Profile · commander

Karl Dönitz

Germanyb. 16 September 1891 · d. 24 December 1980Add to favourites

Led Germany's U-boat arm in the Second World War and on 30 January 1943 replaced Erich Raeder as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, promoted to Großadmiral. Hitler's will named him successor on 30 April 1945, and he served as head of state until the Allies dissolved his government, de facto on 23 May and de jure on 5 June 1945. At the Nuremberg trials he was found guilty of crimes against peace and of violating the laws of war, and not guilty of crimes against humanity; he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.

Roles and commands

30 Jan 1943 – 23 May 1945Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine; head of state

Events

3 September 1939Battle of the Atlantic
7 May 1945German Instrument of Surrender — end of the war in Europe

Sources

[1]
Karl Dönitz
Wikipedia (EN) · encyclopedia