Erich Raeder

Lore & Background

Raeder was born into a middle-class Protestant family in Wandsbek in the Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein. His father, a headmaster, instilled in him values of hard work, thrift, religion, and discipline, along with a strong dislike for democracy and Social Democrats. Raeder joined the Imperial German Navy in 1894, rose rapidly due to intelligence and hard work, and served as chief of staff for Franz von Hipper in 1912. He was heavily involved in lobbying for the Third Navy Law of 1906 and served as captain of Kaiser Wilhelm II's private yacht before World War I.

During World War I, Raeder served as Hipper's chief of staff and took part in the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915 and the Battle of Jutland in 1916. He played a major role in planning the raid that led to Jutland and later in attempting to crush the Kiel mutiny of October 1918. After the war, he was closely involved in disbanding workers' and soldiers' councils and served as liaison between the naval officer corps and Defense Minister Gustav Noske.

Raeder led the Kriegsmarine for the first half of World War II, resigning in January 1943 and being replaced by Karl Dönitz. At the Nuremberg trials he was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released early owing to failing health in 1955.

Reader's Guide

Erich Raeder's significance lies in his leadership of the German navy during the critical early years of World War II and his subsequent conviction for war crimes. His career reflects the tensions within the German naval tradition between the Tirpitzian 'balanced fleet' doctrine and the Wegenerian commerce-raiding approach. Raeder's claim to be 'apolitical' masked a deep commitment to authoritarian nationalism and a disdain for democracy, views instilled by his father. His role in the Kiel mutiny suppression and later service under the Weimar Republic illustrate the military's self-conception as 'above party' while engaging in state politics. His legacy is complicated by his early release from a life sentence, which remains a point of historical debate. The article notes that Raeder's personality was cold and distant, and even his friends admitted to knowing little about him.

Did You Know?

• Raeder served as captain of Kaiser Wilhelm II's private yacht in the years leading up to World War I.
• He played a major role in planning the raid that became the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
• Raeder was convicted at the Nuremberg trials and sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released early in 1955 due to failing health.
• He spoke fluent Russian and was sent as an observer to the Russo-Japanese War in 1904.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler had made the clear political request to build up for him in 5 years, that is, by the first of April 1938, armed forces which he could place in the balance as an instrument of political power." — Erich Raeder "Speech made for the German Heroes' Day, March 12, 1939." — Erich Raeder "Quoted in "He Led Hitler's Navy," "New York Times" article, April 24, 1960." — Erich Raeder "Quoted in Peter Charles Smith, The Great Ships Pass: British Battleships at War (1977)." — Erich Raeder