GRAND ADMIRAL KARL DONITZ - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/24/1978 - HFSID 283426

GRAND ADMIRAL KARL DÖNITZ
World War II German Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz signed this letter, typed on his personalized stationery, in 1978. In it, he tells the recipient that his answers can be found in Dönitz's three books, adding "At my advanced age and very busy schedule it is not possible for me to answer these questions in a letter."
Typed letter signed "Dönitz" in blue ink.1 page, 8¼x5¾, on Dönitz's personalized stationery. Oct. 5, 1978. Written in German, translated: "Dear Mr. Granat! Thank you for your letter Sept. 30. The questions which you asked in your letter I had answered in all of the books which I wrote since 1958. They are the following books: 1.) '10 Years and 20 Days,' Publisher Bernard & Graefe, 8000 Munich, Hubertusstr. 5 2.) My Ever-changing Life,' Musterschmidt-Publisher, 3400 Göttingen, Turmstr. 7, 3.) 'German Strategy on the Seas in the 2nd World War, the Grossadmiral's Answer to 40 Questions,' Publisher same under 1.) At my advanced age and very busy schedule it is not possible for me to answer these questions in a letter.". 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. Lightly toned, stained and creased. Signature is slightly shaky but legible. Folded in half and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.