Felix Scheffler

Felix Scheffler (9 February 1915, in Hamburg, Germany – 13 March 1986, in Rostock, East Germany) was a World War II Wehrmacht veteran, Konteradmiral, and first Chief of the East German People's Navy (Volksmarine).

Life Felix Scheffler was born into a working family. His father was employed as a clerk and his mother worked as a cleaner. After leaving school, between 1930 and 1933 Felix Schaeffler undertook an apprenticeship as a pharmacist in Altona, which at this time was still administratively separate from nearby Hamburg.

In 1932/33 Scheffler was a member of the Nazi Sturmabteilung. From 1948 to 1950, he was a member of the Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany (DBD) serving as the organizational secretary. He rejoined the SED in 1950.

Felix Scheffler's Gravesite at the Neuer Friedhof in Rostock In 1950 Scheffler joined the People's Police Sea (Volkspolizei See) the forerunner of the People's Navy (Volksmarine). From 1950 to 1954, he was deputy director of the People's Police Sea (Volkspolizei See) command. On 1 October 1952 he was appointed as Konteradmiral. He was appointed as the Chief of the People's Police Sea (Volkspolizei See) in 1955, and for a brief period from 1 March 1956 to 31 December 1956 he served as Chief of the People's Navy (Volksmarine). From 1955 to 1975, he served in various leading positions in the People's Navy (Volksmarine). He attended the Soviet Voroshilov Naval Academy in Leningrad from 1957 to 1959. In 1959, he became the Deputy Chief of the People's Navy (Seestreitkräfte/Volksmarine)(Deputy for Education, 1959–1961; Deputy for Technology, 1962–63 and 1964–1975 the Chief of Rear Services). He retired from the Volksmarine on 1 March 1975.