Puttkamer was born in
Frankfurt (Oder) and was a member of the
Puttkamer family, related to
Otto von Bismarck's wife. He joined the
Imperial German Navy as an officer cadet in 1917 and served on a
heavy cruiser in
World War I. Puttkamer enlisted during World War I on 2 July 1917 as a volunteer in the Imperial Navy's
Seeoffizierslaufbahn regiment. In December 1917 Puttkamer served on the battleship
Kaiserin. In the final months of the war, Puttkamer graduated at the
Naval Academy Mürwik in a navigation course. He then took leave and joined the
Freikorps. In September 1920 Puttkamer returned to the Naval Academy. He was commissioned as an officer in 1923. , 15 July 1944, Puttkamer is the second from the left on the right of
Claus von Stauffenberg; Hitler and
Wilhelm Keitel are on the right. In September 1926, Puttkamer became commander of the torpedo boat under
Karl Dönitz, a position he held until October 1930, where he was promoted to lieutenant-commander of the torpedo boat . In 1933 graduated as a naval liaison officer from the Mürwik Naval Academy. Shortly after this, he served as
naval adjutant to the
General Staff until June 1935. In July 1935, he was transferred to the staff of the
Commander-in-Chief of the
Navy. Puttkamer served as Hitler's naval adjutant until June 1938, when he was transferred to active service. after the failed
20 July plot Immediately prior to the outbreak of
World War II in Europe, he was the captain of a
destroyer. After the war began, he returned to the role of naval adjutant to Hitler. Later in September 1943 he was promoted to
Konteradmiral. Puttkamer was injured on 20 July 1944 when the bomb exploded during the
20 July plot attempt to kill Hitler and was awarded the 20 July
Wound Badge. == 1945 ==