Erich Raeder was born on 24 April 1876 in Wandsbek, then part of the German Empire. The First World War began on 28 July 1914. Two years later, in May 1916, Erich Raeder participated in the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of World War I, fought between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet. Although the British lost more ships and sailors, they maintained naval dominance.
The First World War, which ended on 11 November 1918, had a profound impact on Raeder's personal life, as he lost his two younger brothers, who were killed in action. The Second World War began on 1 September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. When Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, Raeder was shocked and shattered. For the German Navy, which surface fleet of which was inadequate to fight the British Royal Navy, this war came at least five years too early, and Hitler had previously assured Raeder that they would not have to confront a war until 1944. In October 1939, Raeder proposed to Hitler the invasion of Norway. The primary motivation for Raeder's push was to use it as a base for naval attacks on Britain. It was only in early 1940 that Raeder first mentioned protecting the sea lanes for Swedish iron ore as a secondary reason for the Norwegian occupation.

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