I rate Admiral Donitz as the best of them all, land or sea. He was unique in his handling of the German submarines and they were our most dangerous enemy. His performance with them-and he did most of it himself-was the most outstanding Axis performance of the war. Then he succeeded to command all German Navy Forces. It was too late for real accomplishment, but he made no mistakes and no one could have done better. Then he succeeded the Fuhrer himself, and his performance from there on seems to me to have been perfect. So I think Donitz was the best.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker praises Dönitz as the best Axis commander, noting his submarine command and succession to Hitler as flawless despite late timing.
- In plain terms
- Dönitz handled submarines and became leader perfectly, making him the best Axis figure.
- What can you take from it?
- Skill in command can be praised even within a defeated and criminal regime.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can one separate command skill from moral context?
- What makes a commander 'best'?
Another view
Praising military skill ignores the regime's atrocities and aggression.
More from Karl Donitz
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