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Karl Dönitz ( September 16, 1891— December 24, 1980) was a naval leader in Nazi Germany during World War II. Despite never joining the Nazi Party, Dönitz attained the high rank of Grand Admiral (Großadmiral) and served as Commander in Chief of Submarines (Oberbefehlshaber der Unterseeboote), and later Commander in Chief of the German War Navy (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine). Under his command, the U-boat fleet fought the Battle of the Atlantic, attempting to starve the United Kingdom of vital supply shipments. He also briefly served as President of Germany (Reichspräsident) following Adolf Hitler's suicideSuicide (from Latin sui caedere to kill oneself) is the act of ending one's own life. It is considered a sin in many religions, and a crime in some jurisdictions. On the other hand, some cultures have viewed it as an honorable way to exit certain shameful.1 Early life and career
Dönitz was born in Grünau near BerlinBerlin [ bɛrˈliːn ] is the national capital of Germany and its largest city, with 3,387,404 inhabitants (as of September 2004); down from 4. 5 million before World War II. Berlin is located on the rivers Spree and Havel in the northea to Emil Dönitz and Anna Beyer (d. March 6March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). There are 298 days remaining. It is Keichitsu in the Japanese calendar. Events 1447 Nicholas V becomes Pope. 1460 Treaty of Alcacovas Portugal gives Castile the Canary Isl, 1895Events January events January 5 Dreyfus Affair: French officer Alfred Dreyfus is stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. February events February 14 First showing of Oscar Wilde's last play The Importance of Being Earnes). His father was an engineer. Karl had an older brother named Friedrich Dönitz. In 1910Events January events January 13 The first live musical radio program. Lee De Forest broadcasts a live performance of Enrico Caruso from the Metropolitan Opera. January 26 ? Seine floods in Paris. February events February 8 The Boy Scouts of America is in, Dönitz enlisted in the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine), becoming a sea-cadetThis article refers to the general definition of cadet. A Cadet may also be a member of the Cadets, a historical Russian political party. A cadet is an officer in training. The term is used for military commissioned officer, police, firefighter and EMT tr (Seekadett) on April 4April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). There are 271 days remaining. Events 1581 Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. 1721 Sir Robert Walpole enters office as. On April 15, 1911, he became a midshipman (Fähnrich zur See), the rank given to those who had served for one year.
On September 27, 1913, Dönitz was commissioned as a second lieutenant (Leutnant). When World War I began, he served on the light cruiser SMS Breslau in the Mediterranean Sea. In August, 1914, Breslau began operating out of Constantinople (Istanbul), Ottoman Empire, engaging Russian forces in the Black Sea. On March 22 1916, Dönitz was promoted to first naval lieutenant (Oberleutnant zur See); in October of that year he was transferred to the small submarine UC 68.
On October 4 1918, Dönitz was captured by the British; he remained a prisoner of war in a British prison camp until his release in July 1919, and returned to Germany in 1920. While back in Germany, Dönitz continued his naval career, and became a captain-second lieutenant (Kapitänleutnant) on January 10 1921. He commanded torpedo boats by 1928, becoming a lieutenant commander (Korvettenkapitän) on November 1 of that year.
On September 1 1933, Dönitz became a full commander (Fregattenkapitän), and in 1934 was put in command of the cruiser Emden, the ship where sailors took a year-long world cruise in preparation for a future officer commission. The ship returned to Germany at Wilhelmshaven in July 1935, and on 1 September, Dönitz was again promoted, this time to captain (Kapitän zur See). In this position, Dönitz was in command of the 1st flotilla, Wediggen. This unit had
three U-boats: U 7, U 8 and U 9.
