Erich Raeder

German admiral (1876–1960)

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Lived 1876–1960, aged 84Germany

Germany WritersWriter / Author

Wikipedia
55 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1876–1960
Aged 84
Awards
12
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

Grand admiral of Hitler's navy for the war's first half, then a defendant's chair at Nuremberg and a life sentence he served twelve years of before walking free.

Biography

About

Erich Raeder rose through Imperial and Weimar navies to reach grand admiral in 1939, the highest rank Germany offered. He commanded the Kriegsmarine through the opening campaigns of World War II until January 1943, when he resigned and Karl Dönitz took his place. The Nuremberg tribunal convicted him of war crimes and handed down life imprisonment. Failing health brought his release in 1955, five years before his death in November 1960.

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Erich Raeder

Erich Raeder

said24 Apr 1960

...the basic principles of the military services are unchangeable.

— Quoted in "He Led Hitler's Navy," "New York Times" article, April 24, 1960.

Erich Raeder

said1941

All wars will be settled by sea power.

— In Forrest Davis, "The Atlantic System: The Story of Anglo-American Control of the Seas" (1941), p. 221.

Erich Raeder

said12 Mar 1939

If later on we instruct in the technical handling of weapons, this task demands that the young soldier should also be taught National Socialist ideology and the problems of life.

— Speech made for the German Heroes' Day, March 12, 1939.

Erich Raeder

saidundated