GRAND ADMIRAL KARL DONITZ - AUTOGRAPH ENVELOPE SIGNED 08/16/1976 - HFSID 283429

GRAND ADMIRAL KARL DÖNITZ
Envelope front signed by World War II German Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz in Aumühle, Germany in 1976. Dönitz settled in Aumühle after serving 10 years in prison for war crimes.
Autograph envelope signed "Dönitz/2005 Aumühle" in blue ink. 5¾x4. Postmarked Aumühle, Germany, Aug. 16, 1976. Addressed to Mr. Ferry Granat, Hewlett, New York. Two West German stamps affixed. Aumühle is in Germany's state of Bavaria. Dönitz moved there after being convicted of war crimes in Nuremberg and spending 10 years in prison. During World War II, German Admiral Dönitz (1891-1980, born in Grünau-bei-Berlin, Germany) developed the idea of fighting in wolf packs. In January of 1943, Hitler named Dönitz to replace Erich Raeder as Commander in Chief of the German Navy. In that capacity, Dönitz gave permission for a radically improved U-boat to be built in 1944. Working closely with Albert Speer, the Minister of Armaments, Germany was producing 42 of these all-electric boats a month by 1945, but it was too late to make an impact on the outcome of the war. As the war was coming to a close, Hitler selected Dönitz to succeed him as Führer. After forming a new government, Führer Dönitz negotiated Germany's surrender on May 5, 1945. At the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, Dönitz was found guilty of war crimes and was sentenced to ten years in prison. He was 79 when he died on Christmas Eve in 1980. Back of envelope is missing. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Normal postal stamps, which touch signature. Tears in lower left corner, which touches address. Signature and address are slightly shaky but legible. Light tear in right edge. Show-through from paper loss on verso (does not touch signature or address). Adhesive residue on verso (no show-through). Otherwise in fine condition.