Editing Karl Dönitz
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'''Karl Dönitz''' (September 16<sup>th</sup>, 1891 – December 24<sup>th</sup>, 1980) was a German admiral who played a major role in the naval history of World War II. | |||
He began his career in the Imperial German Navy before World War I. In 1918, while he was in command of ''UB-68'', the submarine was sunk by British forces and Dönitz was taken prisoner. While in a prisoner of war camp, he formulated what he later called ''Rudeltaktik'' ("pack tactic", commonly called "wolfpack"). At the start of World War II, he was the senior submarine officer in the ''Kriegsmarine''. In January 1943, Dönitz achieved the rank of ''Großadmiral'' (grand admiral) and replaced Grand Admiral [[Erich Raeder]] as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. | |||
He began his career in the Imperial German Navy before | |||
On April 30<sup>th</sup>, 1945; after the death of Adolf Hitler and in accordance with Hitler's last will and testament, Dönitz was named Hitler's successor as head of state, with the title of President of Germany and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces | On April 30<sup>th</sup>, 1945; after the death of [[Adolf Hitler]] and in accordance with Hitler's last will and testament, Dönitz was named Hitler's successor as head of state, with the title of President of Germany and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. On May 7<sup>th</sup>, 1945; he ordered [[Alfred Jodl]], Chief of Operations Staff of the OKW, to sign the German instruments of surrender in Reims, France. Dönitz remained as head of the Flensburg Government, as it became known, until it was dissolved by the Allied powers on May 23<sup>rd</sup>. At the Nuremberg trials, he was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment; after his release, he lived quietly in a village near Hamburg until his death from a heart attack on December 24<sup>th</sup>, 1980. | ||
==Dönitz's relationship to Jews and Nazism== | ==Dönitz's relationship to Jews and Nazism== | ||
Despite his postwar claims, Dönitz was seen as supportive of Nazism during the war: | Despite his postwar claims, Dönitz was seen as supportive of Nazism during the war: | ||
*Several naval officers described him as "closely tied to Hitler and Nazi ideology." On one occasion, he spoke of Hitler's humanity. Another event, in which he spoke to | *Several naval officers described him as "closely tied to Hitler and Nazi ideology." On one occasion, he spoke of Hitler's humanity. Another event, in which he spoke to Hitler Youth in what was defined as an "inappropriate way", earned him the nickname of "Hitler Youth Dönitz". | ||
*He refused to help [[Albert Speer]] stop the scorched earth policy dictated by Hitler, and is also noted to have declared, "In comparison to Hitler we are all pipsqueaks. Anyone who believes he can do better than the Führer is stupid." | *He refused to help [[Albert Speer]] stop the scorched earth policy dictated by Hitler, and is also noted to have declared, "In comparison to Hitler we are all pipsqueaks. Anyone who believes he can do better than the Führer is stupid." | ||
*Several | *Several anti-Semitic statements by Dönitz are known. When Sweden closed its international waters to Germany, he blamed this action on their fear and dependence on "international Jewish capital." In August 1944, he declared, "I would rather eat dirt than see my grandchildren grow up in the filthy, poisonous atmosphere of Jewry." | ||
*On German Heroes Day (March 12th) of 1944, Dönitz declared that without Adolf Hitler, Germany would be beset by "the poison of Jewry", and the country destroyed for lack of National Socialism, which, as Dönitz declared, met an uncompromising ideology with defiance. | *On German Heroes Day (March 12th) of 1944, Dönitz declared that without Adolf Hitler, Germany would be beset by "the poison of Jewry", and the country destroyed for lack of National Socialism, which, as Dönitz declared, met an uncompromising ideology with defiance. | ||
*Author Eric Zillmer argues that, from an ideological standpoint, Dönitz was anti-Marxist and anti-Semitic. Later, during the Nuremberg trials, Dönitz claimed to know nothing about the extermination of Jews and declared that nobody among "[his] men" thought about violence against Jews. | *Author Eric Zillmer argues that, from an ideological standpoint, Dönitz was anti-Marxist and anti-Semitic. Later, during the Nuremberg trials, Dönitz claimed to know nothing about the extermination of Jews and declared that nobody among "[his] men" thought about violence against Jews. | ||
==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
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[[Category:Modern Villains]] | [[Category:Modern Villains]] | ||
[[Category:Jingoists]] | [[Category:Jingoists]] | ||