Ernst Schirlitz

Ernst Schirlitz (7 September 1893 – 27 November 1978) was a German vice admiral in the navy (Kriegsmarine) of Nazi Germany. He served during World War II and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. He surrendered at the end of World War II after the Allied siege of La Rochelle.

Ernst Schirlitz
Schirlitz as a Leutnant in the Imperial German Navy
Born	(1893-09-07)7 September 1893 Christburg, West Prussia
Died	27 November 1978(1978-11-27) (aged 85) Kiel
Allegiance	German Empire Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany
Branch	Imperial German Navy  Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine
Years of service	1912–45
Rank	Vizeadmiral
Unit	SMS Hertha SMS Freya SMS Friedrich Carl SMS Fürst Bismarck; Luftschiff "L 7", "L 20", "L 33"
Battles / wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Schirlitz served as a watch officer on Luftschiff "L 33" which crashed in Little Wigborough, Essex on 24 September 1916. Schirlitz was taken prisoner of war by the British and was released in November 1919.^[1]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1914) 2nd and 1st Class^{[citation needed]}
• German Cross in Gold on 1 December 1944 as Vizeadmiral in fortress La Rochelle^[2]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 March 1945 as Vizeadmiral and as commander Atlantic coast and of fortress La Rochelle.^[3]