In 1926, the position adopted the name Flottenchef, but was declared defunct one year later and left vacant with no assigned officer.
The fleet commander, by practice, was typically most closely associated with the German battleship branch.
Most fleet commanders would make their flagship on-board one of Germany's larger capital ships.
Lütjens was later killed on the Bismarck, making him the only fleet commander to die in active combat.
A new position, Marinegruppenkommando Nord und Flottenchef was then created giving the fleet commander operational control over deployed forces in the North Sea.