Lot 49
EBERHARD GODT
(1900-1995) German naval officer who served in both World War I and World War II, eventually rising to command the Kriegsmarine''s U-boat operations. Good content T.L.S. in German, 4pp. 4to., Kiel, Aug. 31, 1974, to William Greene, responding to Greene''s request for information to be included in a biography he is writing on Kriegsmarine chief Karl Donitz. Godt provides an itemized response to a list of questions provided by Greene, in part: "... For some time now, I have made it a rule to be very cautious when making statements or taking positions on happenings in World War II... Anecdotes concerning the Grand-Admiral - there are not too many. Two exceptions, both probably printed somewhere else happen to strike my memory. When receiving the news of war with Great Britain, the Admiral said, ''Dammit, that I am forced to live through this again.'' And at the end of the war, after receiving notification of Hitler''s death, ''A hero''s battle has been fought enough - I don''t want to hear about this anymore.'' In both cases I was there when he said this... In fall of 1934 I became Adjutant Frigate Captain of Donitz who commanded the cruiser Emden, previously to this I met the Grand-Admiral occasionally and only superficially. The ship made a voyage of approximately 7 months to Africa as far as south India... The Grand-Admiral was superior to me by 8 years and I was never on an equal basis to him. From 1934-1935, and since 1938, I was directly under him... I do not believe there was ever any political pressure put on the Grand-Admiral. I was and I am convinced that he would never have bowed to any pressure... In cases when the Grand-Admiral could not always meet his military requirements and programs, the political pressure was not the reason but military decisions. Examples from the u-boat domain: Demands for increased u-boat construction prior to and during the war, increase in repair capacities, a decline in the use of u-boats in secondary engagements, convoy safety, blockade runners, conversion of boats from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and utilization for weather purposes. For a commander in a position such as the Grand-Admiral in the final analysis there was but one alternative - to follow a decision or to request release from all duties, but this is permissible for a commander in war probably only in the fundamental issues... At the time I considered the Nuremberg trials a product of the feelings of revenge of the victor - today I believe that for some of the cases it was necessary. According to my recollection the Grand-Admiral at the time believed that the happenings that became known to him after the capitulation should have been handled by the Reichs Court. I myself believed that if he had been given the opportunity that he would have seen to it that the proceedings would have been conducted without prejudice and with severity. But both assumptions were illusions and possible only as long as we considered the military capitulation for not more than just that... To list the difficulties of the u-boat leadership would be equal to writing a history on the u-boat war which I don''t intend to do... I will give as examples: the torpedo crisis, with effects that lasted for years... a lack of reconnaissance and poor support from the Luftwaffe, and the crisis in orientation problems. The torpedo and orientation crises were probably the most severe problems... The u-boat people were very fond of the Grand-Admiral, they trusted him, they respected him, and yes, they even loved him. There were probably some exceptions as anywhere else. For the Navy, outside of the u-boat force, I have an opinion concerning officers only of my age group. They, in part, were somewhat more reserved towards the Grand-Admiral. They did not know him more closely and in many cases they lacked the understanding and will for his direct and uncompromising manner... Of course there were differences in opinion between the Grand-Admiral and myself - a Chief of Staff which for all practical purposes I was for the u-boat war in, in the final analysis, not just around to say yes and carry out instructions. He has a right to his own opinion and duty to express it to his commanding officer... It is my opinion that nobody could have carried out the military and political questions which came up after the death of Hitler in a more consequently appropriate manner and in a more honorable manner than the Grand-Admiral did. I was there when shortly after the report of Hitler''s death the Grand-Admiral gave his impressions concerning a cessation of hostilities - for the possible ways of saving soldiers and people from the east also concerning the personalities of those that were to help him carry this out... No - I did not idolize any of the National Socialist Greats and I met only few and these only very superficially. I respected highly the Reichsminister [Fritz] Todt but one could hardly consider him to be an important National Socialist... In National Socialism men, methods and goals formed an inseparable entity. Without Hitler there would have been no National Socialism..." Godt signs at the conclusion in blue ink, and makes several ink emendation in the body. Also present with the letter are its original transmittal envelope, Greene''s manuscript translation, and a retained copy of Greene''s letter of Aug. 1, 1974, in which he introduces himself to Godt, lays out his plans to compile a biography of Donitz, and provides a list of question for Godt to answer. Original folds, else very good.
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