The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Wehrmacht
Erich Raeder (1876–1960): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 24 April 1876, Wandsbek |
|---|---|
| Died | 6 November 1960, Kiel |
| Key offices | Chief of Naval Command (1928); Commander-in-Chief of the Navy (1935–January 1943); Grand Admiral (1939) |
| Documents bearing his name | Naval orders, appointment and promotion papers, award documents, correspondence |
| In the collection | 1 piece currently available (see below) |
Erich Raeder led the German navy for fifteen years, from the Weimar Republic into the Second World War. His signature appears on naval appointments, promotions and correspondence, and his successive titles help date Kriegsmarine documents precisely.
Who Was Erich Raeder?
Raeder was born in Wandsbek near Hamburg in 1876. He became Chief of Naval Command in 1928 and, in the 1935 reorganisation of the armed forces, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. He was promoted to Grand Admiral in 1939. In January 1943, after a break with Hitler, he was replaced by Karl Dönitz.
What Documents Bear Raeder’s Signature?
His signature appears on naval orders, appointment and promotion documents, award papers and correspondence. Many naval documents also carry his name only as a typed copy. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Title and rank must fit the date: Grand Admiral only from 1939.
- Nothing signed as Commander-in-Chief can postdate January 1943.
- Check naval letterheads and stamps.
Responsibility and Fate
The International Military Tribunal sentenced Raeder to life imprisonment in 1946. He was released early in 1955 because of ill health and died in Kiel in 1960.
Collector’s Note
Kriegsmarine documents signed by Raeder are a classic area of naval collecting. I check above all that his title in the signature block matches the date of the document.
Related Entries and Pieces
Pieces in the Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Raeder Commander-in-Chief of the Navy?
From 1935 (as Chief of Naval Command from 1928) until January 1943.
Who succeeded Raeder?
Karl Dönitz, in January 1943.
What was Raeder sentenced to?
Life imprisonment, in 1946; he was released in 1955.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Deutsches Historisches Museum, LeMO – Lebendiges Museum Online, Erich Raeder 1876–1960 (M. Wichmann; last updated 2014).
- ‘Raeder, Erich’, Deutsche Biographie.