He had two brothers and a sister.

While Wilhelm Canaris was the Nazi Germany's spy chief he opposed Hitler's plans. The family was wealthy and young Wilhelm grew up in comfort. First in 1944 Canaris were unveiled of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler. Having served in the navy during World War I, Canaris was a member of the military tribunal that sentenced the murderers of the He had a wife and two daughters, but took little part in family life and seemed more attached to his two dachshunds. Canaris was born in Aplerbeck (now a part of Dortmund) in Westphalia, the son of wealthy industrialist Carl Canaris and his wife Auguste (née Popp). He had two brothers and a younger sister. While on a visit to Corfu he was given a portrait of the Greek hero, which he always kept in his office. Wilhelm Canaris was of Italian descent though he claimed Greek hereditary perhaps because of the exciting exploits of that country’s great sailor Admiral Kanaris, another sailor the Admiral admired. Canaris believed that his family was related to the 19th century Greek admiral and politician Constantine Kanaris, a belief that influenced his decision to join the Imperial German Navy. His brother Carl August died already 27-02-1934, 52, in Muralto, Locarno, Ticino, Swiss. His father was Carl Canaris and his mother was Auguste Popp.

Wilhelm Canaris - A Legendary Nazi Spy Chief. The family had earlier converted from Catholicism to Lutherism. Canaris, Wilhelm Franz, born on 01-01-1887 in , the son of wealthy industrialist Carl Canaris and his wife Auguste, born Popp. He had been in secret contact with England and he took part in several attempted assassinations on the German dictator. Wilhelm Canaris, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Major General Hans Oster, Judge Advocate General Carl Sack, Captain Ludwig Gehre - all were ordered to remove their clothing and were led down the steps under the trees to the secluded place of execution before hooting SS guards. Canaris was born on 1 January 1887 in Aplerbeck (now a part of Dortmund) in Westphalia, the son of Carl Canaris, a wealthy industrialist, and his wife, Auguste (née Popp). Wilhelm Canaris was born on January 1, 1887, in Aplerbeck, Westphalia, Germany. Wilhelm Canaris, German admiral, head of military intelligence (Abwehr) under the Nazi regime and a key participant in the resistance of military officers to Adolf Hitler.

Canaris believed that his family was related to the Greek admiral, freedom fighter and politician Constantine Kanaris, which influenced his decision to join the navy. Admiral Wilhelm Canaris Admiral Canaris was a strange man, whom nobody seemed to be able to assess correctly.

Canaris was born on 1 January 1887 in Aplerbeck(now a part of Dortmund) in Westphalia, the son of Carl Canaris, a wealthy industrialist, and his wife, Auguste (née Popp).