Dönitz inherits a failing naval command

Raeder's fall was gradual: he had lost political support, could not conceal naval losses, and had backed production arrangements that later favoured Speer. He also continued to offer logic-based objections in a regime increasingly interested in reassuring news. Dönitz supplied information that could be used against Raeder. The transition put a submarine-force leader in charge of a navy whose strategic problems were already entrenched.