Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
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The last Nazi submarine...
On February 12, 1946, the British Navy sank the last functioning German submarine of the Nazi Kriegsmarine, type XXI, designated "U-3514".
After commissioning, U 3514 originally belonged to the 8th training flotilla, which was set up in June 1941 under the command of the then lieutenant captain Wilhelm Schulz, and from February 16, 1945 to May 8, 1945 to the 5th flotilla (training).
U 3514 was no longer used for combat missions, so-called patrols. U 3514 took part in the evacuation of wounded and refugees at the end of the war. For example, in February and March 1945, this submarine picked up war invalids and women with children in Hela and brought them to Travemünde.
The Commander, Kapitänleutnant Klaus Willeke...
... surrendered in Bergen (Norway) on May 8, 1945, and the crew of U 3514 was taken prisoner by the British.
If you look at the youthful face of the commander, it becomes clear why the writer Lothar Günther Buchheim, himself a submarine seaman ("Das Boot"), spoke of a "children's crusade", since the U-boats suffered such high losses due to Allied defence. that towards the end of the war they sent out young people as crews...
The next picture shows U-3514 together with other German U-boats after being handed over to the British Navy in Bergen.:
The U-boat was moved to Loch Ryan (West Scotland) on May 29, 1945...
... and sunk on February 12, 1946 as the last German U-boat as part of the military operation "Deadlight".
The wreck lies below the sea surface at a depth of 600 meters.
The map shows the place of surrender (red marking) and the place of sinking (blue marking).
By the way:
ONE - but not functional - XXI submarine still exists, "U Wilhelm Bauer", which is exhibited in the Bremerhaven Maritime Museum...:
The submarine "Wilhelm Bauer" was never used as a weapon. he brand new boat was sunk by its own crew at the end of the Second World War and, after being salvaged, served as a test ship for the new Federal German Bundesmarine.
On February 12, 1946, the British Navy sank the last functioning German submarine of the Nazi Kriegsmarine, type XXI, designated "U-3514".
After commissioning, U 3514 originally belonged to the 8th training flotilla, which was set up in June 1941 under the command of the then lieutenant captain Wilhelm Schulz, and from February 16, 1945 to May 8, 1945 to the 5th flotilla (training).
U 3514 was no longer used for combat missions, so-called patrols. U 3514 took part in the evacuation of wounded and refugees at the end of the war. For example, in February and March 1945, this submarine picked up war invalids and women with children in Hela and brought them to Travemünde.
The Commander, Kapitänleutnant Klaus Willeke...
... surrendered in Bergen (Norway) on May 8, 1945, and the crew of U 3514 was taken prisoner by the British.
If you look at the youthful face of the commander, it becomes clear why the writer Lothar Günther Buchheim, himself a submarine seaman ("Das Boot"), spoke of a "children's crusade", since the U-boats suffered such high losses due to Allied defence. that towards the end of the war they sent out young people as crews...
The next picture shows U-3514 together with other German U-boats after being handed over to the British Navy in Bergen.:
The U-boat was moved to Loch Ryan (West Scotland) on May 29, 1945...
... and sunk on February 12, 1946 as the last German U-boat as part of the military operation "Deadlight".
The wreck lies below the sea surface at a depth of 600 meters.
The map shows the place of surrender (red marking) and the place of sinking (blue marking).
By the way:
ONE - but not functional - XXI submarine still exists, "U Wilhelm Bauer", which is exhibited in the Bremerhaven Maritime Museum...:
The submarine "Wilhelm Bauer" was never used as a weapon. he brand new boat was sunk by its own crew at the end of the Second World War and, after being salvaged, served as a test ship for the new Federal German Bundesmarine.
