Vizeadmiral Lietzmann

[Klaus O.]

Dear fellow collectors,

Last friday, 15 minutes after I put an order for an article on Detlev's catalogue, I received the confirmation of my latest acquisition:
die Wiederholungsspange zum EK 1. Klasse des Vizeadmirals Lietzmann



From the extensive listing of articles of Vizeadmiral Lietzmann I could already imagine his career/assignments during WWII. However I would really appreciate if somebody could give me more information on this Admiral (date of birth, death, etc.).

Thank you very much in advance!

Horrido!

Claudio

[ERIC S.]

Hello Claudio,
I have a little info - I hopes it helps!
What I know : Vizeadmiral Joachim Lietzmann - Born Sept.1 1894 in Kiel - Died Sept. 19 1959 in the city of Hameln - While a Konteradmiral he was Chief Of Staff for Admiral Karl-Georg Schuster between May 27,1940 and March 1, 1941 in France. He was also Commanding Admiral in the Adriatic Sept. 10 1943 to July 4, 1944 and again on July 16, 1944 to Dec. 7, 1944. I wish I could do more for you, but that's all I have!
ERIC

[Klaus O.]

Eric,

Thank you for your reply. Your informations confirm my thoughts about the Lietzmann's assiments during WWII. Among the articles sold by Detlev, there is a signed photograph of Admiral Schuster, many different orders and orders from Croatia and a cigarette box with the inscription "Dem scheidenden kommandieren Admiral die Offiziere und Beamte des Stabes Admiral Adria".

It would have great if you could give me more info on his career before WWII, especially on WWI. Maybe he was also a Military attache to the German Embassy in Madrid since he has also several Spanish orders but no "Spanienkreuz".

Ciao,

Claudio Ortelli

[Rick Research]

Lietzmann was a lucky survivor of the sinking of the cruiser "Gneisenau" at the Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914, and was a prisoner of war until 12 January 1918. He was then repatriated through the Netherlands, but was not released until after the war had ended.

Between the war, he intially served on torpedo boats, but then went into staff work. He was Naval Attaché in Paris for the German Embassies in France and Portugal from 24 March 1936 to 9 July 1937, as well as covering Spain in that capacity as well 24.3.-November 1936.

He was Naval Attaché at the German Embassy in Tokyo from 24 August 1937 until 30 March 1940.

[Klaus O.]

Thank you so much Rick! Very interesting indeed... especially the WWI part! I had a feeling that there were still some more juicy anecdotes on this fellow.

It would have been quite a set for you Rick, as an enthusiast of Kriegsmarine stuff, wouldn't it?


Ciao,

Claudio

[Rick Research]

Yes, none of Lietzmann's so far for me... but it is not too tragic--I've posted just 3 in Imperial that will be in my Ribbon bar Article here.

[Rick Research]

I've been asked for more about Lietzmann's WWI experience...

Vizeadmiral Maximilian Graf von Spee's East Asian Squadron took off from Chinese waters headed for home when the war started in 1914... ironically, leaving their colony at Tsingtau completely unprotected from the sea, which may have encouraged the Japanese landings there--with the consequences that followed in the 1930s and WW2.

Spee's ships fought and defeated a British intercepting force off Coronel on the Pacific coast of South America, causing a huge sensation. They then rounded Cape Horn and were heading for home when stopped and themselves defeated in the Falklands. Count Spee and most of the German crews, given the nature of naval warfare, were killed.

I believe the survivors were picked up by the British warships involved, and put ashore for internment in South America.

Ironically, Spee's flagship was the SMS "Scharnhorst," an unlucky ship again in WW2. And of course, the "Graf Spee" trapped and scuttled off Montevideo in December 1939 was named for him.