4 ms·

I wouldn't say it is impossible, but it strikes me as unlikely (Though do keep in mind that I am nothing but a guy with an above average interest in history; I'

by lb1lf 8y ago

I wouldn't say it is impossible, but it strikes me as unlikely (Though do keep in mind that I am nothing but a guy with an above average interest in history; I'm mostly throwing out my thoughts here to have them vetted by those more knowledgeable than I!) a) To listen to the radio, the German sub would've needed to keep an aerial above water; this would create a wake which could've been observed, with obvious consequences for the sub. I doubt a commander would have taken that risk. b) I also doubt he'd risk surfacing near a foe armed to the teeth so shortly after cessation of hostilities - what if the battleship hadn't been notified yet? Or, just as bad - if they had, but assumed the sub hadn't been, and acted accordingly, just to be safe? c) Further, in the last days of the war, Dönitz (head of the Kriegsmarine) ordered all vessels scuttled, rather than having them fall in enemy hands. I have no idea how many submarines were still operational and on patrol come V-E Day, but presumably most would have been scuttled or headed for South America by then. So, while I find it unlikely, I wouldn't rule it out, and would love to know more about the incident.

arethuza 8y ago
"ordered all vessels scuttled, rather than having them fall in enemy hands" The Cruel Sea ends with a corvette passing some tied up U-boats - given that Nicholas Monsarrat served in corvettes (as described the in Three Corvettes) I don't think he'd have got that detail wrong.
- C1sc0cat 8y ago
  They where scuttled in the harbour I believe
Steve44 8y ago
> but presumably most would have been scuttled or headed for South America by then I saw a programme a couple of years ago about a port in Northern Ireland which had quite a few U boats moored after the war. There is a picture here from Lisahally https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205160207 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205160207 There were also over 30 which surrendered in Loch Eriboll, Sutherland. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/7479898/Mass-surrender-of-Nazi-U-boats-documented-in-new-book.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/7479898/Mas...
ransom1538 8y ago
a) True, but most uboats needed air anyway. They were viewable by air. (Sure there was a snorkel [1] but they couldn't endure hours using it). b) "I also doubt he'd risk surfacing near a foe armed to the teeth so shortly after cessation of hostilities" Ok. This. I would say, yes, they would risk it on the German side. Germans were known to run to American troops for safety. The 'bad war' wasn't between the US and the Germans. The Germans weren't dumb they knew if they surrendered to the US they would have international rights and be treated like POWs. c) Sure. But that left each vessel to their own devices. I would imagine many surrendering to the US (but still have arms on board). "I have no idea how many submarines were still operational and on patrol come V-E Day" I would say not many. Many due to gasoline restrictions. Being a Uboat wasn't hard, it was being an axis allied gasoline tanker that was hard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_snorkel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_snorkel
- kazen44 8y ago
  Being on a Uboat (or any sub for that matter) must have been absolute horror. I think das boot (the uncut version) does a good job of conveying the insane boredom and long days or months with no communication with the outside world. Also, the fact that your home also has an insane chance of being your coffin..
  - enraged_camel 8y ago
    Chicago’s Museum Of Science and Industry has a Uboat on exhibit. The first uboat captured by allies during WWII in fact. I went inside it and yeah, it’s pretty depressing. :)
    - kazen44 8y ago
      kinda cool! would love to visit suchs a thing sometime, sadly going to the states is a bit of a large expense to see a uboat..
      - lb1lf 8y ago
wlll 8y ago
> presumably most would have been scuttled or headed for South America by then. My presumption (and I don't know, I'm guessing) would be that most uboat crews would want to go home and would surrender to the (preferably non-Russian) forces. South America might be an option if you've been a war criminal (think: concentration camp commandant), but I'd imagine not so much if you're a regular German soldier.
- lb1lf 8y ago
  Just that - if you were a bona fide war criminal, you'd like to disappear yourself from Europe - but you'd need some assistance in doing so. U-530 and U-977 ended up in Argentina after the war, for instance - who came with them is still disputed. (That being said, I don't buy into the 'Hitler escaped to Argentina in a submarine!' idea - but that some of his henchmen might have? Absolutely.)

by lb1lf 8y ago

arethuza 8y ago

"ordered all vessels scuttled, rather than having them fall in enemy hands" The Cruel Sea ends with a corvette passing some tied up U-boats - given that Nicholas Monsarrat served in corvettes (as described the in Three Corvettes) I don't think he'd have got that detail wrong.

C1sc0cat 8y ago
They where scuttled in the harbour I believe

Steve44 8y ago

> but presumably most would have been scuttled or headed for South America by then I saw a programme a couple of years ago about a port in Northern Ireland which had quite a few U boats moored after the war. There is a picture here from Lisahally https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205160207 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205160207 There were also over 30 which surrendered in Loch Eriboll, Sutherland. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/7479898/Mass-surrender-of-Nazi-U-boats-documented-in-new-book.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/7479898/Mas...

ransom1538 8y ago

a) True, but most uboats needed air anyway. They were viewable by air. (Sure there was a snorkel [1] but they couldn't endure hours using it). b) "I also doubt he'd risk surfacing near a foe armed to the teeth so shortly after cessation of hostilities" Ok. This. I would say, yes, they would risk it on the German side. Germans were known to run to American troops for safety. The 'bad war' wasn't between the US and the Germans. The Germans weren't dumb they knew if they surrendered to the US they would have international rights and be treated like POWs. c) Sure. But that left each vessel to their own devices. I would imagine many surrendering to the US (but still have arms on board). "I have no idea how many submarines were still operational and on patrol come V-E Day" I would say not many. Many due to gasoline restrictions. Being a Uboat wasn't hard, it was being an axis allied gasoline tanker that was hard. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_snorkel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_snorkel

kazen44 8y ago
Being on a Uboat (or any sub for that matter) must have been absolute horror. I think das boot (the uncut version) does a good job of conveying the insane boredom and long days or months with no communication with the outside world. Also, the fact that your home also has an insane chance of being your coffin..
- enraged_camel 8y ago
  Chicago’s Museum Of Science and Industry has a Uboat on exhibit. The first uboat captured by allies during WWII in fact. I went inside it and yeah, it’s pretty depressing. :)
  - kazen44 8y ago
    kinda cool! would love to visit suchs a thing sometime, sadly going to the states is a bit of a large expense to see a uboat..
    - lb1lf 8y ago

wlll 8y ago

> presumably most would have been scuttled or headed for South America by then. My presumption (and I don't know, I'm guessing) would be that most uboat crews would want to go home and would surrender to the (preferably non-Russian) forces. South America might be an option if you've been a war criminal (think: concentration camp commandant), but I'd imagine not so much if you're a regular German soldier.

lb1lf 8y ago
Just that - if you were a bona fide war criminal, you'd like to disappear yourself from Europe - but you'd need some assistance in doing so. U-530 and U-977 ended up in Argentina after the war, for instance - who came with them is still disputed. (That being said, I don't buy into the 'Hitler escaped to Argentina in a submarine!' idea - but that some of his henchmen might have? Absolutely.)