Karl Dönitz was a German admiral who briefly succeeded Adolf Hitler as head of state in May 1945, holding the position until the dissolution of the Flensburg Government following Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies days later. As Supreme Commander of the Navy beginning in 1943, he played a major role in the naval history of World War II.
Dönitz as Grand Admiral in 1943
Oberleutnant zur See Karl Dönitz as Watch Officer of U-39 during World War I
Karl Dönitz' sons both died in World War II: Lieutenant Peter Dönitz on May 19, 1943, as a watch officer on the U 954, Oberleutnant Klaus Dönitz on May 13, 1944, on the S 141 speedboat.
Dönitz observing the arrival of U-94 at St Nazaire in France in June 1941
The Flensburg Government, also known as the Flensburg Cabinet, the Dönitz Government, or the Schwerin von Krosigk Cabinet, was the rump government of Nazi Germany during a period of three weeks around the end of World War II in Europe. The government was formed following the suicide of Adolf Hitler on 30 April 1945 during the Battle of Berlin. It was headed by Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz as Reichspräsident and Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk as the Leading Minister. The administration was referred to as the "Flensburg Government" because Dönitz's command had relocated to Flensburg in northern Germany near the Danish border on 3 May 1945. The sports school at the Mürwik naval academy was used as the government headquarters.
Flensburg Government
Image of the sports school in Flensburg-Mürwik from which the Flensburg government operated during its 23-day tenure (taken in 2014).
Karl Dönitz
Situation of World War II in Europe at the time of Adolf Hitler's death. The white areas are controlled by German forces, the pink areas are controlled by the Allies, and the red areas indicate recent Allied advances.
