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He is noted as the originator of a series of influential works, published between 1915 and 1929, outlining the so-called [[Wegener Thesis]]. This thesis criticised the naval strategy adopted by Germany in the [[First World War]], and proposed an alternative strategy based on threatening the [[sea lines of communication]] of the United Kingdom with both surface and sub-surface forces. The ''Wegener thesis'' is often regarded as a significant contribution to German naval strategy in the [[Second World War]], although the extent to which this was actually the case is disputed.<ref>''Raeder versus Wegener: Conflict in German Naval Strategy.'' Commander Kenneth P Hansen, Canadian Forces Maritime Command. US Naval War College Review, Autumn 2005, vol 58, number 4</ref> |
He is noted as the originator of a series of influential works, published between 1915 and 1929, outlining the so-called [[Wegener Thesis]]. This thesis criticised the naval strategy adopted by Germany in the [[First World War]], and proposed an alternative strategy based on threatening the [[sea lines of communication]] of the United Kingdom with both surface and sub-surface forces. The ''Wegener thesis'' is often regarded as a significant contribution to German naval strategy in the [[Second World War]], although the extent to which this was actually the case is disputed.<ref>''Raeder versus Wegener: Conflict in German Naval Strategy.'' Commander Kenneth P Hansen, Canadian Forces Maritime Command. US Naval War College Review, Autumn 2005, vol 58, number 4</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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| − | Wolfgang Wegener was the son of Dr Eduard Wegener, (5 August 1837, [[Luckow]]{{disambiguation needed|date=February |
+ | Wolfgang Wegener was the son of Dr Eduard Wegener, (5 August 1837, [[Luckow]]{{disambiguation needed|date=February 2015}} - 20 February 1909, Stettin), a medical consultant, and Martha Zitelmann (13 May 1847, [[Jasenitz]] - 13 April 1923, Wilhelmshaven). He married Therese Gierke, in Berlin on 22 June 1901; they had three sons and a daughter. One of his sons, Edward Wegener (1904–1981), also reached the rank of Vice Admiral.<ref>[http://www.familiewegener.de/pageID_2381468.html Wegener family web page (in German)]</ref> |
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+ | ==Career== |
| − | Wegener was educated at the ''König-Wilhelms-Gymnasium'' (King Wilhelm high school). Through the influence of his uncle by marriage, the future [[Admiral|Grand-admiral]] [[Henning von Holtzendorff]], he entered the service of the [[Imperial German navy]] in 1894. He served on the cruiser ''[[SMS Deutschland (1875)|Deutschland]]'' from 1897–1899, reaching the rank of [[Second lieutenant|Leutnant zur See]]. He became a gunnery specialist, serving as First Gunnery Officer on the armoured cruiser ''[[SMS Blücher|Blücher]]'' from 1909 to 1910. From 1912 to 1917, he served as chief of staff to the Admiral commanding the First Battle Squadron, reaching the rank of [[Commander|Fregatenkapitan]] in 1917. From 1917 to 1918 he commanded firstly the light cruiser ''[[SMS Regensburg|Regensburg]]'' and then another light cruiser, ''[[SMS Nürnberg (1916)|Nurnberg]]''. Following the Armistice, he continued to serve in the new [[Reichsmarine]], being appointed [[Captain (naval)|Kapitän zur See]] on 21 January 1920, and [[Rear admiral|Konteradmiral]] in 1923. His final appointment was as Inspector of Gunnery, based at |
+ | Wegener was educated at the ''König-Wilhelms-Gymnasium'' (King Wilhelm high school). Through the influence of his uncle by marriage, the future [[Admiral|Grand-admiral]] [[Henning von Holtzendorff]], he entered the service of the [[Imperial German navy]] in 1894. He served on the cruiser ''[[SMS Deutschland (1875)|Deutschland]]'' from 1897–1899, reaching the rank of [[Second lieutenant|Leutnant zur See]]. He became a gunnery specialist, serving as First Gunnery Officer on the armoured cruiser ''[[SMS Blücher|Blücher]]'' from 1909 to 1910. From 1912 to 1917, he served as chief of staff to the Admiral commanding the First Battle Squadron, reaching the rank of [[Commander|Fregatenkapitan]] in 1917. From 1917 to 1918 he commanded firstly the light cruiser ''[[SMS Regensburg|Regensburg]]'' and then another light cruiser, ''[[SMS Nürnberg (1916)|Nurnberg]]''. Following the Armistice, he continued to serve in the new [[Reichsmarine]], being appointed [[Captain (naval)|Kapitän zur See]] on 21 January 1920, and [[Rear admiral|Konteradmiral]] in 1923. His final appointment was as Inspector of Gunnery, based at Wilhelmshaven. He achieved the rank of [[Vice Admiral]] in 1926. Not long after, he was forced into retirement by the "uniformity" policies (which included stifling of different opinions in the naval ranks) of Adm. Erich [[Raeder]].<ref>World at War magazine, Issue #26, Oct/Nov 2012, ''"Theory into Practice: German Surface Raider Strategy"'', David March.</ref> |
==References== |
==References== |
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* [http://www.familiewegener.de/pageID_2381468.html Wegener family web page] (in German) |
* [http://www.familiewegener.de/pageID_2381468.html Wegener family web page] (in German) |
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| + | {{Wikipedia|Wolfgang Wegener}} |
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| − | {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| − | | NAME = Wegener, Wolfgang |
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| − | | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| − | | SHORT DESCRIPTION = German admiral |
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| − | | DATE OF BIRTH = 16 September 1875 |
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| − | | PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| − | | DATE OF DEATH = 29 October 1956 |
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| − | | PLACE OF DEATH = |
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| − | }} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wegener, Wolfgang}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wegener, Wolfgang}} |
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[[Category:People from the Province of Pomerania]] |
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[[Category:German naval historians]] |
[[Category:German naval historians]] |
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[[Category:German military personnel of World War I]] |
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[[Category:German military writers]] |
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Revision as of 16:02, 16 August 2020
Wolfgang Wegener around 1925
Wolfgang Wegener (September 16, 1875 in Stettin - October 29, 1956 in Berlin-Zehlendorf) was an officer in the German Navy, retiring in 1926 with the rank of Vizeadmiral (Vice-Admiral). He is noted as the originator of a series of influential works, published between 1915 and 1929, outlining the so-called Wegener Thesis. This thesis criticised the naval strategy adopted by Germany in the First World War, and proposed an alternative strategy based on threatening the sea lines of communication of the United Kingdom with both surface and sub-surface forces. The Wegener thesis is often regarded as a significant contribution to German naval strategy in the Second World War, although the extent to which this was actually the case is disputed.[1]
Personal life
Wolfgang Wegener was the son of Dr Eduard Wegener, (5 August 1837, Luckowdisambiguation needed - 20 February 1909, Stettin), a medical consultant, and Martha Zitelmann (13 May 1847, Jasenitz - 13 April 1923, Wilhelmshaven). He married Therese Gierke, in Berlin on 22 June 1901; they had three sons and a daughter. One of his sons, Edward Wegener (1904–1981), also reached the rank of Vice Admiral.[2]
Career
Wegener was educated at the König-Wilhelms-Gymnasium (King Wilhelm high school). Through the influence of his uncle by marriage, the future Grand-admiral Henning von Holtzendorff, he entered the service of the Imperial German navy in 1894. He served on the cruiser Deutschland from 1897–1899, reaching the rank of Leutnant zur See. He became a gunnery specialist, serving as First Gunnery Officer on the armoured cruiser Blücher from 1909 to 1910. From 1912 to 1917, he served as chief of staff to the Admiral commanding the First Battle Squadron, reaching the rank of Fregatenkapitan in 1917. From 1917 to 1918 he commanded firstly the light cruiser Regensburg and then another light cruiser, Nurnberg. Following the Armistice, he continued to serve in the new Reichsmarine, being appointed Kapitän zur See on 21 January 1920, and Konteradmiral in 1923. His final appointment was as Inspector of Gunnery, based at Wilhelmshaven. He achieved the rank of Vice Admiral in 1926. Not long after, he was forced into retirement by the "uniformity" policies (which included stifling of different opinions in the naval ranks) of Adm. Erich Raeder.[3]
References
- ↑ Raeder versus Wegener: Conflict in German Naval Strategy. Commander Kenneth P Hansen, Canadian Forces Maritime Command. US Naval War College Review, Autumn 2005, vol 58, number 4
- ↑ Wegener family web page (in German)
- ↑ World at War magazine, Issue #26, Oct/Nov 2012, "Theory into Practice: German Surface Raider Strategy", David March.
External links
- Wegener family web page (in German)
The original article can be found at Wolfgang Wegener and the edit history here.