Erich Raeder (23 April 1876 – 6 November 1960) was a German naval officer who achieved the rank of Großadmiral (Grand Admiral) and served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) from 1928 until his removal in 1943. His career spanned the Imperial German Navy, the Weimar Republic’s Reichsmarine, and the Nazi era navy.
Early Life and Education
- Born in Wandsbek, near Hamburg, Germany.
- Entered the Imperial German Navy as a cadet (Seekadett) in 1891.
- Attended the Naval Academy at Kiel, completing his training in 1894.
Naval Career (Pre‑World War I)
- Served on various vessels, including torpedo boats and cruisers, and specialized in torpedo warfare.
- Promoted to Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant) in 1905 and to Korvettenkapitän (Lieutenant Commander) in 1911.
- Held staff positions and participated in fleet exercises, gaining experience in naval tactics and administration.
World War I Service
- Commanded the light cruiser SMS Strassburg and later the battlecruiser SMS Moltke.
- In 1918, appointed Chief of Staff to the High Seas Fleet under Admiral Franz von Hipper.
- Received the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class for his wartime service.
Interwar Period
- Remained in the navy after Germany’s defeat, transitioning to the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic.
- Became a vocal advocate for a large, modern fleet, emphasizing battleship construction and a strong surface‑war capability.
- Promoted to Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) in 1920 and to Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) in 1925.
- Appointed Chief of the Naval Command (Chef der Marineleitung) in 1928, effectively the head of the German navy.
Commander‑in‑Chief of the Kriegsmarine (1928–1943)
- Oversaw the expansion and rearmament of the navy under the Treaty of Versailles violations and later the Anglo‑German Naval Agreement (1935).
- Directed the construction of the Deutschland‑class cruisers, the Admiral Hipper‑class heavy cruisers, and the Bismarck‑class battleships, including the famous battleship Bismarck (launched 1939).
- Supported the development of U‑boat warfare doctrine; under his tenure the U‑boat fleet grew dramatically.
- Played a central role in planning and executing naval operations during the early years of World War II, including the invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung, April 1940) and the Battle of the Atlantic.
Dismissal and Later Life
- Following the failure of the Battle of the Atlantic to achieve decisive strategic results and after the loss of major surface ships at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Adolf Hitler removed Raeder from his post on 30 January 1943, replacing him with Großadmiral Karl Dönitz.
- Arrested by Allied forces after Germany’s surrender in May 1945.
- Tried at the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg; convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the naval war, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
- Released from Spandau Prison in 1955 due to ill health and returned to West Germany, where he lived until his death in Hamburg in 1960.
Awards and Honors
- Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross (1939)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle (1939)
- Numerous foreign decorations, including the Order of the Crown (Italy) and the Order of the White Rose (Finland).
Historical Assessment
Erich Raeder is regarded as a principal architect of the pre‑war German naval buildup and a key figure in the early conduct of Germany’s naval warfare during World War II. Historians note his advocacy for a surface‑fleet‑centric navy, which later conflicted with the U‑boat‑focused strategy championed by his successor, Karl Dönitz. His leadership contributed to both the modernization of the Kriegsmarine and the strategic limitations it faced against the Allied naval superiority.