Werner Rahn entered the
Naval Academy Mürwik and served at sea and ashore in a variety of appointments, reaching the rank of captain. He studied history at the
University of Hamburg under Professor Dr. Moltmann and received his PhD in 1974 with a thesis entitled ''
. He served as lecturer in military history at the Naval Academy Mürwik and later Docent for military history at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr'' at Hamburg. From 1980 to 1997, he served at the
German Armed Forces Military History Research Office in Freiburg im Breisgau as head of the naval history section and deputy director, and later after that office moved to Potsdam, as Director from 1995 to 1997. He retired from active service in the German Navy in 1997. Werner Rahn died in Potsdam, Brandenburg on 19 November 2022, at the age of 83. ==Published works==