page_title: Organization of the Kriegsmarine
section_title: Independent operations
hierarchical_section_title: Organization of the Kriegsmarine / Independent operations
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Hilfskreuzer Atlantis
context_page_description: The organization of the Kriegsmarine refers to the operational and administrative structure of the German Navy from 1935 to 1945. Many of the organizational tenets of the Kriegsmarine were inherited from its predecessor the Reichsmarine. As World War II unfolded, the Kriegsmarine expanded to cover additional regions and responsibilities, most significant of which was the occupation of France and the Battle of the Atlantic.
context_section_description: German commerce raiders were nominally independent, reporting to the Seekriegsleitung for administrative purposes.
  German vessels operating off of South America, such as Admiral Graf Spee, were also considered on "extended detached duty" and reported directly to OKM.  German naval forces operating off of Spain and Portugal were also not under a naval group and typically answered to their type commander German hospital ships (Lazarettschiffe) were under the authority of the Reich Commission for Ocean Navigation which was a civilian agency outside the authority of the regular Navy.
  The officers and crew of Graf Zeppelin existed in a unique state, since the vessel was not commissioned and those on board were mainly involved in construction as well as upkeep.  The direct authority for this "housekeeping crew" was vague and those assigned to Graf Zeppelin appeared to have rotated between various higher commands depending upon the location and status of the aircraft carrier
caption: Commerce raiders, like the auxiliary cruiser Atlantis seen here, often operated independently
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