This is the first English-language translation of a crucial memoir of the dying days of Hitler’s Third Reich.

Walter Ludde-Neurath was an accomplished officer, who served with a variety of torpedo boats and destroyers, slowly rising through the ranks. In September 1944 he was selected to be the new adjutant to Grand Admiral Donitz. He enjoyed a close relationship with Donitz over what proved to be a crucial period: the formation and dissolution of the Flensburg Government (named after the headquarters Donitz was using at the time of the appointment).

The memoir details the discussions within the new cabinet, which was created after Hitler’s suicide, and records how Donitz believed he would rule a new Germany and reach an accommodation with the Allies. Ludde-Neurath details the fighting amongst the candidates - in particular, the confrontation of Donitz with Himmler (for which Donitz kept a revolver within his reach).

Ludde-Neurath was present when the British Royal Hussars carried out Operation Blackout, surrounding and arresting the fledgling government and records how Donitz was asked if he had any comment. Donitz responded: ‘Any words would be superfluous' and was taken into custody.

• Cover
• Half Title
• Photograph
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
  • List of Illustrations
  • Timetable of Events
  • Foreword by Jurgen Rohwer, 2010
  • SECTION I Walter Ludde-Neurath: The Donitz Government - the Last Days of the Third Reich
    • Author's Foreword, 1948
    • Author's Foreword to the Second Edition, 1953
    • Publisher's Foreword to the Third Edition, 1964
    • Chapter 1 Autumn 1944 to April 1945: Impressions at Fuhrer-Headquarters
    • Chapter 2 Donitz Leaves Berlin
    • Chapter 3 An Impossible Job - Defend the Northern Region
    • Chapter 4 Regarding the Succession to Hider
    • Chapter 5 Reich President by Signal
    • Chapter 6 The Military Situation on 2 May 1945
    • Chapter 7 Realisation and Decision
    • Chapter 8 Partial Capitulation in the North
    • Chapter 9 Unconditional Surrender
    • Chapter 10 The Fate of the Occupied Territories
    • Chapter 11 The Unpolitical Cabinet
    • Chapter 12 Rimmler's Dismissal
    • Chapter 13 Abdication?
    • Chapter 14 East or West?
    • Chapter 15 The Allied Control Commission
    • Chapter 16 The Arrest of the Caretaker Reich Government
  • SECTION II Walter Baum: The Donitz Government in Modern Academic Research
    • Chapter 1 The Struggle for the Succession
    • Chapter 2 Making the Donitz Governmen
    • Chapter 3 The Capitulation
    • Chapter 4 Finis Germaniae? The Reich as a Problem of International and Constitutional Law
  • Appendices
  • Notes
  • Index