User:Reguyla\Otto Backenköhler

[Link label/Photo of Otto Backenköhler]

Otto Backenköhler (* February 1st, 1892 in Göttingen - † February 5th, 1967 in Kiel) was a German Admiral in the Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Life
Backenköhler occurred on 1 April 1910 as a midshipman in the Imperial navy one, completed his training ship on the Great cruiser SMS Freya and came to further training on April 1, 1911, the Naval Academy Mürwik. There he received his appointment as ensign on 15 April 1911 and was the starting October 1, 1912 battleship SMS Westphalia allocated. Here he received on 27 September 1913, promoted to lieutenant.

At the outbreak of the First World War he was on duty on board, was added as a deck officer for 9th torpedo boat flotilla half on 17 January 1916 and for the March 22, 1916 at sea Lieutenant promoted. With the subsequent transfer to the 10th Torpedo Boat Half-Flotilla Backenköhler received on April 1, 1918 his first command of SMS G8. In the same position he assumed on July 13, 1918 SMS V 5. Shortly before the war, he came on the 27th October 1918 to 12th Torpedo Boat-Half-Flotilla.

With its acquisition in the Imperial Navy, he was on 1 January 1921, Lieutenant promoted and assigned to the 7th Half Flotilla. Until September 1923 he had then as a result the command of the Tender M 138 and the torpedo boats V 2 and T 196. From October 1923 to November 1924 he was appointed to the staff of the Naval High Command ordered him and on 10 November 1924, the command of 4. Torpedoboot half flotilla passed. On 24 September 1926 he was dismissed from his post and transferred as a Staff Officer for Fleet Command. Commander (since January 1, 1929) Backenköhler came on September 30, 1929 Staff of the Naval Station North Sea and from September 24th 1931 as First Admiral Staff Officer to Commander scouting forces. On October 1, 1933 was appointed Backenköhler appointed commander of the torpedo school and promoted him on 1 September 1934 Commander.

It gave him on 1 October 1935, the command of the light cruiser Köln and promoted him on 1 April 1936 sea captain. As such, he went on 16 October 1937 his new position as Chief of Staff of the Fleet Command. In the same function, he moved a year later to the naval station Baltic and was there at the beginning of World War II worked. From 24 October to 31 July 1940 resulted in the meantime to Rear Admiral promoted Backenköhler (1 January) then again the Staff of Fleet Command. Then, the displacement followed in the Naval Weapons Main Office of the High Command of the Navy and its local promotion to Vice Admiral on 1 April 1942 and to admiral on 1 April 1943. On 9 March 1943, had already appointed him head of the authority which it even after which resulted in renaming Navy armor until about the end of the war also.

On July 15, 1945 Backenköhler came in British captivity, from which he was released on December 10, 1946.

Awards

 * Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (1914)


 * Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (1914)


 * 1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuzes 1er Klasse (1914)


 * 1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuzes 2er Klasse (1914)


 * Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer


 * Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern


 * Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern


 * Flotten-Kriegsabzeichen


 * Deutsches Kreuz in Silber on August 7th, 1943 as Admiral and Chef des Hauptamtes der Marinewaffenämter / Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine


 * Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuzes mit Schwertern on January 3rd, 1945 as Admiral and Chef der Kriegsmarinerüstung/OKM