Friedrich Elchlepp
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Elchlepp was a World War II German Navy (Kriegsmarine
) Oberleutnant zur See, a lawyer and a Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) in the East German People’s Navy (Volksmarine
).
and later became a watch officer on U-Boat
U-3514. His U-Boat surrendered to British
forces in Norway
in 1945 and he became a British prisoner of war. He briefly served as a watch officer aboard one of the German Mine Sweeping Administration’s auxiliary minesweepers. He returned home to the Soviet Zone of Occupation and joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
in 1946. From 1946 to 1949, he was a student at the University of Halle. In 1949 he became a member of the Free German Trade Union (FDGB) in Saxony
. Elchlepp passed the state law exam and was employed by the provincial government of Brandenburg
from 1949 to 1950, as director of the Administration School at Königswusterhausen.
, Peenemünde
. From 1953 to 1954, he served as the head of the Operational Staff of the Volkspolizei See (People’s Police Sea). From 1954 to 1956 he was the acting Chief of Staff of the Volkspolizei See. From March 1, 1956 to June 30, 1956, he was Chief of Staff of Volkspolizei See. Elchlepp attended the Soviet Naval War Academy in Leningrad
from 1956 to 1957. From 1958 to 1960 he served as the deputy commander for training of the Sea Officer School at Stralsund
. From 1960 to 1981, he served as the Sea Damage Commissioner of the German Democratic Republic
working from the Volksmarine (People’s Navy) command. From 1981 to 1984 He served as the Sea Commissioner of the German Democratic Republic.
His awards include the Fatherland Order of Merit (Vaterländischer Verdienstorden) in Silver and the Kampforden “Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland” (Battle Order “For Merit to the People and Fatherland”) in Gold.
Elchlepp retired from the Volksmarine on Nov 30, 1984.
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
) Oberleutnant zur See, a lawyer and a Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) in the East German People’s Navy (Volksmarine
Volksmarine
Volksmarine was the official designation of the maritime forces of the German Democratic Republic . It was part of the National People's Army, established in 1956.-History:...
).
Early life
His father was a teacher. Elchlepp served in the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) from 1941-1945. obtaining the rank of Oberleutnant zur See. He served aboard a small picket boat on the Bay of BiscayBay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
and later became a watch officer on U-Boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
U-3514. His U-Boat surrendered to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1945 and he became a British prisoner of war. He briefly served as a watch officer aboard one of the German Mine Sweeping Administration’s auxiliary minesweepers. He returned home to the Soviet Zone of Occupation and joined the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
in 1946. From 1946 to 1949, he was a student at the University of Halle. In 1949 he became a member of the Free German Trade Union (FDGB) in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
. Elchlepp passed the state law exam and was employed by the provincial government of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
from 1949 to 1950, as director of the Administration School at Königswusterhausen.
East German Navy service
On February 28, 1950, he joined the East German maritime police forces. From 1950 to 1951, he was a department head in the Seepolizei (See Police) command with the grade of Inspector. From 1951 to 1953, Elchlepp was head of Fleet Base East, WolgastWolgast
Wolgast is a town in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the bank of the river Peenestrom, vis-a-vis the island of Usedom that can be accessed by road and railway via a bascule bridge...
, Peenemünde
Peenemünde
The Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
. From 1953 to 1954, he served as the head of the Operational Staff of the Volkspolizei See (People’s Police Sea). From 1954 to 1956 he was the acting Chief of Staff of the Volkspolizei See. From March 1, 1956 to June 30, 1956, he was Chief of Staff of Volkspolizei See. Elchlepp attended the Soviet Naval War Academy in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
from 1956 to 1957. From 1958 to 1960 he served as the deputy commander for training of the Sea Officer School at Stralsund
Stralsund
- Main sights :* The Brick Gothic historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.* The heart of the old town is the Old Market Square , with the Gothic Town Hall . Behind the town hall stands the imposing Nikolaikirche , built in 1270-1360...
. From 1960 to 1981, he served as the Sea Damage Commissioner of the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
working from the Volksmarine (People’s Navy) command. From 1981 to 1984 He served as the Sea Commissioner of the German Democratic Republic.
His awards include the Fatherland Order of Merit (Vaterländischer Verdienstorden) in Silver and the Kampforden “Für Verdienste um Volk und Vaterland” (Battle Order “For Merit to the People and Fatherland”) in Gold.
Elchlepp retired from the Volksmarine on Nov 30, 1984.