Raeder or Dönitz as naval chief?

Between Raeder and Dönitz, who would be the better chief of naval staff?

Raeder, reluctantly; Dönitz is judged too narrowly focused on the submarine force for the wider naval role.

The answer does not rehabilitate Raeder. Instead, it judges Dönitz the narrower of the two leaders: capable within the submarine arm but unable to think broadly enough about naval strategy. Raeder at least approached the problems of a whole fleet, even when his plans were badly balanced. The comparison reinforces the distinction between commanding a specialist force and directing an entire navy.