LIFE AND OUR OWN ACCOUNTABILITY
ADMIRAL Karl Doenitz, Hitler’s appointed successor who presided over Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War ll died in 1980 in Hamburg at the age of 89. A West German Defense Ministry spokesman said that Doenitz, who commanded Germany’s U-boat campaign against Allied Forces, was buried without honors.
Admiral Doenitz was a brilliant submarine strategist appointed by Hitler as his successor on April 30, 1945. In that role he presided over Germany’s surrender after a futile attempt to surrender in the West, and Doenitz continued to fight against the Russian in the East.
After Hitler notified Doenitz that he was to succeed him as head of state, the Nazi leader committed suicide the same day. In fact, Doenitz had been exercising supreme authority for some days since Hitler had become so overwrought he had been unable to make decisions.
Karl Doenitz was arrested by the British on May 22, 1945.
Karl Doenitz, slightly built and taciturn was imprisoned for 10 years after his conviction for war crimes at the Nuremberg trials in 1947. His was the lightest sentence given to any of the major war criminals convicted at the Nuremberg trials. After completing his sentence, he was released from Berlin’s Spandau Prison on October 1, 1956.
Doenitz memoirs published in 1959 and attempted to refute the Nuremberg verdict in his case, maintaining, as did many other Nazis, that he was following military orders. He said he was shocked when, at the end of the war, he learned of the atrocities committed by Hitler.
What is the message of this story?
The lesson we can get from this story is that every one of us is responsible for our life actions, and we will be held accountable for them. Whether you have been a world leader, a decorated war hero, or just a mediocre, this applies to you!
Also, we all must face the inevitability of death, which in turn will be followed by a judgment.
How can we prepare for such an event?
One thing is positively certain, we can make no further preparation after we have died. This fact calls forth from all of us a consciousness of an eternity for which we must prepare.
ADMIRAL Karl Doenitz, Hitler’s appointed successor who presided over Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender in World War ll died in 1980 in Hamburg at the age of 89. A West German Defense Ministry spokesman said that Doenitz, who commanded Germany’s U-boat campaign against Allied Forces, was buried without honors.
Admiral Doenitz was a brilliant submarine strategist appointed by Hitler as his successor on April 30, 1945. In that role he presided over Germany’s surrender after a futile attempt to surrender in the West, and Doenitz continued to fight against the Russian in the East.
After Hitler notified Doenitz that he was to succeed him as head of state, the Nazi leader committed suicide the same day. In fact, Doenitz had been exercising supreme authority for some days since Hitler had become so overwrought he had been unable to make decisions.
Karl Doenitz was arrested by the British on May 22, 1945.
Karl Doenitz, slightly built and taciturn was imprisoned for 10 years after his conviction for war crimes at the Nuremberg trials in 1947. His was the lightest sentence given to any of the major war criminals convicted at the Nuremberg trials. After completing his sentence, he was released from Berlin’s Spandau Prison on October 1, 1956.
Doenitz memoirs published in 1959 and attempted to refute the Nuremberg verdict in his case, maintaining, as did many other Nazis, that he was following military orders. He said he was shocked when, at the end of the war, he learned of the atrocities committed by Hitler.
What is the message of this story?
The lesson we can get from this story is that every one of us is responsible for our life actions, and we will be held accountable for them. Whether you have been a world leader, a decorated war hero, or just a mediocre, this applies to you!
Also, we all must face the inevitability of death, which in turn will be followed by a judgment.
How can we prepare for such an event?
One thing is positively certain, we can make no further preparation after we have died. This fact calls forth from all of us a consciousness of an eternity for which we must prepare.