This is to answer if youre using GWX3, which if you dont have, i recommend you get immediatly (it also has a free 600 page guide!). GWX3 also has a flag identification manual in game when using any targeting scope, that also tells you on what days you are at war with whom.
The war doesnt start until september 1st 1939, with POLAND (only shoot polish ships!). it is not until the 3rd of the month that france and britian declare war on germany. your first patrol starts on the 1st of august (if youre using GWX, it starts on 1st september otherwise), and the only reason you could get to calais in a type IIA or D was because the war hadnt started yet! By the way, Kiel is host to the 1st flotilla and they use type II's at the start, the 7th is based out of wilhemshaven just west of the canal I believe, and they use type VII's from the start.
You were probably fired upon because when you fire at any nations unit, they are hostile to you for about 24 hours, for all you knew you hit a german ship, or a ship belonging to a country that had used the canal for transit up until the start of the war. Until the war starts, youll see french, norweigen, british, russian, dutch, etc shipping mere miles from the german coast.
On your first patrol, your best bet is to navigate around, get used to the boat, and just mess around a bit, but do NOT shoot anything, you are at war with NOBODY. try to RTB after only about 3 days so that you can get back out to sea in time to get in position before the war starts.
Good luck!
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