World War II Nazi Leaders. Signatures of Doenitz, Raeder, Sp...

Hammer

€210

World War II Nazi Leaders. Signatures of Doenitz, Raeder, Speer and Von Neurath. On four identical scraps of paper (115mm x 100mm) dated Nuremberg 1946. Doenitz, Karl (1891 to 1980) German naval commander during World War II. At the outbreak of war, he was the most senior submarine officer. In 1943 he achieved the rank of Grand Admiral and replaced Eric Raeder as Commander-in-chief of the German Navy. On 30th April 1945, after Hitler's death and in accordance with his will, Doenitz became his successor as Head of State. On 7th May 1945, he ordered Jodl to sign the German instrument of surrender at Rheims. At Nuremberg, Doenitz was found guilty of waging unrestricted submarine warfare and was imprisoned for 10 years. Raeder, Eric (1876 to 1960) Also a German naval leader who was named Grand Admiral and head of the German Navy. He and Doenitz despised each other. By the end of 1942, a series of failed naval operations, particularly the battle of the Berents Sea, combined with the outstanding success of the U-boat fleet under Doenitz, led to Raeder's demotion. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Nuremberg, largely for his role in the German invasion of Norway. Speer, Albrecht (1905 to 1981) The chief architect of Nazi Germany and was for part of the war, Minister of Armaments and War Production. As Hitler's architect, he designed a number of structures, including the Reich Chancellery. He was extraordinarily successful as Minister for Armaments, increasing production despite intensive Allied bombing. His use of forced labour earned him a sentence of 20 years at Nuremberg. Von Neurath, Konstantin (1873 to 1956), A German diplomat, remembered mostly for having served as Foreign Minister between 1932 and 1938. He was regarded as having played a key role in the foreign policy pursuits of the Nazi regime. In March 1939 he was appointed Reichsprotektor of occupied Bohemia and Moravia and subequently of Czechoslovakia, where his draconian regime led to his trial at Nuremberg and sentence of 15 years. (1)