He became known following his design of the so-called Volksempfänger (people's receiver), one of the sets on display at the 10th German Radio Show (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) in August 1933.
Son of a Bavarian NCO, Otto Griessing was educated in Munich, enlisting as a volunteer in 1914 and serving as a signaller.
Having an interest in radio technology, Griessing started work in Berlin with the firm, Erich F Huth, under the wing of its laboratory chief, Karl Rottgardt.
He was technical director of the private broadcaster ‘Deutsche Stunde’ (forerunner of the present Bayerischer Rundfunk) when this started its transmissions on 30 March 1924.
Between January 1926 and August 1927, during the initial development stage, he was the head and technical director of a firm manufacturing communications equipment in Toblach, Italy.