Erich Raeder military rank General Admiral
Erich Johann Albert Raeder (24 April 1876 – 6 November 1960) was a German admiral who played a major role in the naval history of World War II. Raeder attained the highest possible naval rank, that of grand admiral, in 1939, becoming the first person to hold that rank since Henning von Holtzendorff in 1918. Raeder led the Kriegsmarine for the first half of the war; he resigned in January 1943 and was replaced by Karl Dönitz. At the Nuremberg Trials he was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released early owing to failing health.Commander-in-chief
On 1 October 1928, Raeder was promoted to admiral and made chief of the Naval Command (Chef der Marineleitung) of the Reichsmarine, the Weimar Republic Navy. On 1 June 1935, the Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine and Raeder became its commander-in-chief with the title of Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine. On 20 April 1936, Raeder was promoted to the new rank of Generaladmiral and granted the rank and authority of a Reichsminister but without the formal title. On 30 January 1937, Hitler conferred the Golden Party Badge on Raeder, thereby enrolling him in the Party (membership number 3,805,228).Seekadett (Sea cadet): 26 Apr 1894
Fähnrich zur See (Midshipman): 13 May 1895
Leutnant zur See (Sub-lieutenant): 25 Oct 1897
Oberleutnant zur See (Lieutenant): c. 1900
Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant-commander): c. 1905
Korvettenkapitän (Commander): 15 Apr 1911
Fregattenkapitän (Senior commander): c. 1915
Kapitän zur See (Captain): 19 Nov 1919
Konteradmiral (Rear admiral): 1 Aug 1922
Vizeadmiral (Vice admiral): 1 Apr 1925
Admiral (Admiral): 1 Oct 1928
Generaladmiral (General admiral): 10 Apr 1936
Grossadmiral (Grand admiral): 1 Apr 1939Awards and decorations
rank in the military military designation military title military grade military position