Germany. A War Merit Cross Document To Marineoberstabsarzt Dr. Lorenz Petersen, Signed By Admiral Schmundt

Measuring 148x209mm, near mint condition.The document states that Marineoberstabsarzt (Navy Medical Officer, Major equivalent) Dr. Lorenz Petersen is awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. It is dated to Kiel on April 20, 1943 and signed in blue ink by the Supreme Commander of the Baltic Sea Naval Station, Admiral Hubert Schmundt.

Footnote: Hubert Schmundt was born on September 19, 1888 in Schweidnitz (present-day Świdnica, southwest Poland). He joined the Imperial Navy in 1908. The next year he was deployed to the East Asia Squadron with which he stayed for a good three years. During this time Schmundt was promoted to Lieutenant. With the beginning of the First War he served on torpedo boat S 165. On September 14, 1914 he was promoted to Senior Lieutenant. In September of 1917 Schmundt took command of torpedo boat V 71 and on April 28, 1918 he received his promotion to Captain Lieutenant. He was decorated with the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Class during the war. Schmundt was taken over into the Reichswehr, was promoted to Corvette Captain in 1927 and to Frigate Captain in 1932. In 1934 he took command of the light cruiser “Königsberg”, shortly before receiving his promotion to Kapitän zur See. In 1938 Schmundt was appointed Commander of Naval Academy Mürwik and simultaneously promoted to Rear Admiral. Shortly before the beginning of the Second War he became Chief of Staff of the Baltic Sea Naval Station. During the attack on Norway Schmundt commanded Kriegsschiffgruppe 3 (Battleship Group 3), being tasked with seizing the city of Bergen. For successful completion of this mission he was awarded the Knight’s Cross on June 14, 1940. In September he received his promotion to Vice Admiral. Schmundt then served for almost a year as Admiral Nordmeer (North Atlantic), during which he was promoted to Admiral on April 1, 1942. On March 9, 1943 he became Commander-in-Chief of all Kriegsmarine units in the Baltic Sea, a post he held until his retirement on May 31, 1944. Schmundt died on October 17, 1984 at the age of 96.