by Gareth Collins

Formed in September 1943 after Italy exited the war and subordinate to the Deutsches Marinekommando Italien then Marineoberkommando Süd. It was formed to control a coastline previously controlled by Italian forces. It was based in La Spezia until September 1944 when it was moved to San Guliano & finally in January 1945 it was moved to Genoa-Nervi. The area of command was on the Italian west coast from the Monaco-Italian border to the main battle line. The Seekommandant commanded Abschnittskommandanten in Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno-Viareggio, Civita Vecchia and Naples. This command structure did not last long as Naples was soon lost and the office of Abschnitt Civita Vecchia was abandoned after a short time. With the Allied landings on the south of France the Seekommandant italienische Riviera assumed control of a coastal area previously under the Seekommandant französische Riviera. The new command area extended up to and including Nice. This area was soon abandoned with the previous Hafenkommandant Nizza appointed Abschnittskommandant San Remo. As well as the listed subordinate commands, the Seekommandant italienische Riviera also controlled small units and Italian forces still loyal to the Axis powers.

Seekommandant

Kapitän zur See Max Berninghaus (00 Sep 1943-00 May 1945)

Stabsoffizier beim Stabe (A I)

Kapitänleutnant M.A. der Reserve z.V. Dr.rer.pol. Fritz Eich (00 Sep 1943-00 Oct 1943)
Korvettenkapitän der Reserve Robert Sprenger (m.W.d.G.b.) (00 Oct 1943-00 Jul 1944)
Korvettenkapitän M.A. der Reserve Fritz Brune (00 Jul 1944-00 Oct 1944)
Korvettenkapitän M.A. der Reserve Dr. Friedrich Wachtel (00 Dec 1944-00 May 1945)

Subordinate Commands & Units

Abschnitt Genua
Abschnitt La Spezia
Abschnitt Livorno-Viareggio
Abschnitt Neapel
Abschnitt San Remo
Hafenschutzflottille italienische Westküste
Po-Flottille
Marineausrüstungsstelle Genua

Sources used

Research by Gareth Collins
Erich Gröner - Die Schiffe der deutschen Kriegsmarine und ihr Verbleib 1939-1945, J.F. Lehmanns Verlag, München (1976)
Hans H. Hildebrand - Die organisatorische Entwicklung der Marine nebst Stellenbesetzung 1848 bis 1945, Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück(2000)
Hans H. Hildebrand & Ernest Henriot – Deutschlands Admirale 1849-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück (1989)
Hans H. Hildebrand, Albert Röhr & Hans-Otto Steinmetz – Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe, Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg (1980)
Walter Lohmann & Hans H. Hildebrand – Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine, Verlag Hans-Henning Podzun, Bad Nauheim (1956)

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -