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Alfred SaalwachterGerman naval figure, General Admiral
Date of Birth: 10.01.1883
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Early Life and Naval Career
- Naval Training and Assignments
- Service in the Imperial German Navy
- - On April 1, 1906, he joined the 2nd Torpedo Boat Division.
- Staff and Planning Roles
- World War I and Submarine Command
- - On April 1, 1916, he was transferred to the submarine fleet.
- Interwar Period
- Staff and Command Positions
- - On October 15, 1928, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Fleet.
- Command of Naval Station North Sea
- World War II
- - He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on May 9, 1940.
- - He was dismissed from service on November 30, 1942.
- Rehabilitation
Early Life and Naval Career
Birth and Family- Otto von Saalwachter was born to a factory director on September 15, 1882.
Naval Training and Assignments
- Saalwachter joined the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) as a cadet on April 10, 1901.
- He received training aboard the cruiser SMS Moltke and the training ship SMS Herta.
Service in the Imperial German Navy
Officer and Command Positions- On September 29, 1904, Saalwachter was promoted to lieutenant.
- From September 19, 1905, he served as a watch officer on the battleship SMS Hessen.
- On April 1, 1906, he joined the 2nd Torpedo Boat Division.
- From October 1, 1908, Saalwachter became watch officer on the armored cruiser SMS Gneisenau.
Staff and Planning Roles
- On October 1, 1909, he was appointed as a flag lieutenant in the staff of the 1st Squadron.
- On October 1, 1911, Saalwachter was transferred to the Admiralty Staff and served under Vice Admiral Hugo Pohl.
World War I and Submarine Command
Combat Service- Saalwachter participated in World War I as a flag lieutenant with the fleet command (aboard the dreadnought SMS Friedrich der Große).
- On April 1, 1916, he was transferred to the submarine fleet.
- Saalwachter commanded submarines U-25, U-46, and U-94.Recognition
- For his bravery, Saalwachter was awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, and the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords.
Interwar Period
Retained in Navy after Demobilization- Despite the disarmament measures following the war, Saalwachter remained in the navy.
Staff and Command Positions
- He served as the 1st Adjutant to the staff of the North Sea Naval Station from 1919 to 1920.
- On March 17, 1920, Saalwachter was transferred to the Personnel Office of the Naval Command.
- From October 15, 1923, he became the 1st Admiral Staff Officer in the staff of the Fleet Commander.
- On October 1, 1926, Saalwachter commanded the light cruiser SMS Amazone, and later the battleship SMS Schlesien.
- On October 15, 1928, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Fleet.
Senior Naval Staff- From September 29, 1930, Saalwachter headed the Naval Defense Department of the Naval Command.
- He served as Inspector of Naval Education Establishments from October 2, 1933, to October 27, 1938.
Command of Naval Station North Sea
- On October 28, 1938, Saalwachter became Commander of the Naval Station North Sea.
World War II
Commander of Naval Group West- From August 23, 1939, to September 20, 1942, Saalwachter commanded Naval Group West and oversaw the invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung).
- He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on May 9, 1940.
Relieved from Command- On September 21, 1942, Saalwachter was relieved from his position and transferred to the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
- He was dismissed from service on November 30, 1942.
Post-War and ExecutionArrest and Sentencing
- Saalwachter was arrested by Soviet counterintelligence on July 11, 1945.
- On October 17, 1945, he was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on December 6, 1945.
