Dönitz, Karl (1891–1980)

German admiral, originator of the wolf-pack submarine technique, which sank Allied shipping in World War II. He succeeded Hitler in 1945, capitulated, and was imprisoned 1946–56.

He was in charge of Germany's U-boat force 1939–43 and his ‘wolf-packs’ sank 15 million tonnes of Allied shipping during the course of the war. He succeeded Raeder as commander-in-chief of the navy in January 1943 and devoted himself to trying to overcome Allied naval superiority. Hitler trusted him when he had lost faith in his army and Luftwaffe commanders, and so Dönitz was appointed to succeed him in May 1945. His sole deed as leader of the Reich was to negotiate its surrender. He was arrested on 23 May, tried at Nürnberg and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment.