An item reported that the Westduitse Marinebond [=Westgerman Navy Association) invited the former admiral Erich Rader (1)to visit the annual congress. The newspaper (2) described this association as a bunch of Second World War nazi’s. Chairman Otto Kretschmer which served in the same war as commanding officer stated that Raeder could meet old friends.(3)
Notes
1. Erich Johann Albert Rader (24 April 1876-6 November 1960), grand admiral since 1939. In 1943 replaced by Karl Dönitz as leader of the German navy and was after the Second World War during the Nuremberg Trials sentenced to life in prison but was released on 26 September 1955 caused by his health problems.
2. De Waarheid (Volksdagblad voor Nederland) was a Dutch newspaper published by the Dutch Communist Party, which succeeded the Communist newspaper Volksdagblad which was forbidden in 1940.
3. Otto Kretschmer (1 May 1912-5 August 1998) served during the Second World War as a successful U-boat captain who after the war was appointed to the rank of commodore in the Bundesmarine in which navy he served between 1955 and 1970.
