His comrades nicknamed him "Pee Ontgens" after a character from the book Das Meer (The Sea) by Bernhard Kellermann, which was one of his favourite books.[2] Lütjens graduated 20th of 160 cadets from his "Crew 1907" (the incoming class of 1907), and was thereafter promoted to Fähnrich zur See (ensign) on 21 April 1908.[5] Starting on 1 April 1909, he underwent naval artillery training at the Naval Artillery School[Tr 1] in Kiel-Wik and then participated in a torpedo course on board Württemberg on 1 July 1909.[6]