(April 24, 1876-November 6, 1960)
Born in Hamburg-Wandsbek, Germany
Joined the German Navy (1894)
Head of the German Navy (April 1939-January 1943); replaced by Karl Doenitz
Arrested at the end of the war, tried at Nuremberg for war crimes
Found guilty and sentenced to life in prison

He supported the Nazi party just on the idea that they would rebuild the German Navy once they were in power.
Unrestricted submarine warfare was initiated by the German Navy under his command.
Germany invaded Norway and Denmark using his plans.

He was a decorated WWI veteran.
He was the author of a book on cruiser warfare.
He opposed both the proposed invasion of the UK in 1940, and the invasion of Russia in 1941.
He was forced to resign as head of the Navy in 1943 due to constant personal conflicts with Adolf Hitler.
His life imprisonment sentence at Nuremberg was controversial, and was later commuted.

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