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Erich Raeder
(1876 - 1960)
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Erich Raeder, was the son of a headmaster, 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 War he saw action and in 1928 was promoted to admiral and head of the German Navy.
Raeder disliked the domestic policies of the (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 Voon Tirpitz
Raeder’s strategy was to build a German Navy that could challenge the British Navy. This brought him into conflict with other Nazi members like, Herman 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 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 Lutzow 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.
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
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