Karl Dönitz (1891-1980), the German naval commander who served as Nazi Germany’s last leader during World War II, died at the age of 89 on December 24, 1980. Born in Grünau, Germany, Dönitz joined the Imperial German Navy at the age of 18 and served in the First World War as an officer operating a fleet of U-boats. In 1935, he was appointed Grand Admiral of the German Navy, a post he held for the duration of the war. He was a key figure in the Nazi war effort, overseeing the running of Germany’s naval warfare strategy and naval exercises. After the German surrender in May 1945, Dönitz was tried at the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal as a major war criminal. He was convicted of war crimes and served a ten-year prison sentence. After his release, he lived out the rest of his days in a small village on the outskirts of Berlin. Dönitz left behind a legacy of a remarkable career in the Navy, during which time he was decorated several times. A committed patriot, he served his country for more than fifty years. He will be remembered both as a formidable naval commander and for the challenging role he played in Germany’s history during the Second World War.