There is a very famous WWII character that few people know who started his career as a cabin boy in the Kaiserlich Marine...
Hermann-Bernhard "Gerhard" Ramcke (24 January 1889 – 4 July 1968)
Famous German general. He was a recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Swords, Oak Leaves, and Diamonds, one of only 27 people in the German military so decorated. Ramcke's career was unusual in that he served in all three branches of the German armed forces.
Kaiserliche Marine career:
His career in the navy is as follows
Schiffsjunge: 4 April 1905 (Ship-boy)
Matrose: 6 September 1907
Obermatrose: 1 July 1909
Bootsmaannsmaat: 1 April 1912
Oberbootsmaannsmaat: 19 July 1915
Feldwebel: 11 September 1915
Offiziers-Stellvertreter: 5 December 1916
Leutnant der Marine-Infanterie: 18 July 1918 – Patent 1 February 1913
1909 Matrose. Gunner of a 5.9 inch casemate mounted canons in armored Cruisser Prinze Adalbert
His autobiographical book. From cabin boy to general of paratroopers
Well-known official color portrait of General Ramcke
Regards
Santi
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