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KARL DONITZ

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 500.00 USD
KARL DONITZ
KARL DONITZ
(1891 - 1980) German admiral who headed the U-Boat arm of the German Navy, later succeeded Hitler as Fuhrer after Hitler's suicide. Fine content late war-date T.L.S. on his official letterhead, 1p. large 4to., Berlin, Jan. 5, 1945 to his comrade, General Admiral OTTO SCHNIEWIND (1887-1964). In part: "...Since I see no possibility of using you in the Navy in the near future, I have decided to effect your dismissal from active duty by the end of April. May I express on this occasion my special thanks and appreciation for the services you have rendered... in the World War and in this war... functioning as Chief of Naval Operations... as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Fleet... the Navy will continue to feel itself closely bound to you in true comradeship..." Small clean fold tear at top, else very good. During World War I, Schniewind commanded torpedo boats. When the German fleet surrendered to the British, he led a squadron of torpedo boats in the scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow. After the sinking of the Bismarck, Schniewind was appointed as successor to Gunther Lutjens who was lost with the ship. In 1943 Schniewind became commander of Marinegruppenkommandos Nord and on March 1, 1944 he was promoted to Generaladmiral. After the war the admiral was arrested and prosecuted for his part in the invasion of Norway but was acquitted.