Posen-West Prussia
Altenburg was born in Schneidemühl, Posen-West Prussia (today Piła, Poland) and was conscripted as a "Marinehelfer" (Navy aide) in 1944 serving at Heligoland. After the end of World War II he completed a professional training in hotel business and volunteered the Bundeswehr in 1956 at the Artillerytroops.