Albert Wilhelm Heinrich Prinz von Preußen, K.H.
(14.08.1862 - 20.04.1929)
place of birth:  Potsdam, Brandenburg

Königreich PreußenPreußischer Prinz,  GenInspekt der Marine,  Generaloberst

                             

The younger brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Prince Heinrich served during the pre-War years as Inspector General of the Imperial Naval Forces, attaining the rank of Grand Admiral. He likewise enjoyed a ceremonial posting as Colonel General with the rank of Field Marshal. 

He entered the German Navy at the age of 16 and served as Chief of the Flotilla from 1906 to 1909. He also tried his hand in politics but twice, in 1912 and in 1914, mistakenly lead his brother to believe that their cousin King George V. would keep England neutral if Germany went to war against the French. As Navy Inspector General when hostilities commenced, Prince Heinrich was selected to command Imperial Germany's Baltic Sea Fleet (Oberbefehlshaber der Ostseestreitkräfte). Under his leadership, the ill-equipped German sailors were able to keep the far superior Russian fleet at bay up until the Russian Revolution of 1917. At that point, Prince Heinrich in effect retired from active military duty. Heinrich died in April 1929 in Hemmelmark, Schleswig-Holstein.

 
 

Großadmiral  04.09.1909
Generaloberst  04.09.1909  (mit dem Range als GFM)

Pour le Mérite  01.08.1916   (Eichenlaub:  24.01.1918)
Schwarzer Adler-Orden  

Dienststellung  Chef d.Füs.R.35, àls d.1.GardeR.z.F., d.FeldartR.25 u.d.Garde Füs.L.R., Inh.d. Öster.Galiz.20.Inf.R., Chef d.Russ.11.Hus.R. Isum, àls d.Öster.Ungar.u.Admiral of the Fleet d.Großbrit. Marine.