(Photo courtesy of Gareth Collins)
Konteradmiral Walther Koehler
Born: 02 Sep 1882 in Sulau, Silesia (Schlesien)
Died: 17 Mar 1970 in St. Michael-Lembeck, Westphalia (Westfalen)
Promotions:
Fähnrich zur See (22 Apr 1902); Leutnant zur See (29 Sep 1904); Oberleutnant zur See (27 Apr 1907); Kapitänleutnant (22 Mar 1913); Korvettenkapitän (08 Mar 1920); Fregattenkapitän (01 Apr 1927); Kapitän zur See (01 Dec 1928); Charakter als Konteradmiral (30 Sep 1932); Konteradmiral z.V. (01 Apr 1942)
Career:
Entered the Navy as Seekadett at Basic-Training and on Board the School-Ship ‘Stosch’ (10 Apr 1901-31 Mar 1902)
Naval-School and Special-Briefing (01 Apr 1902-30 Sep 1903)
Departed with the ‘König Albert’ to Wunsung (01 Oct 1903-28 Nov 1903)
On Board the Heavy Cruiser ‘Hertha’ and Small Cruiser ‘Thetis’ (29 Nov 1903-00 Dec 1905)
Returned Home from East Africa and Court-Officer with the II. Shipyard-Division (00 Dec 1905-29 Sep 1906)
Adjutant on the Heavy Cruiser ‘Friedrich Carl’ (30 Sep 1906-05 Mar 1908)
Adjutant on the Heavy Cruiser ‘Gneisenau’ (06 Mar 1908-30 Sep 1908)
Platoon-Officer on the School-Ship ‘König Wilhelm’ (01 Oct 1908-31 Mar 1909)
Watch-Officer on the Heavy Cruiser ‘Victoria Louise’ (01 Apr 1909-28 Mar 1910)
Watch-Officer on the Heavy Cruiser ‘Freya’ (29 Mar 1910-28 Mar 1911)
Watch and Court Officer on the Heavy Cruiser ‘Vineta’ and School-Ship ‘König Wilhelm’ (29 Mar 1911-30 Sep 1911)
Adjutant of the II. Shipyard-Division (01 Oct 1911-31 Mar 1912)
Watch-Officer on the Liner ‘Elsaß’ and ‘Oldenburg’ (01 Apr 1912-30 Sep 1913)
Departed to Tsingtau (00 Sep 1913-14 Oct 1913)
Navigation-Officer on the Small Cruiser ‘Leipzig’ (15 Oct 1913-08 Dec 1914)
In Captivity (08 Dec 1914-00 Jan 1918)
Interned in The Netherlands (00 Jan 1918-20 Dec 1918)
Released and Detached to the Naval-Attaché at the German Legation in The Hague (21 Dec 1918-15 Oct 1919)
Placed to the Disposal of the Chief of the Naval-Station of the North Sea and Detached to the Personnel-Office of the Station (16 Oct 1919-27 Nov 1919)
Acting-Commander of the Ships-Cadre-Division of the North Sea (28 Nov 1919-22 May 1920)
Admiral-Staff-Officer with the Staff of the Naval-Station of the North Sea (23 May 1920-01 Aug 1920)
Liaison-Officer to the Naval-Peace-Commission in Berlin (02 Aug 1920-08 Jul 1921)
Detached to the Naval Archives (01 Sep 1921-26 Mar 1923)
Detached to the Staff of Naval Command (27 Mar 1923-15 Jul 1925)
First Officer on the Liner ‘Hannover’ (16 Jul 1925-30 Sep 1925)
First Officer on the Liner ‘Elsaß’ (01 Oct 1925-04 Mar 1927)
Leader of the Reichsmarine-Service-Office Königsberg; At the same time, also Acting-Naval-Liaison-Officer to Military-District-Command I, Königsberg (08 Mar 1927-30 Sep 1928)
Chief Of Staff of the Naval-Station of the North Sea (01 Oct 1928-28 Sep 1930)
Chief of the Nautical Department, Naval Command (01 Oct 1930-27 Sep 1932)
Retired (30 Sep 1932)
Standing Assessor of the Upper-Sea-Office, Berlin (01 Apr 1934-08 May 1945)
Placed to the Disposal of the Kriegsmarine (01 Jan 1939-23 Jun 1941)
Reichs-Commissioner of the Prize-Court, Berlin-Riga (23 Jun 1941-31 Mar 1942)
At the same time, Reichs-Commissioner of the Prize-Court, Berlin South-East (01 Nov 1941-31 Mar 1942)
Reichs-Commissioner of the Prize-Court Berlin (01 Apr 1942-28 Feb 1943)
Judge at the Prize-Court, Hamburg (01 Mar 1943-31 Dec 1944)
Retired (31 Dec 1944)
Standing Assessor of the Upper-Sea-Office, Hamburg (15 Dec 1950-30 Sep 1960)

Decorations & Awards:
26.02.1918 -- 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse (awarded for actions during the Battle of the Falklands; award document in collection of Captain George Albert)
25.11.1914 -- 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (for actions during the Battle of Coronel; award document in collection of Captain George Albert)
00.00.19__ -- Kolonialabzeichen (“Elefant-Orden”, awarded for service with Graf von Spee’s squadron; award document in collection of Captain George Albert)
ca. 1902 -- Colonial Medal w/ bar: “DEUTSCH-OSTAFRIKA 1905/07” Verified in 1902 Rangslist "Ostafrika Station"
ca. 1934 -- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
00.00.19__ -- Preussische 25jährige Dienstauszeichnung
00.00.19__ -- Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung (for 40 years’ faithful service)
28.08.1959 -- Bundesverdienstkreuz I. Klasse (Offizierskreuz)

Note:
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Captain George Albert for providing all awards information. A distinguished career military officer and historian in his own right, he has also provided the following information regarding his own service:

Captain George Albert

Military Career:
00.00.1999-Present -- California State Military Reserve (State Defense Force), currently assigned as an Army Field Historian.
00.00.1966-00.00.1970 – U.S. Air Force 1966-1970.
00.00.1970-00.00.1972 -- U.S. Air Force Reserve.
00.00.1973-00.00.1974 – RMSN [Radioman Seaman] U.S. Navy Reserve (USS Gallant [MSO 489], Treasure Island, San Francisco.
00.00.1974-00.00.1978 – U.S. Army Reserve (353d PSYOP Bn.).
00.00.1978-00.00.1991 -- California National Guard Company A, 579th Combat Engineers.

Decorations & Awards:
Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Air Force Good Conduct Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation with “V” and 3 Oakleaf Clusters; ARCAM + 4 Oaklaf Clusters; National Defense Servie Medal + Star; VSM + 2 Stars; HSM + Star; Air Force Reserve Medal + Hourglass; Vietnam Campaign Medal + 60 Device; California Medal of Merit; California Commendation Medal + Oakleaf; California Good Conduct; California 10 year Service Medal + Gold Redwood Cluster; California State Military Reserve Meritorious Achievement Medal; California State Military History Medal; Life member, Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society (Geography)


Back to ABR Homepage