Thanks for sharing Werner Kruger’s very interesting story. I’m thankful that Werner’s account of his escape from the sinking U-960, his 17 hours in the water until rescued, and then time as a POW in America were recorded in great detail for posterity. He died 11/08/09 and now stands the eternal watch.
my Father served on U285 was sunk in 1944, while he was in Hospital in Kiel with double Pneumonia, was the only one that survived. his name was August Weiler
Thanks for sharing. I regret not doing this kind of video interview with my grandparents, they were also very open about their experiences during the war.
People forget that the ‘enemy ‘ consists of young men and women who serve as they are told. We the allies were as much the enemy to the axis as they were to us. A splendid interview and a wonderful insight . Thanks for allowing us to share your experience
And in the end it was all for nought. The more the Nazis took the sooner they were going to lose it through internal dissent from resistance groups to the General staff. Even a large number of Hitler's generals tried to kill him in the bomb plot and in 1945 Himmler was negotiating with the West for surrender terms. U-Boats suffered horrific casualties -- I've read from 75% to 90% -- but the kill ratio on average was 1 U-Boat to 31 Allied ships, civilian and military. The men on both sides died a dog's death. For nothing.
The very last of the still surviving U-boat captains was Reinhard Hardegen, commander of U-123 that sank over 100,000 tons of Allied shipping. He was born March 18, 1913 and died June 9, 2018 at the ripe old age of 105. U-123 was one of five U-boats assigned to the special mission code-named Operation Drumbeat that wrought havoc along the the US east coast in January and February 1942. Their exploits are vividly described in the excellent book by Michael Gannon, Operation Drumbeat (1990).
This gentleman seems to have served aboard U-960: Sunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean Sea north-west of Algiers, in position 37.20N, 01.35E, by depth charges from the American destroyers USS Niblack, USS Ludlow, two British Wellington (36 Sqn RAF/M & U) and a British Ventura aircraft (500 Sqn RAF/V). 31 dead and 20 survivors.
@@xX5THGROUPXx u boats sunk millions of tonnes of allied shipping most of it defenceless merchant cargo ships so a detected u boat was mercilessly pursued until sunk
All the young men on all sides were heroes, I salute them all they didn't start the wars. They were sent to fight by their governments . Fantastic interview much appreciated listening to a true hero.🏴🇬🇧
18 yrs old when you enlisted, I had family member on a destroyer on the other side, same enlisted at 18. Odly enough I worked in the control room at a mainly hydro facility in the Yukon. Retired now to Northern Thailand. Lucky you both made it out alive. Thanks for sharing this.🤠
Interesting your father mentioned being taken to a pow camp in Sheffield, i'm from Sheffield and know the camp, it is currently a derelict airfield (RAF Norton)that for years was the place to learn to drive, i also mentioned it because coincidentally it was where another well known submariner spent time as a POW incthe first war....Admiral Karl Doenitz!!
Thank for all involved with bringing this man's story to light. Hopefully as many ww2 veterans stories are documented before first hand history is lost forever.
I was saying the same thing sounds like he is from south Carolina almost 😂 just let's you know how long a lifetime can really be completely reinvented himself
Irreplaceable memories, please do more interviews if possible. I wish Herr Werner long life and good health 🎩❤ It's amazing that they are still meeting 😊
Very nice man. It's interesting that former enemies become friends. It is especially true in the air services. Even during the war, German pilot would meet their "victims" and sometimes they would sleep in the same tent before being transferred to a POW camp. British pilots would give their word of honour that they wouldn't escape and they didn't.
@@markmitchell450 I would not have mattered , the equiptment improved and once they closed the air gap the uboat was doomed . Hedgehogs , air bombing and straffing , better sonar , the party was over .
Thank you so so VERY much for taking the time to document such an important HUMAN story. I wish more of us made it a priority to sit and listen to the wisdom of our elders. Society needs it.
55:40 he explains that apart from the u-960 which he only was placed on at the last minute, his "boat" was U-571. This is very intersting as it sank with all hands in Jan 1944 so he may have been part of that if he did not go aboard u-960 that day.
I’m happy you survived that horrible war. I toured a ww2 sub, wow I can’t imagine those living conditions. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences during the war, I learned a lot.
Sensational brave war hero. Talks as though everyone has lived such an extraordinary life. The video isn’t recent, but excellent. Interesting intelligent questions and honest straight forward answers.
Man this is awesome not only for the world but for you having these memories on video must be nice i need make some time to watch the entire thing thank yu for sharing this with the world
This is very captivating to hear of his time as a POW My grandpa was a POW in Bevaria Germany stalq 7A my dad said he never really talked about it just that they went and worked everyday and all they gave them to eat was cabbage or something like that
Thank you. This was just recorded so our family could have an account of his story for future generations. I thought there might be some people out there that would also find it interesting.
My Grandfather served in the north Atlantic. I remember him telling me when he was shipped home to a hospital, that he was never more afraid of the U-boats than on that trip home. It was hard for him to believe he was going home, and wanted to make it. I'm glad Werner Kruger became an American citizen. 👍
For those who want more, read "iron Coffins" by U-boot Commander Herbert Werner- overall only 10% of U-boot servicemen survived. Also read Lothar-Gunther Buchheim's book "Das Boot" which led to the German series and film of the same name.
Werner. Did you know my friend Heinz Bauchloh? In the 1980s, I met him in Spartanburg, S.C. He made several trips to Germany for submarine reunions. He was sunk off the coast of Norway in a type VI. He was attacked and sunk a second time by a task force led by the mini carrier USS Card. He spent the rest of the war in a POW camp in Louisiana. Would love to hear from you.
Wowed this was amazing! Very grateful for the content it’s just kinda unfortunate her questions were not great... is this man still alive? I would drive across the country today if there was a chance I could have a conversation with this hero! I have so many questions I would absolutely LOVE to ask. This history needs to saved for our future generations
Funny thing is Herr Kruger told about having to wait 2 years to go to America-my German mom went through roughly the same thing and she was even married to my American dad. Mom told me about having to report to immigration every month, having to take civics/history classes, and finally taking the oath of allegiance to the US or they would have deported her. I have lots of childhood memories as my parents made friends with quite a few German ladies who married GI's while stationed in West Germany-there are quite a few. Many memories of big parties with German beerhall music playing, dancing, lots of good food and the beer, wine and cognac was in plentiful supply. A relative of mine (mom's cousin) served in the Afrika Korps, was captured in Tunisia and spent over 2 years in Huntsville, Texas POW camp. He told about all the box turtles they'd see when out working in the fields which they'd paint swastikas on and release. Same thing happened to him-he had it really good working as a foreman on a ranch, they told him he was going home and instead was sent to England. He spent over a year in some cold, run down castle in Scotland where he said many of the prisoners became ill from the wet and cold. He finally made it home by around 1947 and the Texas ranch family even contacted him wanting him to return and work as a foreman for them. But he had kids and a wife by then and stayed in West Germany.
@@yeoldeyoungin9745 He always said if it wasn't for having children, he would have definitely immigrated to the US. The ranch family would have sponsored him. My Dad said when he visited in 1978 he still had his Zippo lighter and Gillette safety razor that he was very proud of-all standard issue to POW's in US custody. He also LOVED Pepsi Cola, developing a taste for it while a prisoner. I can understand why many immigrated-their country was kicked to pieces and worse yet divided with the Soviets controlling nearly half of it. Must have been disheartening to lose so much after giving all to a madman just to be defeated and forever shamed for simply doing their duty and fighting for their comrades. Dad said he was a true gentleman like that generation mainly was.
@@Dan4x2282 My German cousin loves visiting out at our family farm where he can run around on the ATV, 4x4 Chevy farm truck, and most importantly we take him shooting rifles. He likes the freedoms he doesn't have in Germany.
I met a guy in northern Illinois who served in the luftwaffe. His story was along the lines of Forrest Gump. I wish i was a screenwriter as his stories were amazing. He had a painting that his kids had commissioned of him shooting down a British fighter with the guns of his small bomber. Shot down three times, lucky to survive each. The last time he was shot down by his own flak as they could not imagine any of their planes being in the air.
“One day they will come. Might not be tomorow or ten years or a hundred years , but one day the Bolsheviks WILL come” . A horrible man made that statement, but it was pretty accurate.
The part with the emigration hit me. He is so right. They come as they want while people like me have to go through hell to even think about a green card. Didn't change that much since decades. Mit besten Wünschen aus Deutschland.
I would love to know how the radio communications between Germany and the submarines was structured, I understand that most communications were broadcasts without acknowledgment, but what if the submarine needed to contact base, did they have a time / frequency chart to try and avoid detection? How did it work?
It's so sad now much intelligence and talent is lost through war. Just imagine what all these men could have done with the ability they had. This man survived but so many more did not on all sides.
Yes and just imagine if those talented and intelligent men who fought and died could see the state of England and Germany and some of todays talentless dumbasses of the same age and how they behave😢
I’m pretty sure his U-Boat torpedoed HMS Barham. You can see Barham exploding on RUclips, been watched 5 million times! Strange no connection made before. Great video, deserves a lot more views but RUclips is fickle when it comes to promoting content. I’m sure the IWM in UK would be interested in the connection. Thanks again
3 ships sunk (10,267 tons) 2 Soviet and a U.S vessel 30 Sep 1943 sank Arkhangel and 1 Oct 1943 sank T-896 (No 42) and on 16 Jan 1944 sank the Sumner I. Kimball. He was in U-960.
kelvyquayo Thanks for the correction, you’re right. Similar sinking position to U331 and number of survivors, my mistake. Thanks for your input, best regards Matt
kelvyquayo Thanks for the website link, i’ve been nerding out on it for a few days. Up until recently, my only knowledge of uboats was from watching the original Das Boot series as a kid. The Battle of the Atlantic doesn’t get the attention it deserves IMHO. One thing I’ve always wondered is whether the submariners really could hear the sonar pings getting louder and louder as the surface ships closed in. Anyway, thanks again, good to know there are others out there still fascinated with what remains the greatest event in human history.
@@mjepcmjepc8915 Cheers, bro. My little obsession recently from a video game called "UBOAT" which let's you control your crew and take missions..They did an amazing job with realism in the models and even has realistic firing solution mechanics. Amazing to look at these inventions to think this was the height of technology. I found someone even made a Haynes Manual for Type 7 UBoat! hilarious. www.amazon.com/U-Boat-1936-45-Type-VIIA-VIIC/dp/0857334042 World War 2 equally as fascinating as it is horrifying.
He basically had to pick up a six shooter with four bullets in it and play Russian roulette. Not many won. Having said that, most recruits had no idea how severe the losses were before they ended up in the Uboatwaffe. Since he was going to be forced to sail anyway, it's probably one of those instances where ignorance really is bliss.
Hello Graham How can we get in contact? I'm a local historian in dallas and interested in this very topic. Would be a pleasure to be able to speak with you.
U-960 He said his captain was Günther Heinrich. Oberleutnant zur See (Crew 38) Successes 2 ships sunk, total tonnage 9,656 GRT 1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 611 GRT
55:40 he explains that apart from the u-960 which he only was placed on at the last minute, his "boat" was U-571. This is very intersting as it sank with all hands in Jan 1944 so he may have been part of that if he did not go aboard u-960 that day.
I can't imagine how awful it must have been inside a uboat on or near the surface in big seas, with pipes and machinery everywhere they must have been black &blue with bruises and cuts, cold damp smelly, and on top of that dangerous! Men indeed
He did return for the 1st time in 1967. All of his family, my grandmother and Aunts, Uncles and cousin lived behind the Berlin Wall. It was an ordeal for him to get across the border during that time. I never met any of that side of the family until 1990. My grandfather told my father not to return to Germany after the war because the POW's were being sent away and never seen again. My father found out many, many years later that the Russians were having the POW's walk the beaches of Belgium to dentate landmines.
@19:16 I never thought I’d find possible death by SALAMI so riveting! 😂 Amusing to think how every millimeter of space was used to shove extra food in.. lol. and that it could prove lethal!
If your Interested in a Very Good Account of U-Boat life in WW2, Get a copy of "Iron Coffins' by Herbert Werner-His experiences as a Junior Officer from 1941 to his Commanding a U Boat by 1944 to the end of the War.
An Honest Question Sir... And with all due respect, but did the Kriegsmarine or any other part of the German Military ever think that you were part Jewish? Also how were the WWI Jewish German Veterans treated when WW2 began?
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for sharing Werner Kruger’s very interesting story. I’m thankful that Werner’s account of his escape from the sinking U-960, his 17 hours in the water until rescued, and then time as a POW in America were recorded in great detail for posterity. He died 11/08/09 and now stands the eternal watch.
Thank you for the update on this, I wondered if he was still alive or not. Such a fascinating man, we're really fortunate to hear his story.
my Father served on U285 was sunk in 1944, while he was in Hospital in Kiel with double Pneumonia, was the only one that survived. his name was August Weiler
He was a lucky one. Brave men, very brave men
Thanks for sharing. I regret not doing this kind of video interview with my grandparents, they were also very open about their experiences during the war.
People forget that the ‘enemy ‘ consists of young men and women who serve as they are told. We the allies were as much the enemy to the axis as they were to us.
A splendid interview and a wonderful insight . Thanks for allowing us to share your experience
yeah it was join up, or be shot.
@Robert Long Please don't ever say that again.
And in the end it was all for nought. The more the Nazis took the sooner they were going to lose it through internal dissent from resistance groups to the General staff. Even a large number of Hitler's generals tried to kill him in the bomb plot and in 1945 Himmler was negotiating with the West for surrender terms. U-Boats suffered horrific casualties -- I've read from 75% to 90% -- but the kill ratio on average was 1 U-Boat to 31 Allied ships, civilian and military. The men on both sides died a dog's death. For nothing.
garbage excuse for murderers
2 workers on either end of a gun=war
Difficult to imagine what life was like in the U-boot, enjoyed the story, respect for the man, rest in peace.
Extremely interesting, and valuable for future generations
Yes Mr Gary YES THANK YOU
Thank you, we must catalogue these stories before they are all gone.
The last U-Boat Captain died in 2018. I knew the world would circle the drain as soon as most of the WWII vets on all sides died 👩🔧🇺🇲🛠️🇷🇺
The very last of the still surviving U-boat captains was Reinhard Hardegen, commander of U-123 that sank over 100,000 tons of Allied shipping. He was born March 18, 1913 and died June 9, 2018 at the ripe old age of 105. U-123 was one of five U-boats assigned to the special mission code-named Operation Drumbeat that wrought havoc along the the US east coast in January and February 1942. Their exploits are vividly described in the excellent book by Michael Gannon, Operation Drumbeat (1990).
This gentleman seems to have served aboard U-960:
Sunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean Sea north-west of Algiers, in position 37.20N, 01.35E, by depth charges from the American destroyers USS Niblack, USS Ludlow, two British Wellington (36 Sqn RAF/M & U) and a British Ventura aircraft (500 Sqn RAF/V). 31 dead and 20 survivors.
Wow, that’s a lot of firepower against a single u-boat. It seems to be an accurate equivalent scenario for the rest of the war.
@@xX5THGROUPXx Allied fleets very quickly got terrified of wolfpacks.
@@xX5THGROUPXx u boats sunk millions of tonnes of allied shipping most of it defenceless merchant cargo ships so a detected u boat was mercilessly pursued until sunk
@@markmitchell450 Do you know how the crews dunk the ships most of the time? There's nothing unsportsmanlike.
@@hanschouwman4536 Do you know where the Turks keep their ARMY's? In their SLEEVIES. But U-Boats used their Deck Gun most of the time...
All the young men on all sides were heroes, I salute them all they didn't start the wars. They were sent to fight by their governments . Fantastic interview much appreciated listening to a true hero.🏴🇬🇧
18 yrs old when you enlisted, I had family member on a destroyer on the other side, same enlisted at 18. Odly enough I worked in the control room at a mainly hydro facility in the Yukon. Retired now to Northern Thailand. Lucky you both made it out alive. Thanks for sharing this.🤠
Thank you for keep this part of history alive.
Interesting your father mentioned being taken to a pow camp in Sheffield, i'm from Sheffield and know the camp, it is currently a derelict airfield (RAF Norton)that for years was the place to learn to drive, i also mentioned it because coincidentally it was where another well known submariner spent time as a POW incthe first war....Admiral Karl Doenitz!!
Thank for all involved with bringing this man's story to light. Hopefully as many ww2 veterans stories are documented before first hand history is lost forever.
This interview should be kept in an archive.
Well done. Thank you for documenting this.
This is great! Thank you so much for interviewing and posting.
I love the german/southern accent
I was saying the same thing sounds like he is from south Carolina almost 😂 just let's you know how long a lifetime can really be completely reinvented himself
Irreplaceable memories, please do more interviews if possible.
I wish Herr Werner long life and good health 🎩❤
It's amazing that they are still meeting 😊
Excellent. Documenting history from an actual veteran.
Very nice man. It's interesting that former enemies become friends. It is especially true in the air services. Even during the war, German pilot would meet their "victims" and sometimes they would sleep in the same tent before being transferred to a POW camp. British pilots would give their word of honour that they wouldn't escape and they didn't.
My Gramps flew out of Gander in the RCAF. Hunting U-Boats, he got U-520! Now they are good Krauts at the bottom of the North Atlantic.
Glad I found this interview today. Very well spoken individual and glad the interviewer took the time to get his story before it disappeared in time.
Thank you very much for sharing this piece of history! Thank you, Werner for being so kind to tell us your story!
His English is superb. Winston Churchill once said that the only thing that really scared him were the U Boats.
U boats were the single most biggest threat yet Hitler didn't realise how much so and missed yet another opportunity
@@markmitchell450 I would not have mattered , the equiptment improved and once they closed the air gap the uboat was doomed . Hedgehogs , air bombing and straffing , better sonar , the party was over .
Thanks for uploading this
Thank you so so VERY much for taking the time to document such an important HUMAN story.
I wish more of us made it a priority to sit and listen to the wisdom of our elders.
Society needs it.
Many thanks! Best from Hamburg, Germany
Thank you for sharing this story. Really enjoyed Werner's story. Loved the clock chiming in the background.
Wish the interviewer knew more about u boat history a lot of super interesting questions to be asked
55:40 he explains that apart from the u-960 which he only was placed on at the last minute, his "boat" was U-571. This is very intersting as it sank with all hands in Jan 1944 so he may have been part of that if he did not go aboard u-960 that day.
My father was in the infirmary the day the U571 set sail.
U-960 was Sunk on 19 May 1944 in the Mediterranean Sea north-west of Algiers (31 dead and 20 survivors). Commander Günther Heinrich is still alive.
I’m happy you survived that horrible war. I toured a ww2 sub, wow I can’t imagine those living conditions. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences during the war, I learned a lot.
Watch german movie Das Boot. You can't get more realism on this subject.
Which sub do you visit??? Our submarines were luxury cruisers compare to the U-Boots
Oh sorry Ive just read on comments he has passed. Mores the pity. Godspeed boatmate.
Sensational brave war hero. Talks as though everyone has lived such an extraordinary life. The video isn’t recent, but excellent. Interesting intelligent questions and honest straight forward answers.
Thank you for recording this and posting.
so many people can listen.
Fascinating! Thanks for posting this important historical record.
Glorious video. Thank you for posting it.
Regards
Man this is awesome not only for the world but for you having these memories on video must be nice i need make some time to watch the entire thing thank yu for sharing this with the world
Great man
Thank you. I thought so!
Thank you so much for sharing this!
This is very captivating to hear of his time as a POW My grandpa was a POW in Bevaria Germany stalq 7A my dad said he never really talked about it just that they went and worked everyday and all they gave them to eat was cabbage or something like that
Such a nice show, have never heard anything like this, thanks for sharing this,I subscribed to your channel because of the quality of this show
Thank you. This was just recorded so our family could have an account of his story for future generations. I thought there might be some people out there that would also find it interesting.
My Grandfather served in the north Atlantic. I remember him telling me when he was shipped home to a hospital, that he was never more afraid of the U-boats than on that trip home. It was hard for him to believe he was going home, and wanted to make it. I'm glad Werner Kruger became an American citizen. 👍
For those who want more, read "iron Coffins" by U-boot Commander Herbert Werner- overall only 10% of U-boot servicemen survived. Also read Lothar-Gunther Buchheim's book "Das Boot" which led to the German series and film of the same name.
30000 went to sea 10,000 survived , this guy was one of them
It's interesting Werner adopted the Deep South American accent-! Fascinating true story.
Werner. Did you know my friend Heinz Bauchloh?
In the 1980s, I met him in Spartanburg, S.C.
He made several trips to Germany for submarine reunions.
He was sunk off the coast of Norway in a type VI. He was attacked and sunk a second time by a task force led by the mini carrier USS Card. He spent the rest of the war in a POW camp in Louisiana.
Would love to hear from you.
Lucky and brave.
excellent. It will need remastering for longevity
Wowed this was amazing! Very grateful for the content it’s just kinda unfortunate her questions were not great... is this man still alive? I would drive across the country today if there was a chance I could have a conversation with this hero! I have so many questions I would absolutely LOVE to ask. This history needs to saved for our future generations
No my father passed away on 2009.
@@kgraham1369 very sorry to hear that. My condolences 🙏
What an amazing video! Those poor kids… The entire generation on both sides.
I can't imagine being on one of those especially back then. 75% casualty rate.
Funny thing is Herr Kruger told about having to wait 2 years to go to America-my German mom went through roughly the same thing and she was even married to my American dad. Mom told me about having to report to immigration every month, having to take civics/history classes, and finally taking the oath of allegiance to the US or they would have deported her. I have lots of childhood memories as my parents made friends with quite a few German ladies who married GI's while stationed in West Germany-there are quite a few. Many memories of big parties with German beerhall music playing, dancing, lots of good food and the beer, wine and cognac was in plentiful supply.
A relative of mine (mom's cousin) served in the Afrika Korps, was captured in Tunisia and spent over 2 years in Huntsville, Texas POW camp. He told about all the box turtles they'd see when out working in the fields which they'd paint swastikas on and release. Same thing happened to him-he had it really good working as a foreman on a ranch, they told him he was going home and instead was sent to England. He spent over a year in some cold, run down castle in Scotland where he said many of the prisoners became ill from the wet and cold. He finally made it home by around 1947 and the Texas ranch family even contacted him wanting him to return and work as a foreman for them. But he had kids and a wife by then and stayed in West Germany.
Funny about the Box Turtles lol. Glad he stayed in Germany and helped rebuild, so many emigrated.
@@yeoldeyoungin9745 He always said if it wasn't for having children, he would have definitely immigrated to the US. The ranch family would have sponsored him. My Dad said when he visited in 1978 he still had his Zippo lighter and Gillette safety razor that he was very proud of-all standard issue to POW's in US custody. He also LOVED Pepsi Cola, developing a taste for it while a prisoner. I can understand why many immigrated-their country was kicked to pieces and worse yet divided with the Soviets controlling nearly half of it. Must have been disheartening to lose so much after giving all to a madman just to be defeated and forever shamed for simply doing their duty and fighting for their comrades. Dad said he was a true gentleman like that generation mainly was.
@@tomservo5347 I respect what you wrote so much
American people are really nice and hospitable if you meet the right people in the US it's very hard to leave ! Great welcoming people.
@@Dan4x2282 My German cousin loves visiting out at our family farm where he can run around on the ATV, 4x4 Chevy farm truck, and most importantly we take him shooting rifles. He likes the freedoms he doesn't have in Germany.
I met a guy in northern Illinois who served in the luftwaffe. His story was along the lines of Forrest Gump. I wish i was a screenwriter as his stories were amazing. He had a painting that his kids had commissioned of him shooting down a British fighter with the guns of his small bomber. Shot down three times, lucky to survive each. The last time he was shot down by his own flak as they could not imagine any of their planes being in the air.
We've been brought up on stories about The Allied forces so very good to hear stories from the German and other Axis forces.
Historical gem!
Thank you Mr. Kruger.
Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
He passed May 2022 at 101
Absolutely amazing man!
Very cool and these guys are going away fast.
"WE FOUGHT THE WRONG ENEMY" GEORGE PATTON
“One day they will come. Might not be tomorow or ten years or a hundred years , but one day the Bolsheviks WILL come” . A horrible man made that statement, but it was pretty accurate.
11 "Bells" and all'swell..
Fairwinds and smooth Seas..
REST IN PEACE
They also served..from submariner to another ..god speed my brother
Love his story - wish that I had paid more atention to Fritz- German submariner that I worked with - learned from-in Calgary-- 60's wonderfull man.
The part with the emigration hit me. He is so right. They come as they want while people like me have to go through hell to even think about a green card. Didn't change that much since decades.
Mit besten Wünschen aus Deutschland.
I would love to know how the radio communications between Germany and the submarines was structured, I understand that most communications were broadcasts without acknowledgment, but what if the submarine needed to contact base, did they have a time / frequency chart to try and avoid detection? How did it work?
It's so sad now much intelligence and talent is lost through war. Just imagine what all these men could have done with the ability they had. This man survived but so many more did not on all sides.
Yes and just imagine if those talented and intelligent men who fought and died could see the state of England and Germany and some of todays talentless dumbasses of the same age and how they behave😢
I’m pretty sure his U-Boat torpedoed HMS Barham. You can see Barham exploding on RUclips, been watched 5 million times! Strange no connection made before.
Great video, deserves a lot more views but RUclips is fickle when it comes to promoting content.
I’m sure the IWM in UK would be interested in the connection.
Thanks again
3 ships sunk (10,267 tons)
2 Soviet and a U.S vessel
30 Sep 1943 sank Arkhangel and
1 Oct 1943 sank T-896 (No 42) and on 16 Jan 1944 sank the Sumner I. Kimball.
He was in U-960.
kelvyquayo Thanks for the correction, you’re right. Similar sinking position to U331 and number of survivors, my mistake. Thanks for your input, best regards Matt
@@mjepcmjepc8915 As soon as he mentioned his Skipper's name I looked it up on Uboat.net. That site has everything!
kelvyquayo Thanks for the website link, i’ve been nerding out on it for a few days. Up until recently, my only knowledge of uboats was from watching the original Das Boot series as a kid. The Battle of the Atlantic doesn’t get the attention it deserves IMHO. One thing I’ve always wondered is whether the submariners really could hear the sonar pings getting louder and louder as the surface ships closed in. Anyway, thanks again, good to know there are others out there still fascinated with what remains the greatest event in human history.
@@mjepcmjepc8915 Cheers, bro. My little obsession recently from a video game called "UBOAT" which let's you control your crew and take missions..They did an amazing job with realism in the models and even has realistic firing solution mechanics. Amazing to look at these inventions to think this was the height of technology. I found someone even made a Haynes Manual for Type 7 UBoat! hilarious. www.amazon.com/U-Boat-1936-45-Type-VIIA-VIIC/dp/0857334042
World War 2 equally as fascinating as it is horrifying.
Lest we forget.
ANZAC. New Zealand 🇳🇿
He basically had to pick up a six shooter with four bullets in it and play Russian roulette. Not many won. Having said that, most recruits had no idea how severe the losses were before they ended up in the Uboatwaffe. Since he was going to be forced to sail anyway, it's probably one of those instances where ignorance really is bliss.
Sounds strong, looks strong, tough as nails.
He was. Until the day he passed. I inherited a lot of his German traits!
VERY interresting story!
great video.
Hello Graham
How can we get in contact? I'm a local historian in dallas and interested in this very topic. Would be a pleasure to be able to speak with you.
Very luck to have had him for this interview. Out of 40000 U-boat personnel 30000 would not live to tell the tail.
Every nation had a band of brothers no matter what they did if it was land , sea or air they were all fighting for there country
A great first generation American ! 👏👏👏
remembers the flying sausage,not who was there.....thats how you know this is a real war story
His English is excellent.
@19:53
Such a calm recounting of witnessing a HEADLESS BODY fall in front of you..
“a body came down without a head and that was the hold up” 😳
What u boat did he serve on
U-960
He said his captain was Günther Heinrich.
Oberleutnant zur See (Crew 38)
Successes
2 ships sunk, total tonnage 9,656 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 611 GRT
55:40 he explains that apart from the u-960 which he only was placed on at the last minute, his "boat" was U-571. This is very intersting as it sank with all hands in Jan 1944 so he may have been part of that if he did not go aboard u-960 that day.
I can't imagine how awful it must have been inside a uboat on or near the surface in big seas, with pipes and machinery everywhere they must have been black &blue with bruises and cuts, cold damp smelly, and on top of that dangerous! Men indeed
Wait, so the last time this man was on his native soil was 1942 and he left having no idea he wouldnt step foot again for years.
He did return for the 1st time in 1967. All of his family, my grandmother and Aunts, Uncles and cousin lived behind the Berlin Wall. It was an ordeal for him to get across the border during that time. I never met any of that side of the family until 1990. My grandfather told my father not to return to Germany after the war because the POW's were being sent away and never seen again. My father found out many, many years later that the Russians were having the POW's walk the beaches of Belgium to dentate landmines.
@19:16
I never thought I’d find possible death by SALAMI so riveting! 😂
Amusing to think how every millimeter of space was used to shove extra food in.. lol. and that it could prove lethal!
Wow
Very lucky , not so much for all the ships you sank , those poor souls were watched through your periscope as they drowned .
What was his boat number?
U-960; i wish the interviewer had more Naval/sub knowledge in order to ask more pertinent questions, but still fascinating.
At the end he said U571..?
@@crowley92399 senile old nan prob just watched the movie 😀😂 I wonder... lots of stolen valor on yt
so nice to have a 16 year old girl interviewing this man. my, the united states has come so far
She was actually a college senior (22) and she did this interview for her college thesis. She was also a friend of the family.
I thought this was ww1, there is no description
He was born after WW1 ended and she even said he was in ww2
WWII
Ww1?111 r u kidding do you think hes 146 yrs olx
U-960 torpedoed the US Liberty Ship Sumner l. Kimball with loss of all 69 crew on January 16, 1944.
75% casualty rate in u boats
I wonder if he knew Gerhard from Chemnitz?
If your Interested in a Very Good Account of U-Boat life in WW2, Get a copy of "Iron Coffins' by Herbert Werner-His experiences as a Junior Officer from 1941 to his Commanding a U Boat by 1944 to the end of the War.
I've also read this book. Interestingly the writer also details his life after the war.
It’s a shame the world has to go to war...
That was an engineer war. America had no reason to war with Germany.
America has many Nazis... then and now.. but not quite enough
Wondering what they ate on the uboat
An Honest Question Sir... And with all due respect, but did the Kriegsmarine or any other part of the German Military ever think that you were part Jewish? Also how were the WWI Jewish German Veterans treated when WW2 began?
I'm a Former Marine USMC and not a Troll. I am not some activist..... I am just curious. Thank You
My father is no longer alive. I do know that he was never questioned about his nationality. I can not answer the question about WW1.
Would be a lot better if interviewer knew something about the subject…
Lost his accent got the Texan accent here .RIP sir
Actung!!! Spitfire!!!!
shoelaces and rubber band... them damn germans will build a Messerschmitt lmfao...and probably true
Adapted well even picked up a southern accent. Yankee accent like an American would've been better.
I knew the world would circle the drain ever faster when all the World War II vets have died 👩🔧🇺🇲🛠️🇷🇺
bullshit