Difference between revisions of "Karl Dönitz"
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On May 7, Dönitz authorized General Alfred Jodl, to sign the unconditional surrender of German forces to the [[Allies]] in Rheims. On May 8, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel repeated the signing in [[Berlin]]. | On May 7, Dönitz authorized General Alfred Jodl, to sign the unconditional surrender of German forces to the [[Allies]] in Rheims. On May 8, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel repeated the signing in [[Berlin]]. | ||
| − | The Flensburg Government headed by Dönitz was not recognized by the [[Allied Powers]] and he was arrested by British forces. | + | The Flensburg Government headed by Dönitz was not recognized by the [[Allied Powers]] and he was arrested by British forces[http://www.br-online.de/wissen-bildung/thema/kriegsenden/09-kapitulation.xml]. |
==Trial== | ==Trial== | ||
Revision as of 23:11, May 31, 2007
Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz was commander of the U-Boat fleet of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during the Second World War. Dönitz also served as a U-Boat captain during the First World War.
President
Upon the death of Hitler and Goebbels, Dönitz was appointed President[1][2]. Dönitz immediately opened up negotiations with the Allied Powers to offer Germany's unconditional surrender[3].
On May 7, Dönitz authorized General Alfred Jodl, to sign the unconditional surrender of German forces to the Allies in Rheims. On May 8, Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel repeated the signing in Berlin.
The Flensburg Government headed by Dönitz was not recognized by the Allied Powers and he was arrested by British forces[4].
Trial
Dönitz was placed on trial in Nürnberg where he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for war crimes, largely related to his policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. A part of his defense at the trial was that the US had also waged unrestricted submarine warfare from day one of their involvement.
Release
After his release he lived a quiet life writing a small number of books. His most famous being his memoir 10 Jahre, 20 Tage. 10 Years and 20 days; an allusion to his 10 years as a Kriegsmarine officer and his 20 days as the nominal head of the German state.
