KARL DONITZ

KARL DONITZ
(1891 - 1980) German admiral who headed the U-Boat arm of the German Navy, later succeeded Hitler as Fuhrer after Hitler's suicide. His blue ink signature on a copy of a letter purportedly sent to him by Hermann Goering near war's end, reading in part: '6th May, 1945...Are you aware of the intrigues, endangering the security of the state, carried on by Reich leader Bormann to eliminate me? All moves against me arose out of the loyal request sent by me to the Fuhrer, asking if he wished his order on succession should come into force...I have just learned that you plan to send Jodl to Eisenhower to negotiate...I believe that I also should see Eisenhower, as one Marshall to another...I could probably create a personal atmosphere helpful to Jodl's negotiations...'. Donitz signs in blue ink at bottom-right, adding the date '23.2.79'. Two folds, else fine. The letter references the so-called 'Goering Telegram', in which he, as Hitler's hand-picked successor, requested to assume leadership of the crumbling Third Reich. Bormann, ever the opportunist, seized upon the message as evidence of 'treason', swaying Hitler to appoint Donitz as his successor instead.