Dönitz: The Last Fuhrer

by Peter Padfield

"Padfield's compellingly readable book conveys a flavor of Nazi leadership unmatched by anything outside the memoirs of Albert Speer. It is difficult to frame higher praise."--John Keegan. A distinguished naval historian and biographer paints a riveting portrait of Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, the Supreme Commander of the German Navy and mastermind of World War Two's devastating submarine war. As Padfield so eloquently proves, dedicated officer Dönitz was corrupted by his inner need for a cause and for a leader to serve--both of which he found in Adolf Hitler. As Germany slid inexorably toward defeat in 1945, the Führer duly rewarded his most loyal supporter and confidant by appointing Dönitz his the last leader of the Third Reich.
"Padfield's compellingly readable book conveys a flavor of Nazi leadership unmatched by anything outside the memoirs of Albert Speer. It is difficult to frame higher praise."--John Keegan. A distinguished naval historian and biographer paints a riveting portrait of Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz, the Supreme Commander of the German Navy and mastermind of World War Two's devastating submarine war. As Padfield so eloquently proves, dedicated officer Dönitz was corrupted by his inner need for a cause and for a leader to serve--both of which he found in Adolf Hitler. As Germany slid inexorably toward defeat in 1945, the Führer duly rewarded his most loyal supporter and confidant by appointing Dönitz his the last leader of the Third Reich.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Military History, World War II, Nautical, Germany

Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[JimC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Padfield's book starts out as a very readable review of Donitz's upbringing and early experiences in the German navy. He covers his rise through the ranks and his nascent development of U boat strategy. He notes how Donitz consistently is rated as a top performing individual and is recommended as an leader with high potential. And though Padfield mentions certain negative traits in Donitz's personality at this point in the book he starts focusing on a psychoanalysis of Donitz's motivations and behavior instead of providing details of his naval activities through the war. This focus on arm chair psychology wholly detracts from the book. As mentioned in an earlier critique of this book, if you are looking for a detailed discussion and analysis of Donitz U boat strategies and other activities as his influence expanded beyond just the U boat war in the years 1943 through 1945 you will find only brief cursory mention in this book. Certainly people will want to know why and how a great military leader like Donitz can fall under the spell of a Hitler, but you won't find that in the book either.
If this is the only book one reads about Donitz it is adequate, but it does an incomplete job

[Phil Geusz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this almost immediately after finishing Doenitz's memoirs. Even though I therefore had a pretty fair idea of what to expect-- the life-story of a gifted yet narrow-minded naval officer rendered too inflexible by his culture and his own successes to back away from committing war crimes or admit his own strategic errors-- I was still deeply impressed by the depth and thoughtfulness of Mr. Padfield's work. I've read several other historical works by Mr. Padfield and have yet to come away unhappy (though I've not yet sampled his fiction). The only matter in which I remain unsatisfied is that not all of Padfield's books are yet available on Kindle. Please, publishers! Please!

[Mansoor Azam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title really caught me and forced me to buy this one, though i normally go for Autobiographies rather than biographies. its a well researched book, one can say. but that's about all. rather than letting the reader know what a man Donitz was it at times give an idea that writer is proving a point that Donitz was after all an inhuman Nazi. for those who wish to read about the military planning and feats of the man, buy something else this aint your meat. Its a bit on biased side. Overall, not a bad one if you really wish to study about this man and have nothing else available.

[Randolph Rossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was Admiral Donitz a War Criminal or Just Non-Political Military Leader.

I found this biography of Karl Donitz to be even handed and not overly judgmental. I hadn’t read any of the biographies of the leader’s of the Third Reich including Adolf Hitler and I was surprised how uncoordinated the various branches of the Armed Forces were due to Hitler’s paranoia. To think that a person who only reached the rank of Corporal (Hitler) lead the Armed Forces.

[Juan B Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donita: The Last Fuhrer

Well written but slow in many area’s. I agree with the author about Donitz being non-repentive during his time as the U-boat Admiral and Hitlers replacement. He supported Hitlers regime in not only his hatred for the Jews and saying he knew nothing about the holocaust is an insult not only to the Jewish people and his fellow service member. Many who fought for Germany during the First World War..

[Millstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively unheralded character in an often told and therefore familiar story; seeing events from his perspective gives the tale a fresh aspect.

[Ralph · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://www.ihr.org/jhr/v05/v05p405_T...

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting bt

Interesting reading about the u boats during ww2. And how Donuts kept.insisting they would win if more u boats were built.

[Gerry Guindon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting