Was Karl Dönitz a Nazi?
Very much so. Großadmiral Karl DönitzDönitz, despite his postwar claims, was an ardent Nazi supporter in the years leading up to and during World War 2. There are a variety of historical testimonies that give credence to this belief and were extensively catalogued by historians postwar. Some of these claims include:Defending Hitler's humanity in the face of critical generalsRefusing to help Albert Speer halt the scorched earth policies of the Wehrmacht despite the intense civilian harm it causedAccused Sweden of being influenced by "filthy international Jewish capital" when they closed their waters to the Kriegsmarine Declaring that a Germany without Hitler wasn't worth living in and would be consumed by the outside forces of Jewry and CommunismExcusing himself from the atrocities of the Nazi Party by arguing he was not a politician and therefore not responsible for the atrocities that occurred Various quotes attributed to him include:In comparison to Hitler we are all pipsqueaks. Anyone who believes he can do better than the Führer is stupid.I would rather eat dirt than see my grandchildren grow up in the filthy, poisonous atmosphere of Jewry.I never had any idea of the goings-on as far as Jews were concerned. Hitler said each man should take care of his business, and mine was U-boats and the NavyA speech given on February 15th, 1944:From the very start the whole of the officer corps must be so indoctrinated that it feels itself co- responsible for the National Socialist State in its entirety. The officer is the exponent of the state; the idle chatter that the officer is nonpolitical is sheer nonsense.A speech given German Heroes Day 1944:German men and women!What would have become of our country today, if the Fuehrer had not united us under National-Socialism! Split into parties, beset with the spreading poison of Jewry and vulnerable to it, and lacking, as a defense, our present uncompromising world outlook, we would long since have succumbed to the burdens of this war and been subject to the merciless destruction of our adversariesSource: Jewish Virtual LibraryFor all intents and purposes, Karl Dönitz was a Nazi supporter through and through to the very end. Sources: The Impact of Nazism: New Perspectives on the Third Reich and its Legacy (By Alan E. Steinweis) Grossadmiral. Memoirs: Ten Years and Twenty Days (By Karl Donitz)
How did the allies deal with nazi criminals after the war was over?
Interestingly - none were guilty of any of the crimes they were charged with The crimes they were charged with were invented AFTER the war to cover their atrocities (remember - its the charges that were brought that matter. not the the ones that could have been brought, but weren't) Think its a fundamental principle of law that you cannot be charged retrospectively with a crime (cos when you were commiting the acts they weren't a criime) So you cant invent a crime after the war and then charge someone for committing it during the war The neuremberg trials in effect had no legal jurisdiction (and were therefore illegal) and the allies commited murder. (I am not condoning nor justifying what they did, and I think they got what they deserved, but that dont make it legal) Funny isnt it Bartleby said "The Nuremberg trials for war crimes led to the execution of several members of the Nazi high Command, such as Eichmann, Goebbels, and Goering." None of these were executed at Nuremberg Eichmann escaped to S america but was captured by the Israelies shipped in a packing case back to israel, tried then executed in Israel Goebbells commited suicide just after hitler Goering committed suicide at nuremberg NONE of the high command were executed at Nuremberg Only other ones I can remember are himmler - he committed suicide and Admiral Doenitz (the leader of germany at the end of the war) - he was put in prison Aint history education a wonderful thing?
When did the Nazis take over Germany and how?
The depression of the early 1930s was a disaster for Germany. While unemployment was 1.4 million in 1928 it rose to 4.8 million in 1931. By 1932 it was 6 million. About one man in three was out of work. One effect of the depression was that the democratic parties lost support. Instead people turned to radical parties like the communists or the Nazis who promised seemingly easy solutions to Germany s problems. In 1928 the Nazis only gained 2.6% of the vote. By September 1930 they gained 18.3% of the vote. By 1932 they were the largest party in the Reichstag. (Although they never obtained a majority of the vote). However in November 1932 votes for the Nazi party fell and the economic situation seemed to be getting better. Yet on January 30 1933 President Hindenburg asked Hitler to become Chancellor and to lead a coalition government. On 27 February the Reichstag burned down. A Dutchman called Marinius van der Lubbe was arrested and confessed to the crime. Hitler claimed that van der Lubbe did not act alone and that it was a communist plot. The next day President Hindenburg was persuaded to sign Presidential Decree for the Protection of the People and the State , which allowed arbitrary arrest. As a result all the leading Communists were arrested. The last election in Weimar Germany was held on 5 March 1933. The Nazi s still failed to gain a majority of the vote. Then on 23 March 1933 Hitler persuaded the Reichstag to pass the enabling law. This would give Hitler the power to pass new laws without the consent of the Reichstag. The new law meant changing Germany s constitution and that would require votes by two thirds of the Reichstag s members. Some 80% of the Reichstag voted in favour of the law, only the Social Democrats voted against it.
How is Karl Dönitz viewed in Germany?
Post WW2 Germany was trying to atone for the pain and suffering caused in the armed forces and non combatants on both sides. Doenitz was appointed by Hitler in his will to lead Germany in the event of the latter’s death.Doenitz was the Grand Admiral of the German Navy ( Kreigsmarine) during the war. He was the brain behind the wolfpack tactic in submarine warfare against Allied ships. He was tried at the Nuremberg trial and was convicted and jailed.Germany would approach the problems e.g.. The Holocaust, by accepting the guilt and admitting to those atrocities inflicted on those defeated. Unlike the Japs who not only deny and even justify the murders, rape and inhumane treatment of civilians, Germany went as far as to outlaw Nazism. Germany would as far as possible like to put the pain of WW2 behind her but she does not deny that dark page of German history or try to justify her actions. This lingering admission of guilt to this day may be the reason behind her continuous acceptance of refugees from war torn Syria, Lebanon etc. As such WW2 leaders like Himmler, Goering, Hitler and groups like the Gestapo, SS etc are not mentioned in the public domain other then in academic studies. It is illegal even to use phrases like Seig Heil or to use The Nazi salute. The Japanese should learn from the Germans if they want to be accepted and forgiven by Asians as well as by China.
Who was the highest ranking Nazi tried in Nuremburg in 1946?
Hermann Goering. He was the highest ranking Nazi official brought before the Nuremberg Trials.