Otto was born into the family of a carpenter in the seaport of Bremerhaven. As a young child, Otto spent much of his time in the shipyards admiring the colossal steel behemoths of the fledgling German Navy of World War One.

His admiration of all things mechnical, started when he began building highly specialized clocks alongside his father in his shop- his interest in motorcars and trucks grew and as such he became a valued young man to turn to in his District when repairs were necessary.

Otto's life took a different turn however, when the family, vacationing in the Bodensee in the early Spring, passed through Munchen on train and caught a glimpse of a detachment of the Leibstandarte, smartly dressed and disciplined, marching by the station. Inspired and attracted to the Leibstandarte, Otto signed up in 1937. to serve the Fatherland. Assigned to the growing SS-Verfungstruppe, Otto felt at home amongst his comrades and soon became again drawn into the motor pool and aiding the old hands with the motor vehicles of the Leibstandarte, earning the trust and respect of his superiors.

With the tide of war, Otto's abilities became even more valuable, servicing the many vehicles both issued and captured. He remained in the supply lies, doggedly working to make sure his Kameraden had the support they needed to deliver the Angriff to the enemy.

During the first winter of the Ostfront campaign, and due to losses in his Division, Otto was moved into an infantry support role, driving the much vaunted Skfz. 251 Halftrack into battle, earning him the Ostront Medaille, and the Iron Cross 2nd class for his abilites and daring in the field.

When his unit was transferred to the West, Otto spent his leave at home, and found Bremerhaven, under constant bombardment by the Allies due to its strategic port. He vowed to continue to fight the now landed enemy in the fields of Normandy. During the subsequent campaign, Otto was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class for decimating an entire platoon of GIs with his MG42, when they wandered into his Zug's area while at rest, and thus his commander's heartfelt thanks.

When his family's home was reduced to rubble during a bombing raid, Otto rturned home once more to aid his family and was captured by the advancing Allies and a POW until 1946.