(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Vizeadmiral Walther Franz
Born: 07 Aug 1880 in Mülheim, Ruhr
Died: 19 Jan 1956 in Schöningen, Braunschweig
Promotions:
Seekadett (27 Apr 1898); Fähnrich zur See (01 Jan 1899); Leutnant zur See (23 Sep 1900); Oberleutnant zur See (15 Jul 1902); Kapitänleutnant (27 Apr 1907); Korvettenkapitän (22 Mar 1914); Fregattenkapitän (08 Mar 1920); Kapitän zur See (01 Oct 1921); Konteradmiral (01 Apr 1927); Vizeadmiral (01 Dec 1928)
Career:
Entered the Navy as a Kadett and Attended Basic-Training and on Board the School-Ship ‘Charlotte’ (07 Apr 1897-23 Apr 1898)
On Board the School-Ship ‘Sophie’ (24 Apr 1898-09 Apr 1899)
Attended Naval-School and Special-Briefings (10 Apr 1899-01 Oct 1900)
On Board the Liner ‘Baden’ (02 Oct 1900-30 Sep 1901)
Departed to East Asia (01 Oct 1901-02 Dec 1901)
Watch-Officer on Board the Light Cruiser ‘Bussard’ (03 Dec 1901-24 Oct 1902)
Watch-Officer on the Light Cruiser ‘Thetis’ (26 Oct 1902-19 Jun 1903)
Returned Home from East Asia (20 Jun 1903-10 Aug 1903)
Company-Officer, II. Shipyard-Division (11 Aug 1903-30 Sep 1903)
Company-Officer, Adjutant and Company-Leader, II. Sailor-Artillery-Battalion (01 Oct 1903-24 Aug 1906)
Detached to the Inspection of Coastal Artillery and Mine Affairs (25 Aug 1906-30 Sep 1906)
Watch-Officer on the Liner ‘Braunschweig’ (01 Oct 1906-05 Oct 1907)
Watch-Officer on the Liner ‘Mecklenburg’ (06 Oct 1907-30 Sep 1909)
Company-Officer with the II. Sailor-Artillery-Battalion (01 Oct 1909-03 Aug 1910)
Artillery-Officer on the Liner ‘Braunschweig’ (15 Sep 1910-31 Jul 1912)
Artillery-Officer on the Liner ‘Kaiser’ (01 Aug 1912-25 Aug 1913)
2nd Admiral-Staff-Officer, Staff of the Commander of Reconnaissance-Ships (26 Aug 1913-06 Feb 1916)
2nd Admiral-Staff-Officer, Command of the High Seas Fleet (07 Feb 1916-02 Sep 1918)
Commandant of the Light Cruiser ‘Königsberg’ (03 Sep 1918-05 Mar 1919)
Battalion-Commander, Volunteer Regiment Kiel (06 Mar 1919-30 Sep 1919)
Artillery and Navigations Director, Reichs-Shipyard Wilhelmshaven, on 14/03/1920 Naval-Shipyard Wilhelmshaven; At the same time, Liaison-Officer of the Naval-Peace-Commission (01 Oct 1919-18 May 1923)
Senior Shipyard Director, Naval-Shipyard Wilhelmshaven (19 May 1923-03 Oct 1928)
Commander of the Sea-Forces of the North Sea and 2nd Admiral of the Liner-Division (11 Oct 1928-21 Dec 1929)
Commander of Liners (01 Jan 1930-27 Feb 1930)
Retired (31 Mar 1930)
Placed to the Disposal of the Kriegsmarine (24 Mar 1939-03 Sep 1939)
Reichs-Commissioner, Prize-Court and Placed to the Disposal of the Commanding Admiral of the Naval Station of the North Sea (03 Sep 1939-28 Sep 1941)
Chief of the Naval-Printing-Administration, OKM (29 Sep 1941-17 May 1944)
Retired (31 May 1944)

Decorations & Awards:
1914 Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
1914 Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen


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