Hitler and Raeder
RAEDER, Dr. phil. h. c. Erich (RK)
(1876 - 1960)
Großadmiral:
Born: 24. Apr. 1876 in Wandsbek, near Hamburg.
Died: 6. Nov. 1960 in Kiel.
Promotions:
Grossadmiral: 1. Apr. 1939; Generaladmiral: 20. Apr. 1936; Admiral: 1. Oct. 1928; Vizeadmiral: 10. Sep. 1925 (with seniority retroactive to 1. Apr. 1925); Konteradmiral: 1. Aug. 1922; Kapitän zur See: 29. Nov. 1919; Fregattenkapitän: 26. Apr. 1917; Korvettenkapitän: 15. Apr. 1911; Kapitänleutnant: 21. Mar. 1905; Oberleutnant zur See: 1. Sep. 1900; Oberleutnant zur See (Patentierung vorbehalten-- probationary?): 9. Apr. 1900; Leutnant zur See: 1. Jan. 1899; Unterleutnant zur See: 25. Oct. 1897; Seekadett: 13. May 1895; Kadett: 16. Apr. 1894.
Assignments:
Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine: 1. Oct. 1928-Jan. 1943.
Marineschule u. Spezialkurse: 15. Apr. 1896-10. Oct. 1897.
Training Ship "Gneisenau": 18. Apr. 1895-14. Apr. 1896.
Basic Training & School Ship "Stosch": 1. Apr. 1894-17. Apr. 1895.
Postwar Prosecution:
Tried by International Military Tribunal, Nuremberg. Sentenced to life imprisonment, 1. Oct. 1946. Released, 26. Sep. 1955 due to ill health.
Decorations & Awards:
Ritterkreuz des E.K.: 30. Sep. 1939.
1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I;
1939 Spange zum 1914 EK II;
1914 EK I;
1914 EK II;
Wehrmacht- Dienstauszeichnungen;
Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer;
Goldenes Parteiabzeichen
Erich Raeder, the son of a headmaster, was born in Wandsbek, Schleswig-Holstein, on 24th April, 1876. After a good classical education he entered the Imperial Navy in 1894. He made rapid progress and became Chief of Staff to Franz von Hipper in 1912. During the First World War he saw action and was highly decorated for his efforts in the large sea battle of Skagerrack, north of Denmark. He also served as chief of staff of Vize Admiral Franz von Hipper.
In 1928 hewas promoted to admiral and head of the German Navy.
Erich Raeder was an officer of the "old school". He kept the traditional salute, forbid his officers to take active part in politics and refused to discharge valuable, older officers of jewish faith or origin!
Raeder, Dönitz and Lütjens together protested against the Kristallnacht!!!(???)
He kept working hard and made the Z-plan a reality in January '39. Later, in spring the same year he got promoted to Grossadmiral.
Raeder disliked the domestic policies of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) but supported Adolf Hitler in his attempts to restore Germany as a great power. In 1939 Hitler promoted Raeder to the rank of grand admiral, the first German to hold this post since Alfred von Tirpitz.
Raeder strategy was to build a German Navy that could challenge the British Navy. This brought him into conflict with Hermann Goering who as director of the German economy directed more resources to the Luftwaffe than the navy.
In October 1939 Raeder sent Adolf Hitler a proposal for capturing Denmark and Norway. He argued that Germany would not be able to defeat Britain unless it created naval bases in these countries. In April 1940 Hitler gave permission for this move but he was disappointed by the heavy losses that the German Navy suffered during the achievement of this objective.
Raeder supported Operation Sealion, the planned German invasion of Britain, but argued that first the Luftwaffe had to gain air superiority. When Hermann Goering failed to win the Battle of Britain Reader advised Hitler to call off the invasion. He was also a strong opponent of Operation Barbarossa.
Adolf Hitler grew increasingly disillusioned with the performance of the German Navy and after the Luetzow and Admiral Hipper failed to stop a large Arctic convoy he accused his commander of incompetence. Raeder resigned in January, 1943 and was replaced by Karl Doenitz as Commander in Chief of the navy.
At the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial Raeder was found guilty of conspiring to wage aggressive war and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released in 1955 and in retirement wrote his memoirs Mein Leben (1957). Erich Raeder died in Kiel, on 6th November, 1960.
http://www.adolfhitler.ws/lib/nsdap/Raeder.html
http://www.dataphone.se/~ms/ubootw/m...ers_raeder.htm
http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/imt/nca/n...-15-01-01.html
http://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarc...ed/raeder.html
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERraeder.htm
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