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| Konteradmiral (Rear-Admiral) Walther Koehler (Köhler) Crew of 1901.
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Biography: Konteradmiral (Rear-Admiral) Walther Koehler (Köhler) Crew of 1901.
Imperial German Navy, Vortaufige Riechsmarine (Interim Navy), Navy of the Weimar Republic, Navy of the Third Reich (1901-1932, 1941-1944), Third Reich Ministry of Traffic, Standing Assessor Upper-Sea-Office Berlin (1934-1945) and Federal German Republic Ministry of Traffic, Standing Assessor Upper-Sea-Office Hamburg (1950-1960).
Midshipman Koehler served on the S.M.S. Hertha on the East Asia Squadron 1903 to 1905.
Lieutenant z. See Köhler Commander of “Detachment Köhler” German East Africa 6 October 1905 to Apr 1906. Detachment Köhler consisted of 20 men from S.M.S. Thetis, and 1 machinegun from S.M.S. Seeadler. Lt. Koehler was awarded the Colonial Medal with bar: “Deutsch-Ostafrika 1905/07” for his services in this Campaign.
Koehler was promoted to Kapitan leutnant (Full Naval Lieutenant) on 22 Mar 1913. Koehler departed for Tsingtau , China from Sep 1913 to 14 Oct 1913. Koehler may have arrived on the Liner SS Nassau, but this is not verified. The Liner Nassau did arrive at Tsingtau 30 Sep to 01 Oct 1913. He was assigned on the 15th of Oct 1913 as the Navigation Officer of the Ausland (light) Cruiser S.M.S. Leipzig.
Koehler took part in both the Battle of Coronel 1 November 1914 Awarded Iron Cross 2nd Class), and the Battle of the Falklands on 8 December 1914 (awarded Iron Cross 1st Class – in 1918, when it was known in Germany that he survived and was a prisoner of War). Koehler was one of 4 Officers to survive the sinking of S.M.S. Leipzig, and 14 others for a total of 18. I have both of his Iron Cross award documents.
Kapitan zur See Koehler was placed on the retired list with the honorary rank of Konter-Admiral (Rear Admiral) on 30 September 1932.
Walther Koehler served in the Third Reich’s Ministry of Traffic/Transportation as the “Standing Assessor of the Upper Sea Office, Berlin from 01 Apr 1934 to 08 May 1945. He was placed at the disposal of the Kriegsmarine from 01 Jan 1939 to 15 Apr 1941.
Koehler was recall as a Kapitan Zur See in the Navy of the Third Reich. On 16 April 1941 he was appointed as Commander of Information for the Prize Count of Hamburg . He was next assigned as Reichs-Commissioner of the Prize Court for Berlin-Riga from 23 Jun. 1941 to 31 Mar 1942, at the same time he was the Reichs-Commissioner for the Prize Court of Berlin-Soloniki from 01 Nov. 1941 to 31 Mar. 1942. Kapitan Zur See Walther Koehler was promoted to Konter-Admiral (Rear Admiral), Acting on 01 April 1942. This was a full promotion and not an honorary title. Admiral Koehler was next assigned as Reichs-Commissioner of the Prize Court at Berlin from 01 April 1942 to 01 Mar. 1943. Rear Admiral Koehler served as a Judge for the Prize Court of Hamburg from 01 Mar. 1943 until his retirement from active service on 31 Dec. 1944 at the age 62 (1944 Annual List, and web.genealogie). He returned to his position of “Standing Assessor” of the Upper Sea Office, Berlin from 01 Jan 1945 to 08 May 1945 when the War in Europe ended, and the Third Reich fell.
Walther Koehler returned to the Ministry of Traffic/Transportation of the German Federal Republic as “Standing Assessor” of the Upper Sea Office, Hamburg from 15 Dec 1950 to 30 Sep 1960 under Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. On the 28th of August 1959 former Konter-Admiral Walther Koehler was awarded the (1st Class) Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, upon suggestion of the Federal Ministry of Traffic. This appears to have been a well deserved retirement award for all his years of dedicated service. Koehler died on 17 Mar 1970 at the age of 87 in St. Michael-Lembeck, Westphalia (Westfalen) Germany .
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Date: Jan 29, 2011 |
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