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Bernhard Rogge (4 November 1899 – 29 June 1982) was a German naval officer who, during World War II, commanded a merchant raider. Later, he became a Konteradmiral in West Germany's Bundesmarine.
He was awarded a Japanese ornate Samurai sword and the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions as the commander of the Hilfskreuzer (auxiliary cruiser) Atlantis (Schiff 16).
Rogge eventually became a Vizeadmiral (vice-admiral) by the end of World War II, and, when the West German Bundesmarine was established after the war, returned to service as a Konteradmiral (rear-admiral).
Rogge also was one of the few German officers of flag rank who was not arrested by the Allies after the war. This was due to the way he had exercised his command of Atlantis.
Rogge was born in Schleswig, the son of a Lutheran minister, and was himself devoutly religious.[1]
Rogge was one of many German officers who were forced to apply for a German Blood Certificate, that would allow their racial background to be overlooked (he had a Jewish grandparent).[2] His wife, Anneliese née Frahm, committed suicide on 4 September 1939. The next day, his mother in law also ended her life willingly.
J. Armstrong, Captain of the British City of Baghdad', which the Atlantis sank in July 1941, stated, "His treatment of prisoners left respect, instead of hatred". White later wrote the foreword to Atlantis, the Story of a German Surface Raider, written by U. Mohr & A. V. Sellwood.
Admiral Karl Dönitz, who was prosecuted for war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials, cited his own support of Rogge in an effort to clear himself of the charge of being antisemitic.[3]
Rogge confirmed the death sentence of the 21-year-old sailor Johann Christian Süss. Süss was sentenced to death on 10 May 1945, one day after the German capitulation, for "undermining the discipline" and "disruptive speeches" based on paragraph 5 numeral 2 of the Kriegssonderstrafrechtsverordnung (KSSVO—Special War Criminal Regulation). Süss was executed by firing squad on 11 May 1945.
Rogge and the cruise of Atlantis were depicted in the 1960 film Sotto dieci bandiere (Under Ten Flags) starring Van Heflin and Charles Laughton.
Cold War, Battle of Stalingrad, Nazi Germany, Battle of the Atlantic, Second Sino-Japanese War
Germany, Berlin, Soviet Union, London, United Kingdom
World War II, Adolf Hitler, Soviet Union, The Holocaust, Germany
Imperial German Navy, Kriegsmarine, German Navy, Generalmajor, German Army
World War II, Nazi Germany, Kriegsmarine, Bundeswehr, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
World War II, Kriegsmarine, Nazi Germany, Götz Freiherr von Mirbach, Reichsmarine
Nazi Germany, Royal Navy, Egypt, Bremen, Kriegsmarine
World War II, Nazi Germany, Bundeswehr, Werner Hartmann, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
World War II, Nazi Germany, Werner Hartmann, Major, Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross