During his tenure, German designers produced some of the most advanced submarine designs of the war including the Type XXI. Dönitz also served as a U-Boat captain during the First World War. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He relentlessly trained his crews knowing that u-boats would be Germany's principal naval weapon in any future conflict. Arrested, Doenitz was seen to be a strong supporter of Nazism and Hitler.
Coordinating u-boats by radio using encoded messages, Doenitz's crews sank increasing amounts of Allied tonnage. Karl had an older brother. A gifted officer, he completed his exams and was commissioned as an acting second lieutenant on September 23, 1913.
With limited surface units remaining, he relied on them as a "fleet in being" to distract the Allies while focusing on submarine warfare.
Though Joseph Goebbels was designated to be his chancellor, he committed suicide the next day. With the outbreak of Made a vice admiral in September 1940, Doenitz's fleet began to expand with the arrival of larger numbers of Type VIIs. Karl Dönitz, (born September 16, 1891, Grünau-bei-Berlin, Germany—died December 24, 1980, Aumühle, West Germany), German naval officer and creator of Germany’s World War II U-boat fleet who for a few days succeeded Adolf Hitler as German head of state.
His views frequently brought him into conflict with other German naval leaders, such as Admiral Erich Raeder, who believed in the expansion of the Kriegsmarine's surface fleet. Incarcerated at Spandau Prison, he was released on October 1, 1956. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. Focusing his efforts against merchant traffic, his u-boats began to damage the British economy. Dönitz joined the Army in 1903 and at the start of World War I was promoted to Hauptmann, Father, engineer Emil Dönitz and …
Re-introducing the group hunting, "wolf pack" tactics of World War I as well as calling for night, surface attacks on convoys, Doenitz believed that advances in radio and cryptography would make these methods more effective than in the past.
On May 1, Doenitz selected Count Ludwig Schwerin von Krosigk as chancellor and attempted to form a government.
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... History at your fingertips As British and American technology improved in 1943, they began to have more success in combating Doenitz's u-boats. Shifting to torpedo boats, Doenitz progressed through the ranks and was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1928.
Beginning with only nine u-boats, the operation scored several successes and exposed the US Navy's unpreparedness for anti-submarine warfare. info)) (16 September 1891 – 24 December 1980) was a German naval leader. Entering the Dardanelles on August 10, both ships were transferred to the Ottoman Navy, however their German crews remained aboard. Dönitz, Karl, born on 16-09-1891 in Grunau, the son of an army medical officer, to Emil Dönitz and Anna Beyer. Authorizing German forces in northwestern Europe to surrender on May 4, Doenitz instructed Colonel General Alfred Jodl to sign the instrument of unconditional surrender on May 7.
Following his education, he enlisted as a sea cadet in the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) April 4, 1910, and was promoted to midshipman a year later.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz was commander of the U-boat fleet of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during the Second World War and very briefly leader of the remaining area of Nazi Germany upon Hitlers Death.
With the Soviets nearing Berlin, Hitler committed suicide on April 30, 1945. A surprise choice, it is thought that Doenitz was selected as Hitler believed that the only the navy had remained loyal to him.
By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Through 1942, as more u-boats joined the fleet, Doenitz was able to fully implement his wolf pack tactics by directing groups of submarines against Allied convoys. Rather than employ submarines in support of the battle fleet, he advocated for using them in a purely commerce raiding role.
Following his education, he enlisted as a sea cadet in the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) April 4, 1910, and was promoted to midshipman a year later.
Assigned to the light cruiser SMS In 1937, Doenitz began to resist the naval thinking of the time which was based on the fleet theories of American theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan.