Description
Object description
German officer served with German Navy in North Sea, English Channel, France, Italy and Germany, 1939-1945.
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of operations with German Navy , 1939-1945: first impressions of hearing Hitler give speech, 1934; attitude to outcome of war; various memories of conversations with Rommel; story of staying at Rommel's house prior to his suicide; 14/Oct/1944; reaction to being asked to command German Navy, 1955; further comments on Rommel including role in July Bomb Plot and as possible replacement for Hitler; opinion of use of German Navy after fall of France, 1940; attitude of Goering to German Navy; opinion of Goering's decision to drop magnetic mines from aircraft and not from ships, 1931; question of German Air Force taking precedence over Navy; opinion of Hitler as military commander; story of attending meeting with Hitler at HQ in East Prussia; story of taking part in Operation Sealion war game at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, GB, 1974; story about carrying members of General Staff aboard minesweeper during preparations for Operation Sealion, 17/Aug/1940; description of pre-war visit to concentration camp; story of driving along autobahn at 100 mph in open car; story of seeing Goebbels in Paris, 6/1940; description of duties checking for mines in Estonian waters; relations with Doenitz; story about captured German naval cadet being sent to Siberia at end of war; description of minesweeping operations along west coast of France.
REEL 2 Continues: story of sinking British submarines and capturing crews in German Bight; opinion of German submarines; reason for not attending Doenitz's funeral, 6/Jan/1981; story of giving speech at funeral of Admiral Raeder, 11/1960; attitude to naval officers attending Doenitz's funeral in uniform; opinion of Doenitz and verdict at Nuremberg Trials; attitude to influence of Hitler over commanders and staff; story about Hungarian general meeting Hitler; opinion of Raeder; story about Hitler's driver; opinion of Martin Bormann; story of attending dress rehearsal for Nuremberg Rally, 1936; story of visiting relative in Stuttgart dressed in naval uniform as protest against Nuremberg Laws; story of taking part in exercise in Kiel simulating possible communist takeover; description of communist activity in Berlin 1924-1926; various memories of family life and recreational activities in Berlin during 1920s; opinion of Leni Riefenstahl and films; story of allowing Riefenstahl to film from motor minesweeper; opinion of actor Emil Jannings.