by Gareth Collins

Formed in November 1941 as Seekommandant 'V'. In January 1942 the area of the previous Seekommandant Ukraine ('U') was split in two. The Ukraine area was taken over by this Seekommandant, now called Seekommandant Ukraine ('V') and the area of the Crimea was taken over by the previous Seekommandant Ukraine ('U'), now called Seekommandant Krim ('U'). The new command area ranged from Odessa to the Perekop Isthmus and further east to the main battle line and temporarily including Taganrog, Rostov and east of the Sea of Azov to Yeisk. The staff quarters of the Seekommandant were at Nikolayev, then later in Mariupol. As well as controlling German Forces the Seekommandant also commanded a Croatian coastal security unit under Kapetan Vokljan and flottilla chief Romenovic. In December 1942 this position was dissolved. Once this happened the entire staff was evacuated to France and became the staff of Seekommandant Loire. The command area was passed to the Seekommandant Ukraine ('U').

Seekommandant

Konteradmiral Wilhelm Kopp (03 Nov 1941-13 Nov 1942)
Konteradmiral Fritz Lamprecht (i.V.) (14 Nov 1942-30 Nov 1942)
Fregattenkapitän Eberhard Souchon (m.W.d.G.b.) (01 Dec 1942-00 Dec 1942)

Stabsoffizier beim Stabe
Korvettenkapitän z.V. Thorwald von Bothmer (00 Nov 1941-00 Jun 1942)
Fregattenkapitän Edgar Luchting (m.W.d.G.b.) (00 Jul 1942-00 Jul 1942)
Kapitän zur See Hans-Karl von Both (m.W.d.G.b.) (00 Jul 1942-00 Aug 1942)
Kapitän zur See Hans Sporleder (00 Aug 1942-00 Aug 1942)
Fregattenkapitän Eberhard Souchon (00 Aug 1942-00 Dec 1942)

Subordinate Commands & Units

Hafenkommandant Cherson
Hafenkommandant Jeisk
Hafenkommandant Mariupol
Hafenkommandant Nikolajew
Hafenkommandant Odessa
Hafenkommandant Rostow
Hafenkommandant Taganrog
Hafenkapitän Berdjansk
Hafenkapitän Otschakow
Hafenschutzflottille Nikolajew
Hafenschutzflottille Odessa
Hafenschutzflottille Taganrog

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 -