Biography
Puttkamer was born in Frankfurt (Oder) and was a member of the Puttkamer family, related to Otto von Bismarck's wife. He joined the German Imperial Navy as an officer cadet in 1917 and served on a heavy cruiser in World War I.
After the armistice he joined the Freikorps. He then returned to naval service in the Reichsmarine and trained at the Naval Academy Mürwik. In the 1920s he served on torpedo boats and he was given his first command in 1928. From 1933 to 1935 he was a naval liaison officer at the General Staff of the Army and he was then appointed naval liaison officer to the Reich Chancellor.
Immediately prior to the outbreak of World War II he was the captain of a frigate. He then returned to the role of naval liaison officer to the Reich Chancellor and in September 1943 he was promoted to Rear Admiral.
Puttkamer was injured on 20 July 1944 when the bomb exploded during the July 20 Plot attempt to kill Hitler and was awarded the Wound Badge (20 July 1944).
On 20 April 1945, Hitler told his staff, "the situation during the last few days has changed to such an extent that I am forced to reduce my staff". Puttkamer was ordered by Hitler to leave the Berlin Führerbunker. On 23 April, Puttkamer and several others were flown by aircraft to the Obersalzberg. Puttkamer was ordered to the Berghof to destroy Hitler's papers there. Therefore, Puttkamer was not with Hitler during his final few days in the Führerbunker. Following the German surrender on 8 May 1945, Puttkamer was held in captivity until May 1947. He died aged 80 in Munich.
Read more about this topic: Karl-Jesco Von Puttkamer
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