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07-24-09, 03:00 PM

uh, well, perhaps this extract from the Cryptologic Documents in the Navy Department Library, Special Research histories, Battle of the Atlantic, Vol. II [U-Boat Operations--December 1942 to May 1945 including German U-boats and raiders in the Indian and Pacific Oceans], Nr SRH-008 (415 pages)...

"Friedebur technically assumed command of U-boats in 1305/2 May, and on the 3rd and 4th of May repeated that the U-boat war was being continued; but COMSUBs West again took over the U-boat command in 0447/4 May. First fruits of the negotiations appeared in 1118/4C May: "COMINCR forbids destruction of German merchant ships when enemy action threatens, except in case of action by Bolshevik forces." Then in 1614/4 May, Dönitz himself, in a special message, ordered all U-boats to cease all war-like activity and secretly begin return to Norway.

(1614/4 was not read until 16 May; hence the first actual proof that Dönitz had issued orders to U-boats to cease hostilities and return was in a fragmentary plain text message intercepted at 1745Z on 5 May which referred to 1614/4. At ---1/5 May all U-boats were ordered to cease operations against England and America immediately. (Read on 7 May)

A few hours later, a prod: "No one is more under oath to him (Dönitz) than the Navy . . ." (2311/4C) A "flash" message at 0134/5 declared the situation had changed, all U-boats in German and Danish ports and bays were to scuttle. Only eight minutes later, under Keitel's signature, all were informed that the surrender of North Germany to Montgomery would go into effect at 0800B: "No scuttling or demolition to be performed." (0142/5)

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."

In view of the professed German motive of surrendering to the Anglo-Americans in order to save something from the Russians, it must have been hard to send out the message on ciphers at 1204/8: "Triton and Niobe cipher data are being

handed over to the Anglo-Americans and Russians. . . "Plain language orders followed, canceling the return to Norway, giving orders to surrender according to Allied instructions. (2026/8 and 2034/8).

Note that U-881, Frischke, has not been accounted for as of 25 May 1945. It was later learned that U-881 was sunk on 6 May 1945 by the USS Farquhar off Newfoundland.

Hope is useful

Cheers

07-24-09, 03:00 PM	#7
Nictalope Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	uh, well, perhaps this extract from the Cryptologic Documents in the Navy Department Library, Special Research histories, Battle of the Atlantic, Vol. II [U-Boat Operations--December 1942 to May 1945 including German U-boats and raiders in the Indian and Pacific Oceans], Nr SRH-008 (415 pages)... "Friedebur technically assumed command of U-boats in 1305/2 May, and on the 3rd and 4th of May repeated that the U-boat war was being continued; but COMSUBs West again took over the U-boat command in 0447/4 May. First fruits of the negotiations appeared in 1118/4C May: "COMINCR forbids destruction of German merchant ships when enemy action threatens, except in case of action by Bolshevik forces." Then in 1614/4 May, Dönitz himself, in a special message, ordered all U-boats to cease all war-like activity and secretly begin return to Norway. (1614/4 was not read until 16 May; hence the first actual proof that Dönitz had issued orders to U-boats to cease hostilities and return was in a fragmentary plain text message intercepted at 1745Z on 5 May which referred to 1614/4. At ---1/5 May all U-boats were ordered to cease operations against England and America immediately. (Read on 7 May) A few hours later, a prod: "No one is more under oath to him (Dönitz) than the Navy . . ." (2311/4C) A "flash" message at 0134/5 declared the situation had changed, all U-boats in German and Danish ports and bays were to scuttle. Only eight minutes later, under Keitel's signature, all were informed that the surrender of North Germany to Montgomery would go into effect at 0800B: "No scuttling or demolition to be performed." (0142/5) 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." In view of the professed German motive of surrendering to the Anglo-Americans in order to save something from the Russians, it must have been hard to send out the message on ciphers at 1204/8: "Triton and Niobe cipher data are being handed over to the Anglo-Americans and Russians. . . "Plain language orders followed, canceling the return to Norway, giving orders to surrender according to Allied instructions. (2026/8 and 2034/8). Note that U-881, Frischke, has not been accounted for as of 25 May 1945. It was later learned that U-881 was sunk on 6 May 1945 by the USS Farquhar off Newfoundland. Hope is useful Cheers Last edited by Nictalope; 07-24-09 at 03:14 PM.