 The family at the time lived at the Reventlouallee 23 on the west bank of the Kieler Förde.This was close to the German Imperial Naval Academy where his father attended a two-year Admiralty Staff training course.Following the outbreak of World War I, his father was posted to the staff of the "Führer der Unterseeboote" (Commander of Submarines) "Fregattenkapitän" (Frigate Captain) Hermann Bauer, and the family had to move to Wilhelmshaven.