The loss figures are said to come from work by Douglas Peifer, while the other statement is mentioned during April/May 45 period as quote " Further more, naval police had a reputation of being more savage than the SS; navalexecutions for desertion continued until the end of the war and beyond. Incredibly, of May 4th 45 Doenitz approved a sailor's death sentence for making critical remarks about Hitler, and on May 9th- after the war had ended the Naval High Command checked to make sure the execution had been carried out. Three additional sailors who deserted on May 5th were executed on May 10th, again after the war was over." I certainly had not come across this before about Doenitz, he being reported as wanting the best for his men seems to have come second best on this occasion when his 'Nazi' like will of not yielding to the enemy at any cost, even when he must have known all was lost. Grier's book shows to me at least Doenitz in a new light.