Portal:Germany/Selected article/2007/April

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Karl Dönitz (September 16, 1891–December 24, 1980) was a German naval leader, who was in command of the Kriegsmarine during World War II and for his 23-day term President of Germany after Adolf Hitler's suicide. During World War I, he served on surface ships before transferring to submarines. He remained in the navy after the war's conclusion and rose in the ranks of the Reichsmarine and Kriegsmarine, becoming a Grand Admiral (Großadmiral) and serving as Commander of Submarines (Befehlshaber der Unterseeboote, B.d.U.) and later Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy (Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine). Under his command, the U-boat fleet fought the famous Battle of the Atlantic. He also served as Reichspräsident for 20 days following Adolf Hitler's suicide.

After the war he was charged and convicted of "crimes against peace" and "war crimes" and served ten years. During his later years, he wrote two autobiographies covering different periods in his life. He died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve, 1980. More...