Gustav Kieseritzky (22 September 1893 – 19 November 1943) was a German career naval officer who served in the Imperial German Navy, the Reichsmarine and the Kriegsmarine. As an admiral during World War II, he was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Kieseritzky was killed on 19 November 1943 during the Kerch–Eltigen Operation and was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross, on 20 November 1943.
Contents
World War I and the interwar years
Kieseritzky was born at Rendsburg in 1893 and joined the Imperial German Navy in 1912. He served in World War I and, by the end of the war, he was an Oberleutnant zur See serving as a staff officer of the High Seas Fleet. He remained in the post-war Reichsmarine from 1919 and the Kriegsmarine from 1935. After serving as the first officer on the battleship Schleswig-Holstein, he was posted to the Reich Ministry of War (later OKW) as a department head from March 1936 to June 1938. He returned to the Schleswig-Holstein as its commanding officer from June 1938 to April 1939.
World War II
During World War II, Kieseritzky first served, until June 1940, as the chief of staff of the Naval Signals Inspectorate in the Oberkommando der Marine (OKM), the naval high command. He next was named as the naval commandant of Brest, France until December 1940, and then commander of all sea fortifications in Brittany until June 1942. At that time, he was appointed as the commander of the German Bight, followed in February 1943 as the commanding admiral of the Black Sea, a post he held until he was killed in action against Soviet forces in November. Kieseritzky was promoted to Konteradmiral in September 1941 and to Vizeadmiral in March 1943.
Awards and decorations
Iron Cross (1914) 1st and 2nd class
Friedrich-August-Kreuz 1st and 2nd class
Hanseatic Cross of Lübeck
Gallipoli Star
Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918
Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 1st and 2nd class
German Cross in gold (20 October 1943)
Wound Badge (1939) in gold
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 November 1943 as Vizeadmiral and commanding admiral, Black Sea