Doenitz`s last message

[Grayson]

Hi there,
anybody know the text of Karl Doenitz last message to the uboats,the one that starts " my uboat men,six long years of unrelenting warfare lie behind us". I know i`ve seen it the documentation for either SH11 or SH111 but i can not find it now,any help anyone
best wishes Grayson

[yobert]

At 2158/5 May Dönitz to all U-boat men: "Six years of U-boat warfare lie behind us. You have fought like lions. An overwhelming superiority in material has forced us into a very narrow space. From this small basis a continuation of our battle is no longer possible . . . U-boat men, unbroken unashamed, you are laying down your arms . . . Keep your U-boat spirit, with which you have fought bravely . . . Long live Germany."

[MobyGrape]

I have it posted here fyi.
http://www.screenshotart.com/index.php?showtopic=16392

[Captain_Stabbing]

That was a really mean question. I just spent the last half hour trying to find it like it was my last dying mission. Now, I have to go off to work, so it will bother me for the rest of the evening. I DO know that if anyone in here happens to own a copy of Iron Coffins, it is inside of there though!

[Grayson]

Hi guys,
thanks for the prompt info,in case you are wondering why i need it, its because the OKW(Oberkommandoder wife) has finaly allowed me to put up a print of uncle karl and i wanted to add this text to the bottom of it.

[SkvyWvr]

Hi guys,
thanks for the prompt info,in case you are wondering why i need it, its because the OKW(Oberkommandoder wife) has finaly allowed me to put up a print of uncle karl and i wanted to add this text to the bottom of it.

If you survive the war in SH3, you will see it.

[MobyGrape]

If you survive the war in SH3, you will see it.

Guess no one clicked my link then:-?

[joea]

I did, nice screenies. :up:

[yobert]

I looked at it too, i havent made it to may 9 1945 without reload at 30%, i know i am still new but i am learning think i can pump it up to 50% at next campian

[MobyGrape]

:oops: Thanks guys..I appreciated the Feedback:know:
Aloha!!!!

[Drebbel]

At 2158/5 May Dönitz to all U-boat men: "Six years of U-boat warfare lie behind us. You have fought like lions. An overwhelming superiority in material has forced us into a very narrow space. From this small basis a continuation of our battle is no longer possible . . . U-boat men, unbroken unashamed, you are laying down your arms . . . Keep your U-boat spirit, with which you have fought bravely . . . Long live Germany."

So was this really the last "to all uboats" message from Donut ?

Who radioed the message ordering the uboats to surrender ? This message just says "lay down your arms" but also states "keep your uboat spirit" and does not state at all they have to surrender.

I always assumed it was Doenitz who radioed that message. But maybe it was just the uboat high command.

[Drebbel]

No one, there certainly must be some history buffs around here

[TarJak]

At 2158/5 May Dönitz to all U-boat men: "Six years of U-boat warfare lie behind us. You have fought like lions. An overwhelming superiority in material has forced us into a very narrow space. From this small basis a continuation of our battle is no longer possible . . . U-boat men, unbroken unashamed, you are laying down your arms . . . Keep your U-boat spirit, with which you have fought bravely . . . Long live Germany."
So was this really the last "to all uboats" message from Donut ?

Who radioed the message ordering the uboats to surrender ? This message just says "lay down your arms" but also states "keep your uboat spirit" and does not state at all they have to surrender.

I always assumed it was Doenitz who radioed that message. But maybe it was just the uboat high command.

Have a look at http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v04/v04p305_Thompson.html The final "order" issued to all German armed forces in 1945 read in part "... By command of Admiral Dönitz the Armed Forces have given up the hopeless struggle. A heroic fight that has lasted for nearly six years thus comes to an end ... the German Armed Forces have succumbed to overwhelming superior strength ... Every German soldier, sailor and airman can therefore lay aside his arms with justifiable pride and turn to the task of ensuring the everlasting life of our nation ... To show obedience, discipline and absolute loyalty to our Fatherland, bleeding from innumerable wounds, is the sacred duty our dead impose upon us all."

My question is how would this have been communicated to U-Boats at sea other than by radio and what was the date of the "final radio message" to all uboatmen?

[TarJak]

I found this a short time after posting:

http://www.uboataces.com/boa-uboat-end.shtml

It mentions that the "final" message was sent on May 4th 1945 at 3.14pm, so it pre- dates the final order to the armed forces by 5 days.

I can't find any references which state how the order was issued, but I can only assume it must have been radioed otherwise who would have gotten the message?