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Succeeded Hitler as Head of State-Signed Announcement
DONITZ, Karl (1891-1980). German Grand Admiral, commander of the U-Boat fleet. On May 2, 1945 Donitz succeeded Hitler as Reich Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He ordered Alfred Jodl to sign the German Instrument of Surrender in Rheims, France. Donitz signed the Allied terms for Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945. Donitz was found guilty of crimes against peace and served 10 years in prison. Donitz is best remembered for his 23-day term as president of Germany after Hitler’s suicide. Typed document in English signed, “Announcement To The German People, May 1, 1945. The Fuehrer has nominated me as his successor. In full consciousness of my responsibilities, I therefore assume the leadership of the German people at this fateful hour. My first task is to save German men and women from destruction by the advancing Bolshevist enemy. It is to serve this purpose alone that the military struggle continues to impede the accomplishment of this task, we must also continue to fight and defend ourselves against them. The British and the Americans in that case will not be fighting in the interests of their own peoples, but solely for the expansion of Bolshevism in Europe.” Typed on parchment style paper, a wonderful souvenir of this WWII historical document from a man who surrendered his country. Documents of this type are rarely seen on today’s market especially with the desirable full signature of Karl Donitz. In V/F to Mint condition..................................$1275.00
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