The Lonely Navigator
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I've come across many many Allied officers having respect for Doenitz and the U-Boat crews. In the book 'Doenitz at Nuremburg' there are numerous letters to Doenitz stating their respect:
"I am grateful for the opportunity of being one of the many World War II veterans to pay homage to a truly great naval officer. During 1944, I commanded the Northeast Greenland Task Unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet I believe that one of the most remarkable and heroic feats in submarine history was the navigation of a German submarine under approximately 100 miles of pack ice, to surface in the shore lead and attack one of my ships, the Northland. I had completely discarded such a possibility in my estimate of the situation. We think of the trans-polar sub-ice navigation by the Nautilus and Skate as outstanding. Yet, in 1944, before the advent of the inertial system of navigation, atomic propulsion and other modern implements to endurance, this intrepid German Commander (supporting Operation Edelweiss) contended with the swift East Greenland current bearing icebergs as well as a moving carpet of sea ice across unsounded depths. I am sure Admiral Doenitz has received many compliments upon his professional achievements to which I humbly add my congratulations. Perhaps more to the point was my conversation at dinner in the cabin of the Eastwind (1944) with Ober Leutnant Karl Schmidt (German Naval Artillery) who agreed that only an outstanding leader would inspire submariners to deeds of daring. I mentioned at the time: 'I wish we had Admiral Doenitz on our side.' I think our policy of trying German leaders for 'war crimes' was stupid. We could have learned a lot from these men who kept Germany fighting almost six years when she was supposed to be bankrupt." -
Rear Admiral Charles W. Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard, M.S., A.M.
Commanded icebreakers Northwind and Eastwind
Commander, Greenland Patrol, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Commander, Task Group, 43.6, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (Antarctic)
Administrator, Univ. of Washington scientific investigation of polar phenomena
"The press accounts of your recent release evoke in me the feeling of shame for my country which I felt during the travesty on justice, known as the Nuremburg trials...I feel certain the vast majority of us were violently opposed to the proceedings, but were obliged to look on helplessly while honorable men who followed the honorable profession of arms in defense of their country, just as we did, were tried and found guilty of crimes that did not exist, by a prejudiced court composed of their enemies, under a code which no civilized country recognizes. The object of this letter, Sir, is to make my personal apologies to a distinguished and honorable man of war who has been crucified for the sin of fighting nobly for his country. We who fought honorably...salute you, Admiral Doenitz." -
Lieutenant General Pedro A. del Valle, U.S.M.C.
Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, World War II
Vice President, I.T.&T. Corp. of N.Y., 1948-1952
[To Grand Admiral Doenitz] "I am glad to be included among those privileged to salute you in this manner. Our profession is an uneasy one. And in carrying on the policies of our Governments we are frequently held responsible beyond the limits of our authority You have paid a high price for such confusion. You may take satisfaction from the fact that you demonstrated superior skill and ability in your chosen field. The events of the past in no way lessent the respect in which you will complete, happily I hope, the remainder of your life." -
Vice Admiral Gerald F. Bogan, U.S.N.
Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet
Commanded, U.S.S. Saratoga and various Aircraft Carrier Divisions, World War II
"I am very glad to have the opportunity to express myself on the case of Grand Admiral Doenitz...There is no basis for holding that those honorable defendants such as Grand Admiral Doenitz were guilty of 'war crimes' or of a violation of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. To say that a professional soldier or sailor who engages in war in accordance with his oath of office and in accordance with the laws of war in general acceptance at the time is guilty of 'war crimes' is not defensible in law, in precedent, or in the concepts of Christian morality...The charge against Admiral Doenitz is without foundation in military, civil or international law. His conduct as a naval officer is above reproach. His direction of the forces under his command was efficient and the operations of his submarines were no more unrestricted than those of our own. The trials of honorable professional military officers at Nuremburg appear, as time lends its perspective too the passions of war, more and more as a gross miscarriage of justice. More and more they appear as vengeance of the victor upon the surrendered vanquished...I shall take this opportunity to say that I regard [Grand Admiral Doenitz] as one of the ablest naval commanders in history. He served in the highest capacity with honor and distinction. He suffered the injustice and indignity of the Nuremburg Trials with forebearance and dignity. He is an example of the fact that greatness of character is as evident in defeat as in victory." -
Vice Admiral Harry Sanders, U.S.N.
Commander, Training Command, Pacific Fleet
Ass't. Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Operations)
Commander, Mine Forces, Atlantic Fleet
Commander, Cruiser Division 1, Korean War
"I served long in submarines before World War II and served in anti-submarine warfare continuously during the war in the Atlantic, having commanded three ships, two divisions, a squadron and a force. It ever seemed to me that the various treaties entered into by the great nations prior to World War II restricting the use of submarines were wholly unrealistic. If the signatories meant what they said, there was no need to build submarines. They never could have been operated under the law. As for Admiral Doenitz, none thought of him but as a brilliant commander of submarines. In brief, I believe that no legal fault can be found in Admiral Doenitz's conduct of the war. I believe that Admiral Doenitz carried out his orders as an officer. He may have made mistakes in judgment in the employment of his forces, but not legal or morally culpable errors. I know of no order on his part which violated the basic rulse of war." -
Rear Admiral Colby G. Rucker, U.S.N.
Commanded U.S.S. Owl and other ships, Atlantic, World War II
Commander, Escort Forces, Moroccan Sea Frontier
Salvaged U 505
"Admiral Doenitz was a great naval officer; our main regret should be that he was not on our side. He and a few thousand men in submarines came very nearly defeating the Allies through interdiction of sea lanes. He operated some 1,100 submarines, requiring crews of some 50,000 men. This is the equivalent of only about three division slices. I doubt if any other three divisions of men have ever achieved more in war than these did. Military effectiveness is no crime." -
Rear Admiral Raymond H. Bass, U.S.N.
Commanded submarines Plunger and Runner, 1943-1946
Commander, U.S. Submarine Squadron 10, 1952-1953
Commanded, U.S.S. Bremerton, 1956-1959
Ass't. to General Manager, The Bendix Corp.
"I am grateful for the opportunity of being one of the many World War II veterans to pay homage to a truly great naval officer. During 1944, I commanded the Northeast Greenland Task Unit of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet I believe that one of the most remarkable and heroic feats in submarine history was the navigation of a German submarine under approximately 100 miles of pack ice, to surface in the shore lead and attack one of my ships, the Northland. I had completely discarded such a possibility in my estimate of the situation. We think of the trans-polar sub-ice navigation by the Nautilus and Skate as outstanding. Yet, in 1944, before the advent of the inertial system of navigation, atomic propulsion and other modern implements to endurance, this intrepid German Commander (supporting Operation Edelweiss) contended with the swift East Greenland current bearing icebergs as well as a moving carpet of sea ice across unsounded depths. I am sure Admiral Doenitz has received many compliments upon his professional achievements to which I humbly add my congratulations. Perhaps more to the point was my conversation at dinner in the cabin of the Eastwind (1944) with Ober Leutnant Karl Schmidt (German Naval Artillery) who agreed that only an outstanding leader would inspire submariners to deeds of daring. I mentioned at the time: 'I wish we had Admiral Doenitz on our side.' I think our policy of trying German leaders for 'war crimes' was stupid. We could have learned a lot from these men who kept Germany fighting almost six years when she was supposed to be bankrupt." -
Rear Admiral Charles W. Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard, M.S., A.M.
Commanded icebreakers Northwind and Eastwind
Commander, Greenland Patrol, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Commander, Task Group, 43.6, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (Antarctic)
Administrator, Univ. of Washington scientific investigation of polar phenomena
"The press accounts of your recent release evoke in me the feeling of shame for my country which I felt during the travesty on justice, known as the Nuremburg trials...I feel certain the vast majority of us were violently opposed to the proceedings, but were obliged to look on helplessly while honorable men who followed the honorable profession of arms in defense of their country, just as we did, were tried and found guilty of crimes that did not exist, by a prejudiced court composed of their enemies, under a code which no civilized country recognizes. The object of this letter, Sir, is to make my personal apologies to a distinguished and honorable man of war who has been crucified for the sin of fighting nobly for his country. We who fought honorably...salute you, Admiral Doenitz." -
Lieutenant General Pedro A. del Valle, U.S.M.C.
Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, World War II
Vice President, I.T.&T. Corp. of N.Y., 1948-1952
[To Grand Admiral Doenitz] "I am glad to be included among those privileged to salute you in this manner. Our profession is an uneasy one. And in carrying on the policies of our Governments we are frequently held responsible beyond the limits of our authority You have paid a high price for such confusion. You may take satisfaction from the fact that you demonstrated superior skill and ability in your chosen field. The events of the past in no way lessent the respect in which you will complete, happily I hope, the remainder of your life." -
Vice Admiral Gerald F. Bogan, U.S.N.
Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet
Commanded, U.S.S. Saratoga and various Aircraft Carrier Divisions, World War II
"I am very glad to have the opportunity to express myself on the case of Grand Admiral Doenitz...There is no basis for holding that those honorable defendants such as Grand Admiral Doenitz were guilty of 'war crimes' or of a violation of the Kellogg-Briand Pact. To say that a professional soldier or sailor who engages in war in accordance with his oath of office and in accordance with the laws of war in general acceptance at the time is guilty of 'war crimes' is not defensible in law, in precedent, or in the concepts of Christian morality...The charge against Admiral Doenitz is without foundation in military, civil or international law. His conduct as a naval officer is above reproach. His direction of the forces under his command was efficient and the operations of his submarines were no more unrestricted than those of our own. The trials of honorable professional military officers at Nuremburg appear, as time lends its perspective too the passions of war, more and more as a gross miscarriage of justice. More and more they appear as vengeance of the victor upon the surrendered vanquished...I shall take this opportunity to say that I regard [Grand Admiral Doenitz] as one of the ablest naval commanders in history. He served in the highest capacity with honor and distinction. He suffered the injustice and indignity of the Nuremburg Trials with forebearance and dignity. He is an example of the fact that greatness of character is as evident in defeat as in victory." -
Vice Admiral Harry Sanders, U.S.N.
Commander, Training Command, Pacific Fleet
Ass't. Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Operations)
Commander, Mine Forces, Atlantic Fleet
Commander, Cruiser Division 1, Korean War
"I served long in submarines before World War II and served in anti-submarine warfare continuously during the war in the Atlantic, having commanded three ships, two divisions, a squadron and a force. It ever seemed to me that the various treaties entered into by the great nations prior to World War II restricting the use of submarines were wholly unrealistic. If the signatories meant what they said, there was no need to build submarines. They never could have been operated under the law. As for Admiral Doenitz, none thought of him but as a brilliant commander of submarines. In brief, I believe that no legal fault can be found in Admiral Doenitz's conduct of the war. I believe that Admiral Doenitz carried out his orders as an officer. He may have made mistakes in judgment in the employment of his forces, but not legal or morally culpable errors. I know of no order on his part which violated the basic rulse of war." -
Rear Admiral Colby G. Rucker, U.S.N.
Commanded U.S.S. Owl and other ships, Atlantic, World War II
Commander, Escort Forces, Moroccan Sea Frontier
Salvaged U 505
"Admiral Doenitz was a great naval officer; our main regret should be that he was not on our side. He and a few thousand men in submarines came very nearly defeating the Allies through interdiction of sea lanes. He operated some 1,100 submarines, requiring crews of some 50,000 men. This is the equivalent of only about three division slices. I doubt if any other three divisions of men have ever achieved more in war than these did. Military effectiveness is no crime." -
Rear Admiral Raymond H. Bass, U.S.N.
Commanded submarines Plunger and Runner, 1943-1946
Commander, U.S. Submarine Squadron 10, 1952-1953
Commanded, U.S.S. Bremerton, 1956-1959
Ass't. to General Manager, The Bendix Corp.
"I never knew about all of this! No one has ever said anything about all these other people speaking out against not just the Nuremburg Trials but specifically the conviction of Admiral Doenitz."
