Years of service 1889–1920 Rank Vice Admiral | Name William Michaelis | |
Birth name William Otto Ernst Michaelis Born 19 July 1871
Bischofsburg, East Prussia ( 1871-07-19 ) Died 5 January 1948(1948-01-05) (aged 76)
Putbus, Rugen Allegiance German Empire
Weimar Republic Service/branch Kaiserliche Marine
Reichsmarine | ||
William Otto Ernst Michaelis (19 July 1871 – 5 January 1948) was a German viceadmiral and head of the Naval Command within the Ministry of the Reichswehr in the Weimar Republic.
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Biography
Michaelis was born in Bischofsburg, East Prussia to a civil engineer, he graduated from high school with a first. He entered the Imperial German Navy as a Seeoffizieranwärter in April 1889 and was promoted to Unterleutnant zur See (equivalent to ensign) in 1892. He served at the rank of Unterleutnant zur See from 1900 to 1902 as a deck officer and commander with the 1st Torpedo Boat Division in Kiel. He also attended Kiel's Naval Academy from 1900 to 1902, leading to service with the Reichsmarineamt (RMA) as a head of department and with the Admiralty Staff. He then served as first officer of a capital ship then as staff officer to the admiral of a squadron. From 4 February 1915 through 28 January 1916 he served as chief of staff to the Commander of the High Seas Fleet, Admiral Hugo von Pohl.