Karl Dönitz - Commander of the Wolfpack Documentary 

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Donitz only ordered the "total war" command after the U-boat that sank the Laconia (I think) was helping survivors, while a huge red cross was draped over the U-boat, then being attacked by a US bomber. This plane not only attacked the U-boat, but also killed the civilian passengers in 2 rescue boats. The U-boat commander risked his boat and the lives of his men. After the attack, then and only then did he issue that order. Out of necessity.

His role is usually forgotten but now it won't be as overlooked as much thanks to your presentation.

The order not to assist survivors of sinkings was as a direct result of the "Laconia incidence " understandable when the actions of the Allies in that event are taken into account.

It's interesting that one of the people brought in regards to Donitz's orders about unrestricted submarine warfare. Chester Nimitz had to defend him saying that the U.S submarines operating in the Pacific were under the same orders. Nimitz himself spending part of his early navy career in submarines.

Your videos are so well searched and narrated! Thanks for them!

Hard to get history without judgement. As Sgt. Joe Friday would say, “Just the facts ma’am “. Thanks!

As a man who gave his life and two sons in the 39-45 war, Karl Doenitz was only one man who was there at the time to take on his duties. Many British officers did the same thing in India and many parts of Africa, the Sudan and South Africa to name but teo.

Definitely He was a Very Accomplished Man with a very High intelligence Level too go with His Eventual success in His Naval Career. Thank You for Sharing this Documentary on Him.

Donitz and my grandfather were close colleagues and friends in Aumühle after the war. My grandfather served as a chief engineer on various ammo/transport ships during WW2. He was technically a civilian. It sucks my grandfather died when I was too young to care and pump him for information on such a significant figure such as Karl Donitz.

Thanks. Been waiting for doenitzs videos by you for almost a year. Good job.

Sharing your research about Adm. Donitz is appreciated. He was a fine sailor an was also one who was respected for his naval warfare skills. Thank you.

57:45 German u-boats would pick up prisoners and in one case German U-boat captain pickup hundreds of people from a ship that had sunk, with people inside the submarine and outside, preventing it from diving The U-boat captain even called on the radio on a open channel for other vessels to help In The rescue but the US air forces chose to attacked the German U-boat nevertheless and after that incident Dönitz gave orders to not pick up survivors their after.

Watched from Jamaica thou far away from the front yet Donitz's hands were felt here. His U-boats patroled our waters sank and damage ships. One particular ship(I believe it's name was the Web Star) that was sank, the crew was aided by submariners and after giving them a loaf of bread a ship crew looked on the lable and say that it was from Huntinson Barkery, Cross Road, Kingston, Jamaica! Those U-boat crew would secretly come ashore and enjoy themselves. I know of one U-boat that was attacked and probeble sank off out east coast U-759 by US navy plane VP-32. and I know of another US navy squadron (VS-60) that attacked 2 sub while based at Vernam Field (Jamaica). I think he was treaded fairly.

This is the first and only "The People Profiles" video I've seen. Bravo. It is astounding what is absent: bullshit. Thank you.

Fantastic content, People Profiles! Thank you

Donitz was doing his job, stopping war supplies from reaching England. Our submarine fleet did the same thing to Japan with the same goal, make them surrender.

Another excellent video! Thanks!!👍

Another superb bio.

Donitz is an interesting person to study. Since he shows many of the weaknesses of the Germany Navy, which in my opinion was still looking at WW1 and using older obsolete ideas. He did as well he could with his U-Boats. He a good group of well trained officers and men at the start of the war, but no real reserves. Like the Japanese Naval Aviators. By 1994, the old-U-boats that started the war were obsolete. It was waste to continue to send them on patrols with an almost zero chance to survive. I suspect he knew more about the slave labor camps and other activities then was brought out at Nuremburg. He was lucky to get only 10 years, but it helped he had the best lawyer of all the defendants.

Sorry, but the Royal Oak was not off Scapa Flow, she was inside Scapa Flow at anchor. U 47 penetrated the harbor, sank a battleship and escaped. Actually quite a feat.

According to war journalist James P O' Donnell in his book "The Berlin Bunker" Hitler only started inquiring about Donitz after he felt betrayed by his generals when Stiener didn't initiate the counter offensive to liberate Berlin because at that time he seldom trusted anyone in his inner circle after Himmler and Goring's betrayal so he opted to give the only military commander who wasn't involved in the politics of the Reich the Presidency in his final will and testament which was typed by Martin Bormann in the bunker and not because Donitz's Nazi affiliation

I wonder how many lives were spared on both sides by Admiral Karl Dönitz when he as the Reich President surrendered to the Allies? He was a sailor that took orders and served his country. I honestly feel that he should not have been tried for war crimes let alone having to serve time in prison.

Adding the little I know , Dönitz was liked by the sea men, he also had a tendency to come and welcome u-boats from their mission.

Excellent video. At 55 and a history buff i didnt even know who he was.

My father's boss, U-boot commander Ernst Jürgen Vanselow (1918-2006). My brother (Peter) and miself (Klaus) still alive and kicking...jeje😂

Amazingly good! Thank you!!

I made a comment 1 hour before this got released asking for a video on the grand admiral ! Wow

this is one of the best WWII docs I've ever watched front to back.... Well done.

Heavy losses of uboat because Donitz fail to aware that british captured their enigma machine

I think Karl Donitz was a miltary man of the highest honor. He did the same thing the Allies did. The man lost two sonsw in this war.

This 'biography' of Karl Doenitz is at best marginal. It is riddled with inaccuracies and omissions. In fact, there are so many issues, I don't know where to begin. This comment is not meant to defend or condemn him, but rather to clear up some of the mistakes here. The narrator claims that Doenitz committed war crimes by attacking civilian and neutral shipping. While he very well gave orders to that affect, so did Admiral Chester Nimitz, who in fact appeared at Nuremberg to testify on the behalf of Doenitz, stating that he himself issued similar orders of unrestricted submarine warfare. Also it should be noted, if attempting to blockade Britain and starve the British into submission was a war crime, then why have the British never been held to that standard when they did the same to Germany during WW1 when countless people starved as a result of deploying the same methods? Furthermore, Admiral Erich Raeder was not fired, he resigned as a consequence of Hitler's incompetence and constant meddling in Raeder's affairs. Raeder kept insisting on the expansion of German naval surface forces by building not only battleships, but also aircraft carriers. A fact that didn't sit well with Goering, who saw all of Germany's air forces his exclusive domain and did not approve of Raeder's control over a separate naval air force and Hitler sided with Goering and kept reallocating valuable raw materials to other projects such as monstrous size tanks and field artillery, which did absolutely nothing to win the war. All of these disagreements eventually led Erich Raeder to throw in the towel and he resigned. There are a number of other mistakes and/or omissions, but naming them all would mean I'd have to write a novel here, so I'll leave it at this

I think some of his relatives have settled here in Australia, and have a shop called "Dunking Donutz"

Great video!

my dad was in the british merchant navy, carrying 17,000 tonnes of munitions, cross the atlantic, then the med to resupply monty. he survived lots did not. some ppl say the canandian converted fishing boats turned the tide. not so the british destroyers got radar and sonar. and got an enigma machine.

Interesting and informative. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what the orator was describing. Professional class A research project!!! Donitz down fall was his stupidity/arrogance failing to grasp 👊 the fact that Bletchley park's code breakers. Did just that/ broke the enigma code. Not to mention the fact he didn't have enough submarines. To cut ✂ off Britain's supply line for survival. Along with advancements in sonar/convoy escorts after 1942 the Uboat advantage quickly deteriorated.

very excellent docu. thsank you for a great job. cheers from Greenland.

Not only this but the submarine commander put a call out on open air waves knowing that it would be intercepted by allied command (hoping that the allies would come and help). He asked that any Uboats in the area help him rescue survivors. Two other Uboats, possibly more, answered the call and also flew the red cross attempting to help rescue survivors. On a side note, it was an American Liberator. It also circled the Uboats at low altitude allowing it to see that not only were the Uboats rescuing survivors, not shooting at the plane but also flying the Red Cross on their conning towers. After it circled them a few times, it began strafing them.

great effort

Donitz is far more complex carecter and his men respected him for a good reson as they knew he cared and tryed his best for them,ironicly the german marine did not get as much of a bad wrap as the other branches of the german milletery

Regarding war crimes and Grand Admiral Donitz: No. He carried out orders and commanded the Kreigsmarine to the best of his ability in war.

According to war journalist James P O' Donnell in his book "The Berlin Bunker" Hitler only started inquiring about Donitz after he felt betrayed by his generals when Stiener didn't initiate the counter offensive to liberate Berlin because at that time he seldom trusted anyone in his inner circle after Himmler and Goring's betrayal so he opted to give the only military commander who wasn't involved in the politics of the Reich the Presidency in his final will and testament which was typed by Martin Bormann in the bunker and not because Donitz's Nazi affiliation. As a man, who gave his life and two sons in the 39-45 war, Karl Doenitz; was only one man who was there at the time to take on his duties. Many British officers did the same thing in India and many parts of Africa, the Sudan and South Africa to name few. best wishes Aijaz from Pakistan

Admiral Donny a true naval officer lost two sons in the great war. Allies respected him. Hence he was shown leniency

From May 43 to May 45 german uboats went to a New stage that Dönitz himself called total undersea war. Equipped with schnorkels uboats hid in the shallow waters around Britain and the US East Coast. They could stay under water for up to 70 days. Uboats lost to airpatrols dropped dramatically and blechley park had less material to work with since uboats became almost radio silent

He was a loyal commander he deserves respect for that.

In early 1940 Karl Doenitz with his U-boot has successfully created big problems in Atlantik. Hundreds of British cargo ships, merchant ships and particularly tanker ships have been sunk during the legendary “Battle of Atlntic”. Until Winston Churchill the British PM expressed that he was so frightened by U-boot menace

Thanks!

The reason Dönitz was not executed was a letter from Admiral Chester Nimitz asking that he not receive the death penalty.

Outstanding

I always disagreed with Admiral Karl being charged for doing the same thing as the US and Britain did.

The alies never considered unrestricted bombings on German cities like the nuclear bomb of japan a war crime

Thanks.

The most sad thing about Carl Dønitz beside the fact he nearly drowned in world war 1 when the uboat he served on was bombed out of the water - but what i mean is that the way he tried to manage and control the uboat fleet by demanding them to report back to base quiet often by radio without not ever suspects the enigma code maschine was breached already in the year of late 1942 by the team at blechy park - the system briefly was working without the allied could listen with becauce the germans exspanded the enigma kode maschine with 2 ekstra wheels making the coding more safe but some time in 1943 it was able to read the messages from Dønitz to the uboat and from the uboat back to the navy headquater making it possible to trace the boats and sink them rather effective - if the uboats had secret messages on papers it would have been safer overall - maybe the only person not to see that was Dønits

My uncle was in the German navy. He retired to France. He said in the navy his two armpits helped him retire early. Momma explained it to me. But my uncle seemed happy with the 5 navy men he lived with on that ship in the harbor.

The regime was as crooked as a dog's hind leg, but there were men in service who actually seemed to have integrity and pride in what they were doing.

Love this channel and thank you! However, I don't want ads, or a "quick word from x and y" please. I already pay RU-vid premium specifically so videos I watch are not interrupted. Thanks 👍

Informative documentary coverage video about Donits print fingers through leading Nazism nevagation efforts .especially submarines weapons ...he became 3rd Riech Chancellor ....in last times of Nazism regimes period...thanks for sharing

He served 10 years in prison. He knowing approved of slave labor to build his U-boats. He was in no way an innocent.

Interesting documentary

Always the go-getter, the Great Submariner's nickname from childhood was "Dunkin'".

Hero

Now you gotta do some Italian commanders in WW2

Very well done wow this should grow huge

It is not menthioned that during the Nuremberg trails, US Navy Admiral Chester Nimitz signed a declaration stating that Admiral Donitz acted under the rules of engagement and did not commit any war crime. Donitz once in position as leader of the German country made great efforts in order to save as many lives as possible moving his troops and civilians west to the US and British front. Their is no doubt that hes was a very interesting actor of WWII and therefore he received the last recognition at his funeral.

A fantastic piece....ive never heard of him until i saw this......i think his punishment of 10 years was fair only due to the fact that he was a dog of war following orders...

Karl Dönitz knew that he did not have enough submarines to defeat UK or prevent Baltic Fleet or Black Sea Fleet from defending Sevastopol or Leningrad. Reason why he went along with it was his personal ambition and possibly believe that Luftwaffe and Heer could cover what the Kriegsmarine lacked.

I had an idea to open a chain of Donut shops called "Karl's Donuts", but I couldn't get any funding. I was going to sell Sinkers and Luftwaffles. I still think it was a great idea.

Doenitz was never Chancellor, as stated early on in this film; he was the nominated head of state; the chancellor after Hitler was (briefly) Goebbels, and then - in fact if not in title - Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk.

Arthur Seyss Inquart maybe

I think Karl Donitz had plausible deniability I am surprised the allies were able to make the charges stick, beyond reasonable doubt. When he became the German Chancellor he should of retracted all War Crimes breaches.

Good documentary but completely left out that he became a leader in the post war Bundesmarine and was very much respected by his men. History is written by the victor- imagine the war trials of ‘Bomber Harries’ and others killing civilians…

He just being a naval officer what choices did he have his options were very limited.

All very interesting and well presented. But shops are ‘sunk’, not sank!

Not quite accurate regarding Donitz succession to Hitler. When President Hindenburg died in 1934 Hitler, who was already Chancellor, assumed the duties of President as well. Hitler appointed Donitz as President and Goebbles as Chancellor, thereby reestablishing the old model. With Goebbles suicide on May 1, 1945, Donitz assumed the powers of Chancellor more or less by default. Not that it really mattered much. Donitz was not, however, named as Goebbles successor by Hitler in his will.

He Voz a Vor Kriminal !

These documentaries always leave out how the Poles played a crucial role in cracking the enigma code. The British always seem like they want all the credit.

The role of the novel centimetric radar in detection of U-boats should be emphasized.

I am a firm believer that had donitz gotten the 300 u boats he asked for and the enigma not been compromised , the war would have went a very different way. Before you correct me on the number of U-boats I wrote know I am just estimating. Donitz didn't receive close to the amount he wanted

I truly feel that Karl Donitz was a soldier and not a politician. I don't think he was in anyway involved in the holocaust. He did bring the war to a swift end,and this could be the reason he was given a funeral with full military honor 🎖 upon his passing.

Did he have a brother Dunkin Donitz?

Karl was my great grandpas great grandpa. Interesting asf

Raeder wasn't sacked - he insisted on retirement against Hitler's wishes; although if Hitler had wanted to insist he remain, it would have been impossible for him to do anything else. In that respect only, he could be said to have been dismissed. Doenitz did not succed Goebbels, he succeeded Hitler - Goebbels was never head of state. As for whether he was treated leniently or not - it's a bit late now to get worked up about it, but compared with comparable war crimes by the Russians, and, arguably, the blanket bombing of Hamburg, Wurzburg and Dresden, there was at least an element of victor's justice, even if his defence didn't really stand up on the 'just obeying orders' front. This was a good documentary - pronunciation of German names correct, for once, and so far as I'm any judge, broadly accurate. The inaccuracies aren't that important, but still need correction.

I BELEIF he was just following order's ! As a Jerman OFICER THANK YOU FOR THIS SHOW ! ,OF HISTORY !!! AMEN 🙏!!! 🙏 😮

karl doenitz . my world . somewhere . is my mind maybe in my heart like albert speer and hjamach schart

I believe sadly that Doneitz was perhaps entirely reasonable in his submission that the two deserters face the ultimate penalty, no matter the war was at an end

It is not at all strange that Hitler became so popular. When you study the Versailles treaty and the impact it had on the German population, it has to be clear that anyone who took action against this treaty would become a hero with the masses. You also have to take into account that Jews were not generally liked in all of Europe before WWII. I'm old enough to have spoken with people from that era and this anti Jews sentiment was quite common.

you know all those Nazi's once the war was over claimed to have worked as a cook or as a memeber of the trumpet band

Jack Parsons n von brauns occult side of notaspaceagency would b a great show

So Donutz had to do day for day on his little ol' ten spot. That ain't doodly-squat. He got off easy, could have went to a hemp rope dance or LWOP.

I think the confederate states will give you a good argument for the first powered submarine

Interesting and informative. He was guilty of war crimes at sea.

COOL WAR

The British got there first ENIGMA machine in 1939 from the Polish

The man known to history as...

Carl, as with so many others in the German military, was a brilliant Officer, dedicated to his country and people. Erwin Rommel was sentenced to death by Hitler. For opposing Hitler on the camps killing and being falsely accused of joining the underground plotting his assassination. Hitler killed 84 of his own Officers before destroying Germany and Europe. He created an atmosphere that so many would be blamed for his actions. The military was under orders, as any veteran knows what can happen when you disobey orders. It is all very tragic but the Nazi Party was fighting Communists in the streets before Hitler came to power. Now, the world is again fighting Communists infiltrating many governments including America.

Donitz sent 80% of his submariners to their death.

Shiiiiit… that man got off with a slap on the wrist

Dönitz...Yeah. During the war, German submarines sank all kinds of merchant ships. They only made an exception for the ships of Aristotle Onassis... Why?... After the war, the US Congress began an investigation into this strange fact. Two months after the investigation began, it was abruptly terminated, without fanfare or explanation.

Just my humble opinion, but I think Hitler chose him as successor, not only because he trusted Doenitz, but also, that Hitler thought the U-boat leader was the only person left that could save what was left of Germany from the Soviets and negotiate whatever was left with the allies.

Wow, I always thought his name was Donuts ?