Background
Hans George von Friedeburg was born in Strasbourg on 15 July 1895.
Hans George von Friedeburg was born in Strasbourg on 15 July 1895.
He joined the Imperial navy during World War I serving as a cadet, and after promotion to Naval Lieutenant in 1916 he was transferred to U-boat service a year later.
In 1933 Friedeburg was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander and Adjutant to the Reich War Ministry. In the same year he introduced Heinrich Himmler to the High Command circle and the head of the Army Administration section, Walter von Reichenau. The following year, the young Naval Captain was himself promoted to the High Command through Himmler’s influence.
At the end of World War II, Friedeburg, who had meanwhile risen to the rank of Admiral, was given supreme command of the German navy. He exercised this function for eight days - from 1 to 9 May 1945 - before co-signing the official German capitulation to Soviet forces in Berlin.
On 23 May 1945 he committed suicide in Mürwik.