Kaptaenleutnant Dr. Wilhelm Voelker

[bob lembke]

I assume that Kapitaenleutnant is a naval rank. Does this name/post ring any bells? I have about 18 army Ranglisten, but no naval ones. I have a book that he once owned. It is about the Goeben, the battle cruiser that ended up with the Turks. Could he have served on it? I have a sister book, about the cruiser Breslau, and it was written by Doenitz, the officer of WW II fame, who served on the Breslau. The Goeben book was written by Leutnant zur See Kraus.

Bob Lembke

[Guest Rick Research]

Yikeys!

He was promoted to charakterisiert Korvettenkapit?n (Matrosenartillerie) der Seewehr II on 23 May 1918, so what you've got obviously predates that. He was promoted KaptLt (MA) dSW II 9 August 1904, having joined as a 1 Year Volunteer 1 Apriol 1887.

He was born 13 April 1866-- alive in 1930.

Wartime assignments:

Company Commander in I. Matrosen Artillerie Abteilung to June 1915, same in VIII. MAA to January 1916, and deputy commander of XI. MAA to war's end.

Known decorations: LD1 before the war, and EK2 by February 1918.

[bob lembke]

Many thanks, Rick!

The book was published in 1917. Also, he could have stamped the book with an old stamp.

I guess that if he served in action he probably served in Flanders, not in Turkey. (A number of artillery officers went to Turkey to assist with the defences, especially at Gallipoli.)

The Doenitz book is quite good. Seems like an intellectually lively guy. Loved Istanbul, good sign, great city.

Bob Lembke