Karl Dönitz (sometimes spelled Doenitz 1891–1980) was a German admiral who briefly succeeded Adolf Hitler as head of state in May 1945, holding the position until the dissolution of the Flensburg Government following Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies days later. As Supreme Commander of the Navy beginning in 1943, he played a major role in the naval history of World War II. His book, Memoirs , Weidenfield and Nicolson, 1958 Signed on the 3 rd page. The book has no dust jacket and shows some wear. Amazingly, this book somehow managed to become a library book for the Midlothian County Libraries and was checked out numerous times without anyone either stealing the book or the autograph page.