Germany. A 1936 Long Service Medal Document to U-boat Torpedoman

A 1936 Long Service Medal Document to U-boat Torpedoman, signed by Admiral Karlgeorg Schuster (DKiG); Measuring 209x296mm, near extremely fine condition with light scuffing and creasing, and a folding crease. The document states that Mechaniker (T) ( = Torpedomechaniker, torpedoman) Joseph Baier of the U-boat flotilla “Weddigen” (1st U-boat flotilla) has received the Long Service Medal 4th Class for four years of service. It is dated to Kiel on October 2, 1936 and signed in black ink by the 2nd Admiral of the Baltic Sea, Rear Admiral Karlgeorg Schuster.

Footnote:

Karlgeorg Schuster was born on August 19, 1886 in Uelzen (northern Germany). He joined the Imperial Navy in 1905. After being promoted to Lieutenant in September of 1908 he was deployed to serve in the East Asia Squadron, from which he returned to Germany in 1911. At the end of the year Schuster received U-boat training and then served on board U 4. During the First War he switched to U 35 in the rank of Senior Lieutenant, before being promoted to Captain Lieutenant and appointed as Commander of the U-boat school’s torpedo boat D 6. In late 1916 Schuster took command of his first U-boat, U 60. During the course of roughly one year U 60 sank 35 ships. After the war he was taken over into the Reichswehr. Schuster was eventually promoted to Rear Admiral of the Kriegsmarine in 1935. In 1938 he became a Vice Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of Securing of the Baltic Sea. After the beginning of the Second War Schuster was appointed to the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht where he became Chief of Staff for Economic Warfare. On January 1, 1940 he was promoted to Admiral. During the course of the war Schuster was appointed Commanding Admiral of France, Commanding Admiral Southeast, and Commander-in-Chief of Navy Group Command South. On July 1, 1943 he became the head of the Department of Military Science in the Supreme Command of the Kriegsmarine. Schuster received the German Cross in Gold on February 19, 1943, and the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class (1914) as well as the Clasp to the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class. He died on June 16, 1973.