer (23 September 1939)
- Spanisches Marieneverdienstkreuz in White
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (20 April 1940)
- Order of the Sacred Treasure 1st Class
- High Seas Fleet Badge
References
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Range, Clemens (1974). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine. Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 3-87943-355-0.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by none |
Chief of Staff of the Seekriegsleitung October 1938 – 10 June 1941 |
Succeeded by Admiral Kurt Fricke |
| Preceded by Admiral Günther Lütjens |
Chief of Fleet of the Kriegsmarine June 1941 – July 1944 |
Succeeded by Admiral Wilhelm Meendsen-Bohlken |
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