DR. SIEMERS: But then the war came rather quickly, did it not, and you had to break off the leave which you had planned?
DÖNITZ: I was called back by telephone in the middle of August.
DR. SIEMERS: These words, that there would be no war with England, and the words, Finis Germaniae, did Raeder speak them during a private conversation or only in this speech at Swinemünde?
DÖNITZ: As far as the sense is concerned, yes. As far as the exact words are concerned, I cannot remember now what was said in the main speech and what was said before. At any rate he certainly said it during the main speech.
DR. SIEMERS: Thank you very much.
DR. LATERNSER: Admiral, on 30 January 1943 you became Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and thereby a member of the group which is indicted here, the General Staff and the OKW?
DÖNITZ: Yes.
DR. LATERNSER: I wanted to ask you whether, after you were appointed, you had discussions with any of the members of these groups regarding plans or aims as outlined in the Indictment?
DÖNITZ: No, with none of them.
DR. LATERNSER: After you came to office, you dismissed all the senior commanders in the Navy. What were the reasons for this?