Friedrich Hüffmeier
Friedrich Hüffmeier (Kunersdorf, June 14, 1898 - Münster, January 13, 1972) was a German Vice Admiral in the Kriegsmarine.
Military career
Hüffmeier joined the Imperial Navy during World War I on September 16, 1914, initially as a naval cadet at the Mürwik Naval School. He continued his training on board the large cruiser SMS Freya, and in December 1914 came on the battleship SMS Lothringen, where he was promoted to ensign at sea in 1915 and served until January 1916. Between September 1916 and March 1918, he was assigned to SMS Augsburg. Towards the end of the War, he served during 3 months as watch officer on the U-19.
In the Second World War, Hüffmeier commanded the light cruiser Köln (from May 1, 1941 to March 1, 1942) and later the battleship Scharnhorst (from March 31, 1942 to October 13, 1943) with which he participated in Operation Zitronella.
In October 1943, he was promoted rear admiral and was appointed until June 1944 head of the office of the Wehrgeistiger Führungsstab at the high command of the Kriegsmarine. This post, which could be compared to that of Political commissar in the Red Army, was responsible for maintaining morale and the National Socialist spirit among sailors.
From July 25, 1944 to February 26, 1945, he was Island commander of the Channel Island Guernsey (Inselkommandant Guernsey). On 26 February 26, 1945 until the end of the War, he succeeded his superior Lieutenant General Rudolf Graf von Schmettow as fortress commander (Wehrmachtbefehlshaber) of the Channel Islands.
Hüffmeier was involved in the planning of the Granville Raid, which took place on the night of March 9, 1945.
He surrendered to the British Army on May 9, 1945 and remained in British captivity until April 2, 1948.