카를 되니츠는 제1차 세계 대전에서 유보트(U-Boat: 잠수함) 함장으로 참전하여 영국군의 포로가 되었다. 종전 후에도 계속 해군에 남은 되니츠는 한동안 순양함 함장 등을 지내며 군 생활을 했고, 1935년 재군비 선언 이후 대령 계급으로 잠수정지휘관에 임명되어 잠수함대 재건 작업에 착수했다. 당시 유보트 건조에 깊이 관여하였으며, 제1차 세계 대전의 경험과 당시 잠수함 건조 기술의 한계를 감안한 늑대떼 전술을 창안했다.[1]
제2차 세계 대전 발발 이후에도 잠수정지휘관으로서 영국 해군과 대서양 호송선단 전투를 결사적으로 벌였다. 윈스턴 처칠은 훗날 유보트를 가장 무서웠던 존재로 꼽았다. 에리히 레더 제독이 히틀러와 수상함대 문제로 갈등을 빚은 후 사임하자, 그의 뒤를 이어 해군 총사령관에 임명되었다.[2]
히틀러의 자살 후에는 히틀러의 정치적 유언에 의해 대통령(독일어:Reichspräsidenten)이 되었다. 히틀러는 괴벨스를 총리로 임명하였지만 그는 자살했기 때문에 실질적으로 되니츠의 1인 정부가 되었다. 동프로이센 및 동부지역 민간인과 군병력이 엘베강 서안으로 탈출해서 미군에 항복할 수 있는 시간을 벌어 주기 위해서 항복 협상을 지연시키기 원했으나 연합군은 즉각적인 무조건 항복을 요구했고 이를 수락할 수밖에 없었다.[3]
전후에는 뉘른베르크 전범재판에 회부되어, 10년형을 선고받고 옥살이를 하였으며, 《10년 20일》(독일어:Zehn Jahre und Zwanzig Tage)이라는 회고록을 출간하였다. 1980년12월 24일에 심장마비로 사망했다.[1]
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