Wolfgang Wegener
Wolfgang Wegener (September 16, 1875 in
Berlin-Zehlendorf) was an officer in the Imperial 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 criticized the naval strategy adopted by Germany 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,
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
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 Vizeadmiral 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)
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