During World War II, Köhler worked with a musicians group (Spielschar) within the Hitler Youth organisation.
After the end of the war, the Soviet secret police NKVD arrested him and charged him with being a member of the Werwolf.
From 1963 to 1968 he worked as an art director at the state-owned music publisher VEB Deutsche Schallplatten in East Berlin.
5 "Pro Pace" (premiered in 1984) is a stunning reminder of the bombing of Dresden in World War II.
For the record Peter Schreier singt Weihnachtslieder (1975), Köhler arranged all songs for solo tenor, boys' choir and orchestra.