Eberhard Köllner (born 29 September 1939 in
Stassfurt, Germany) was selected for
Soyuz 31 as the backup for
Sigmund Jähn
Sigmund Werner Paul Jähn (; 13 February 1937 – 21 September 2019) was a German cosmonaut and pilot who in 1978 became the first German to fly into space as part of the Soviet Union's Interkosmos programme.
Early life
Jähn was born on 13 Fe ...
.
He later became the Director of the Airforce Academy of the
German Democratic Republic
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
in the rank of an ''
Oberst
''Oberst'' () is a senior field officer rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway. The Swedish ...
'' ("Colonel"), following the reunion of Germany he refused to be transferred to the (West) German ''
Bundeswehr
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
''. He is currently working in private industries.
References
External links
Spacefacts biography of Eberhard Köllner
1939 births
Living people
People from Staßfurt
German astronauts
National People's Army personnel
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