Donitz Karl

Hitler's successor, Karl Donitz ALS: "…after my arrest in May 1945."

 

Four page ALS, penned on rectos and versos, with last verso blank for a total of 7 pages. Written in German on personal letterhead of  "Donitz, 2055 Amuhle", 8.25' x 11.75". Dated "18.6.74", and boldly signed in full by Donitz "Karl Donitz" in blue ink. Also present with the letter are its original transmittal envelope, Greene's manuscript translation of Donitz's letter, and a retained copy of Greene's letter to Donitz of May 17, 1974, in which Greene poses a long list of questions for Donitz to answer. The letter shows center folds, else fine. 

 

KARL DONITZ (1891 - 1980) German admiral who headed the U-Boat arm of the German Navy, later succeeded Hitler as Fuehrer after Hitler's suicide. A.L.S. to William Greene, responding to an extensive list of questions from his correspondent, in part: "... I returned home from my cell regeneration treatment on June 15 and now can answer your letter of May 17th. As to the points of your letter: ... I will decide whether or not to write a forward to your book when I have read the manuscript of your book ... I have no knowledge of any biography about myself being written in any foreign country, but in Germany a naval officer has written a biography about me. He concerned himself with this in the 60's, but as yet has not been published. ... I am desirous that you write a comprehensive biography self-sufficiently. Then I will tell you what I think of the content of your hard labor ... I am not in a position to tell you still more about my personal relationship with Hitler than I have already written in my three books..."

 

Donitz goes on to provide contact addresses for Otto Kranzbuhler (his Nuremberg defense attorney), his adjutant Walter Ludde-Neurath, Eberhard Godt (who commanded the u-boat arm of the Kriegsmarine after Donitz's promotion toCommander-in-Chief), former Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production Albert Speer, and Rear Admiral Gerhard Wagner. Donitz then continues to answer questions posed by Greene: "... As a younger officer in 1918 I was particularly proud of this decoration: the Knight's Cross of the Royal Order of the House of Hohenzollern with Swords. I received it because I, as a U-boat commander in the Italian War Port of Porta Augusta, sank an Italian ship ... I consider the formal order to carry the dagger when in uniform on land absolutely appropriate, considering the times ... My personal possessions were lost to me after my arrest in May 1945. This was primarily due to the fact that my baggage and personal property were stored in the West of North Germany, and it was plundered by the British occupation troops ... I walk daily and read when I have enough time, and this with the fullness of my correspondence, visits in response to invitations, and receiving visitors fills my time..."

 

In January 1943, Dönitz replaced Admiral Erich Raeder as commander-in-chief of the German navy, where his loyalty and ability won him Hitler's trust. On 20 April 1945, facing the collapse of the Nazi regime, Hitler appointed him Dönitz of the northern military and civil command. Finally, Hitler named Dönitz as his successor as president of the Reich, minister of war and supreme commander of the armed forces. After Hitler's suicide on 30 April, Dönitz opened negotiations for surrender. He wanted to save as many German civilians and retreating soldiers from the Soviets as possible, correctly believing that the Soviets would prove much less forgiving conquerors than the Western Allies. He hoped that a separate surrender to the British and Americans might allow the Reich to rescue something from the Soviets in the east. The Western Allies, however, fearful of provoking Stalin's paranoia, demanded that Germany surrender to all the Allies simultaneously.

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