Oberkommando der Marine

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The Oberkommando der Marine (or OKM for short) was Germany's Naval High Command until 1945.

The commanders (Oberbefehlshaber des Marine, or OBdM for short) of the Kriegsmarine were:

September 24, 1928–January 30, 1943 Grossadmiral Erich Raeder
January 30, 1943–May 1, 1945 Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz
May 1, 1945–May 8, 1945 Generaladmiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (after Dönitz became Head of State when Hitler committed suicide)

On 7 November 1935 a decree was issued by the Reichskriegsminister and Commander-in-Chief of the German Army ordering the introduction of a new pattern of flag for use by the Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy. The flag consisted of a white square on which was displayed a large black Iron Cross. Placed behind it were two straight bladed unsheathed swords in bright yellow color, crossed at right angles to each other. The flag was modified when on 1 April 1939 Erich Raeder rose to the rank of "Großadmiral". The flag continued to be in use when Karl Dönitz came into this position on 30 January 1943. The swords were replaced by a pair of Admiral's batons crossed at right angles. Superimposed over both the crossed batons and the Iron Cross was a gold-colored Wehrmachtsadler facing towards the flag pole. On 30 January 1943 a further special flag was introduced for Großadmiral Dönitz in order to represent his position as "Admiralinspekteur" of the Navy of the "Greater German Reich". It was in the same design as for the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy but with the addition of a wide blue border on all four sides of the flag.