Profession: Naval Commander and Nazi leader
Biography: Dönitz served as the German naval commander during World War II, during which time he formulated the wolfpack U-boat tactic during the Battle of the Atlantic. He achieved the rank of Grand Admiral, replacing Erich Raeder as Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy.
Adolf Hitler named Dönitz as his successor in his last will and testament. When he committed suicide on 30 April 1945, Dönitz succeeded him as President of Germany, but lasted in this position for less than a month. Germany surrendered to the Allies on 8 May 1945, and Dönitz' government was abolished by the occupying powers on 23 May.
Born: September 16, 1891
Birthplace: Grünau, German Empire, Germany
Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Virgo
Died: December 24, 1980 (aged 89)
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Articles and Photos
Nuremberg War Trials Bring Nazis to Justice
The Trial of Major War Criminals began on this day, the first of a five-year series of hearings at Nuremberg where WW2 Nazis were held to account.
November 20, 1945
Nuremberg Trials
Hermann Goering on trial at the Nuremberg Trials. He would later be sentenced to death, but committed suicide the night before his sentence was to be carried out.
September 30, 1946
Married Life
- 1916-05-27 German Naval commander Karl Dönitz (24) weds nurse Ingeborg Weber (22)
Historical Events
- 1943-05-24 German Admiral Donitz stops U-boat operations in the Atlantic Ocean - turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic
- 1945-01-23 World War II: Karl Dönitz launches Operation Hannibal to evacuate German soldiers and civilians from Prussia by sea
- 1945-05-05 World War II: Admiral Karl Dönitz, leader of Germany after Hitler's death, orders all U-boats to cease offensive operations and return to their bases
- 1945-05-23 The Allies arrest the members of the Nazi Flensburg government, including Admiral Karl Dönitz, formally dissolving Nazi Germany
Chester Nimitz
Comte de Grasse
Piet Heyn
Martin Bormann
Philippe Pétain
Wilhelm Keitel