Otto Kähler | |
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Otto Kähler |
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Born | 3 March 1894 Hamburg, German Empire |
Died | 2 November 1967 Kiel, Germany |
(aged 73)
Allegiance | German Empire (to 1918) Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany |
Service/branch | Kaiserliche Marine Reichsmarine Kriegsmarine |
Years of service | 1914–1945 |
Rank | Konteradmiral |
Unit | SMS Hansa SMS Roon SM UB-30 German cruiser Karlsruhe |
Commands held | Gorch Fock German auxiliary cruiser Thor |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves |
Otto Kähler (3 March 1894 – 2 November 1967) was a Konteradmiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded the German auxiliary cruiser Thor, a merchant raider, on two combat patrols and sank or captured 12 ships, for a combined tonnage of 96,547 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Kähler relinquished command of Thor on 20 July 1941 to Günther Gumprich, who would also received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as commander of Thor.