Heinz Bonatz

Hermann Leopold Ludwig Eugen Hans Heinz Bonatz (* 18 August 1897 in Witzenhausen ; † 1981) was a German naval officer during World War II, known as Heinz Bonatz, chief of B-Dienst (German:Beobachtungsdienst, English:observation service), which was a Department of the Naval Intelligence Service (German:Marinenachrichtendienst) (MND III) of the OKM, that dealt with the interception and recording, decoding and analysis of the enemy, in particular British radio communications.

Career
Heinz Bonatz joined the Imperial Army in 1914. In 1933, he became a lieutenant commander. In 1937, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Finally, in 1941 he was promoted to Captain. From September 1932 to February 1934, he was first in the rank of lieutenant to sea (OZS), then promoted to Lieutenant (KL), commander of the torpedo boat "Kondor".

In August 1939, he became an Admiral Staff Officer on the staff of Naval Group Command West. From November 1941, he was head of the department radio reconnaissance, Chief of section MND III of B-Dienst. From July 1944, he served as Chief of the Department of Public and film (MIP) in the OKM and eventually finished his war service in March 1945 while working as Port Commander Rotterdam. In August 1945, he was honorably discharged.

Publications

 * Die deutsche Marine-Funkaufklärung 1914–1945. Verlag Wehr und Wissen, Darmstadt, 1970
 * Seekrieg im Äther. Die Leistungen der Marine-Funkaufklärung 1939–1945. Mittler, Herford, 1981. ISBN 3-8132-0120-1.