Catalogue description Admiralty: Office of the British Naval Commander in Chief, Germany: Papers

There are four main series of files, though some reregistration has taken place: File prefix A = disposal of German shipping, stores and equipment; B = German personnel; C = policy and control; K = port and control of shipping.

The British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany, prior to the German surrender, had been Allied Naval Commander-in-Chief, Expeditionary Force. He was also Head of the Naval Division of the Control Commission for Germany, though he was represented in Berlin by a Deputy Head who attended the BERGOS (Chiefs of Staff) meetings. As British Naval Commander-in-Chief, Germany, he was supported by Flag Officers for Schleswig-Holstein and NW Germany. His office was first at Hamburg and later at Minden. His title was altered in 1946 to Vice Admiral Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany, and in 1947 to Flag Officer Commanding, British Naval Forces, Germany.

Apart from his role as Chief British Naval Representative in the Allied Control Commission, he was responsible for post-hostilities naval matters in Western Germany, Denmark, Holland and Norway, including the disposal of German shipping, stores and equipment, control of German naval personnel, and control of shipping, navigation and ports.