German admiral who commanded the German navy during WWII, and who executed the surrender to the Allies on May 7, 1945. He was later sentenced at Nuremberg to 10 years imprisonment for war crimes. Souvenir typescript, two pages, 8.5 x 11. Entitled “A brief resume of the situation as I saw it at the time and as I dictated it to my aide-de-camp in the early days of my captivity, when it was still fresh in my mind.” Dönitz list eleven different observations and closes with “This picture of the military situation as a whole showed clearly that the war was lost. As there was also no possibility of effecting Germany’s overall position, the only conclusion which I…could come was that the war must be brought to an end as quickly as possible.” Signed at the conclusion in blue ink, “Dönitz 15.11.73.” In fine condition. R&R COA.
