Mürwik Naval School Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Naval Academy Mürwik

Location	Mürwik Flensburg , Germany
Affiliations	German Navy

The Naval Academy Mürwik (in German, Marineschule Mürwik) is the main place where all officers for the German Navy are trained. It took over from an older academy in Kiel in 1910. The academy is located in Mürwik, a part of Flensburg, Germany's northernmost city. It sits on a small hill right by the coast, looking out over the Flensburg Fjord.

History of the Naval Academy
Training German Naval Officers
Images for kids
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History of the Naval Academy

The Naval Academy's sports school building, which was used by the Flensburg government during the final days of World War II.

The Naval Academy was built here in 1910. This happened because Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was the German Emperor at the time, ordered it. The building has a unique gothic style, made mostly of red brick. It was designed to look like an old castle called Ordensburg Marienburg, which was built way back in 1274. The person who designed the building was Adalbert Kelm.

In 1920, a British army group called the Sherwood Foresters was in Flensburg-Mürwik. They were there to help make sure the elections for the Schleswig plebiscites went smoothly. These elections decided if certain areas would belong to Germany or Denmark.

Towards the end of World War II, a German leader named Karl Dönitz became the President of Germany. This happened after Adolf Hitler died. Dönitz moved to the Naval Academy at Mürwik. There, he set up what became known as the Flensburg government in the academy's sports school. This made Flensburg the capital of Germany for about 20 days. After Germany surrendered to the Allied forces, the people in this government were arrested by British troops.

Today, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, has some items from the Naval Academy Mürwik. These include old ship models, paintings, and flags that were taken by British troops after the war.

Training German Naval Officers

Badge of the Naval Academy at Mürwik

Most young people who want to become naval officers join the German Navy after finishing high school. This is usually after they get their Abitur, which is a high school leaving certificate. They usually sign up to serve for thirteen years. This service can even be extended for a longer time, sometimes up to 35 years, if they are accepted by the German armed forces' personnel office.

The training for naval officers has three main parts:

Basic Education at Mürwik

The first part is called "basic education." It takes place at the Naval Academy in Mürwik and lasts at least one year. It has four steps:

First, all new cadets go through six weeks of basic training together at Mürwik. This teaches them the very first things about being in the German Navy.
After this, they are split into three groups. These groups take turns doing three different types of training.
One part is a sailing trip on the German Navy's training ship, the Gorch Fock.
Another part is mission preparation at the NCO's school in Plön.
The last part is officer's training, which happens back at Mürwik.
Cadets who will work in the German forces' medical service only do the first six weeks of basic training and the trip on the Gorch Fock.

University Studies

After the basic training, officers usually go to university. They study at the University of the German Federal Armed Forces for about four years. Most of them earn a Bachelor's or Master's degree during this time.

Advanced Training

After university, officers return to the Naval Academy in Mürwik. Sometimes they go to other naval schools too. This is for advanced training, which can last up to two years. The length depends on whether they choose a career focused on operations (like commanding ships) or engineering (like maintaining ship engines). It also depends on the type of ship they will serve on. Even officers who will work in land-based jobs get some of this advanced training.

Advanced training helps officers learn more about many military topics. This includes leadership skills and military law. Depending on their career choice, they might also take special courses. These could be about being an officer-of-the-watch, learning about specific weapon systems, or naval engineering.