Rainer Feist
Encyclopedia
Admiral Rainer Feist was an officer in the German Navy
until his retirement in 2004.
. He enlisted in the Bundeswehr
in 1966 as an officer cadet and graduated from Naval Academy Mürwik
in 1968. After that he served onboard Fast Attack Craft
s and Destroyer
s. From 1974 he was trained as an antisubmarine warfare officer, and later undertook the Admiral staff course at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College in Hamburg
. In 1979 Feist became the commanding officer of the guided-missile Fast Attack Craft Greif.
From then on Feist served as Assistant Branch Chief, "Politico-Military Affairs" at the German Ministry of Defence
in Bonn
(1981–1983) and as Branch Chief "Planning" at the Allied Command Baltic Approaches (BALTAP) in Denmark
(1984–1987). He comamnded the 2nd Fast Attack Craft Squadron based in Olpenitz
between 1987 and 1990 and was instructor at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College, which was followed by a service run at the Armed Forces Staff, Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn as Branch Chief "Politico-Military Affairs".
Further assignements led Feist to SHAPE
in Belgium
, the German Fleet Command in Glücksburg
, and the Military District Command I, Kiel
.
Feist was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral
in October 2000, when he became Vice Chief of Defence and Commissioner for Reserve Affairs in the Bundeswehr.
Feist was promoted to the rank of Admiral
(four stars) in 2002, thus becoming the highest ranking officer in the Germany Navy, and he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR). He held that position until 2004. In addition, he was named Operation Commander for the European Union-led mission, Operation Concordia, to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
in February 2003.
Feist was retired from active duty by Federal Minister for Defence, Dr. Peter Struck
, on 15 September 2004. A Großer Zapfenstreich
was held in recognition of his service.
Feist died in Timmendorfer Strand
due to cancer. He is survived by his wife Heidi and two sons.
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
until his retirement in 2004.
Military career
Feist was born in Cuxhaven, Lower SaxonyLower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. He enlisted in the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
in 1966 as an officer cadet and graduated from Naval Academy Mürwik
Naval Academy Mürwik
The Naval Academy at Mürwik is the main training establishment for all German Navy officers.It is located at Mürwik which is a part of Germany's most northern city, Flensburg. Built on a small hill directly by the coast, it overlooks the Flensburg Fjord...
in 1968. After that he served onboard Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel...
s and Destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s. From 1974 he was trained as an antisubmarine warfare officer, and later undertook the Admiral staff course at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. In 1979 Feist became the commanding officer of the guided-missile Fast Attack Craft Greif.
From then on Feist served as Assistant Branch Chief, "Politico-Military Affairs" at the German Ministry of Defence
Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of Defence is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
(1981–1983) and as Branch Chief "Planning" at the Allied Command Baltic Approaches (BALTAP) in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
(1984–1987). He comamnded the 2nd Fast Attack Craft Squadron based in Olpenitz
Olpenitz
Olpenitz is a part of the town Kappeln in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, at the mouth of the Schlei firth to the Baltic Sea.Currently a naval base of the German Navy is situated here with three squadrons of minesweepers and minehunters and various auxiliary vessels. The base will be closed in the...
between 1987 and 1990 and was instructor at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College, which was followed by a service run at the Armed Forces Staff, Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn as Branch Chief "Politico-Military Affairs".
Further assignements led Feist to SHAPE
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, the German Fleet Command in Glücksburg
Glücksburg
Glücksburg is a small town in the district Schleswig-Flensburg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.It is situated on the south side of the Flensburg Fjord, an inlet of the Baltic Sea, approx. 10 km northeast of Flensburg...
, and the Military District Command I, Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
.
Feist was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in October 2000, when he became Vice Chief of Defence and Commissioner for Reserve Affairs in the Bundeswehr.
Feist was promoted to the rank of Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
(four stars) in 2002, thus becoming the highest ranking officer in the Germany Navy, and he was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR). He held that position until 2004. In addition, he was named Operation Commander for the European Union-led mission, Operation Concordia, to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
in February 2003.
Feist was retired from active duty by Federal Minister for Defence, Dr. Peter Struck
Peter Struck
Peter Struck was the German Minister of Defence under chancellor Gerhard Schröder from 22 October 2002 until 2005. A lawyer, Struck is a member of the Social Democratic Party.-Education:* 1962: Abitur...
, on 15 September 2004. A Großer Zapfenstreich
Großer Zapfenstreich
The is a military ceremony performed in Germany and Austria. It is similar to the military tattoo ceremony carried out in English-speaking countries, and is the most important ceremonial act executed by the German federal armed forces, the Bundeswehr...
was held in recognition of his service.
Feist died in Timmendorfer Strand
Timmendorfer Strand
Timmendorfer Strand is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the Bay of Lübeck , approximately 15 km northeast of Lübeck, and 20 km southeast of Eutin....
due to cancer. He is survived by his wife Heidi and two sons.