Quote:
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Originally Posted by Drebbel
Quote:
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Originally Posted by 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."
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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?