A Hero’s Send-Off
Despite the fact that Donitz had never been directly involved in war crimes and had tried to negotiate the best surrender for German troops at the end of the war, the government of West Germany was unwilling to give Donitz a pension above more than that of a captain, on the basis that he only became admiral because Hitler favored him. But Donitz fought his case. He took the government to court, stating that Hitler may have promoted him- but it was based on merit. Donitz won and was awarded the full pension of an admiral until his death.
Karl Donitz died of a heart attack at his home in Aumuhle on December 24, 1980. He was the last German officer with the rank of grand admiral. His funeral on January 6, 1981 was honored by 2,500 people, not only by many former German servicemen, including 100 holders of the knights cross of the iron cross but foreign navel officers, including members of the British royal navy. But a representative of the German defense ministry was not in attendance.
Perhaps still conscious of Donitz’s closeness to Hitler, the West German government denied Donitz military honors and forbade military personnel in attendance from wearing uniforms. But many German navy officers did so anyway. On gold lettering, on the black and white ribbon of one of the many wreaths left in the snow of the quiet cemetery of Aumuhle where the Third Reich’s last leader lay quietly read: “To our Reich’s President”. Other wreaths read ” Grand Admiral Donitz, in honor and fidelity-the survivors of U-Boat 309″ and “courage to the end”. Amongst his contemporaries at least, Donitz was remembered as someone who had simply done his duty.