Quick Facts
Biography
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.
Awards
- Iron Cross (1914)
- 2nd Class (1 October 1915)
- U-boat War Badge (1918)
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 1st Class
- Auxiliary Cruiser Badge
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight's Cross on 22 December 1940 as Kapitän zur See and commander of auxiliary cruiser Thor (HSK 4)
- 583rd Oak Leaves on 15 September 1944 as Konteradmiral and sea-commander of the fortress Brest
- ^ Dörr 1995, p. 298.
- Thomas 1997, p. 335.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 248.
- Fellgiebel 2000, p. 88.