GRAND ADMIRAL KARL DONITZ - TYPESCRIPT SIGNED 03/02/1979 - HFSID 80745

GRAND ADMIRAL KARL DÖNITZ
Souvenir typescript of Karl Dönitz's order to General Alfred Jodl to finalize an armistice between Nazi Germany and the Allies during World War II, signed and dated by Dönitz in blue ink in 1979, one year before his death. Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies one day after the original document was signed by Dönitz.
Typescript signed "Dönitz/2. 3. 79" in blue ink.1 page, 8½x11. In German, translated: "I authorize Colonel General Jodl, Chief of the Armed Forces Command Staff at the High Command of the Armed Forces to close an armistice with the headquarters of General Eisenhower." This is a souvenir typescript of Dönitz's orders to General ALFRED JODL (1890-1946, born in Würzburg, Germany) to finalize an armistice with the Allies. The original document was dated at "Headquarters" on May 6, 1945, one day before Germany surrendered to the Allies. Jodl was later convicted of war crimes during the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials and hanged. Dönitz was also convicted of war crimes during the trials, but only served 10 years in Spandau Prison. During WWII, German Admiral Karl Dönitz (1891-1980, born in Grünau-bei-Berlin, Germany) developed the idea of fighting in wolf packs. In January 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 and creased. Paper clip impression near top edge. Otherwise in fine condition.