Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold Grand Cross of Merit with Star and Sash Günter Luther (17 March 1922 – 31 May 1997) was a German admiral who became Inspector of the Navy and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO.

Günter Luther was born in Bestwig on 17 March 1922, the son of a teacher who came from a family of artisans.

As company commander in the 9th Fallschirmjäger Regiment (part of the 3rd Parachute Division), he fought in the Ardennes Offensive, in the Ruhr Pocket, and at the battle of Hürtgenwald.

This was followed by studying English at a university, which enabled him to take jobs as an interpreter and personnel manager for the American armed forces.

On 1 March 1956 Luther joined the newly founded Navy of West Germany's new military, the Bundeswehr, as a Kapitänleutnant (captain lieutenant).

[1] He trained as a jet pilot for the Hawker Sea Hawk in the United Kingdom, and in September 1958 assumed command of the 1st Multipurpose Squadron of Naval Air Group 1.

He continued to lead the squadron until 1968, receiving promotions to Fregattenkapitän (commander) and Kapitän zur See (captain).

Luther successfully lobbied for the Navy to switch directly from the Starfighter to the Tornado, without the intermediate introduction of the Phantom that occurred in the air force.