Erich Raeder: The Grand Admiral Who Believed He Was Above Politics
Erich Raeder, the man who led the German Kriegsmarine through the first half of World War II, viewed himself as an apolitical officer serving the nation. Yet, this self-styled servant of the state was convicted of war crimes at Nuremberg, having orchestrated naval strategies that reshaped global conflict.
Born in 1876 to a teacher who instilled authoritarian values, Raeder rose through the Imperial Navy by emphasizing hard work and discipline. He adopted his father’s disdain for party politics, maintaining that his naval ambitions were purely objective considerations of Germany's national good. This belief in being 'above politics' allowed him to navigate the transition from the Imperial era to the Weimar Republic and eventually the Third Reich, where he was formally enrolled in the Nazi Party in 1937.
Raeder’s career was defined by a tension between traditional battleship doctrine and the realities of modern warfare. While he initially pushed for a 'balanced fleet' capable of decisive battles, he later oversaw commerce-raiding strategies after realizing Germany could not match British shipbuilding capacity. His influence was pivotal in the invasion of Norway in 1940, a campaign that proved costly for the Kriegsmarine, resulting in the loss of numerous cruisers and destroyers. Despite his efforts to expand the navy's reach, he often clashed with Hitler, particularly after the sinking of the Bismarck in 1941, which soured the dictator’s view on capital ships.
The end of Raeder’s command came in 1943 following Hitler's frustration over the Battle of the Barents Sea. Replaced by Karl Dönitz, Raeder was eventually captured by Soviet forces in 1945. At the Nuremberg trials, he faced charges including the initiation of wars of aggression and ordering unrestricted submarine warfare. Although he expected a death sentence, he was given life imprisonment, eventually being released in 1955 due to failing health. He died in 1960, leaving behind an autobiography that reflected his lifelong commitment to the rigid, disciplined worldview he had inherited as a child.
Source: Erich Raeder
