Erich Raeder

Erich Raeder
Raeder in 1940
Chief of the German Navy High Command
In office
1 June 1935 – 30 January 1943
DeputyRolf Carls
Preceded byHimself
(as Head of the Naval Command)
Succeeded byKarl Dönitz
Head of the German Naval Command
In office
1 October 1928 – 1 June 1935
Preceded byHans Zenker
Succeeded byHimself
(as Oberbefehlshaber der Marine)
Personal details
BornErich Johann Albert Raeder
(1876-04-24)24 April 1876
Died6 November 1960(1960-11-06) (aged 84)
Resting placeNordfriedhof cemetery, Kiel
SpouseErika Moller
Children4
Parents
  • Hans Friedrich Eduard Raeder (father)
  • Gertrud Wilhelmine Margaretha (mother)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance
Branch
Service years1894–1943
RankGroßadmiral
CommandsSMS Cöln
Battles/wars
AwardsSee below
Criminal information
Criminal statusDeceased
Convictions
TrialNuremberg trials
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
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Erich Johann Albert Raeder ([ˈeːʁɪç ˈʁɛːdɐ]; 24 April 1876 – 6 November 1960) was a German admiral who played a major role in the naval history of World War II and was convicted of war crimes after the war. He attained the highest possible naval rank, that of grand admiral, in 1939. Raeder led the Kriegsmarine for the first half of the war; he resigned in January 1943 and was replaced by Karl Dönitz. At the Nuremberg trials he was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released early owing to failing health in 1955.