[Enchanter]

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 27 January ’41 – 4 February ‘41

Our patrol out into the deep waters south west of Britain turned out to be a wasted effort. In transit to the patrol station we encountered a C3 cargo ship. Two torpedoes were expended and the ship was destroyed in a standard night approach and lay up.
The crew has become far more effective in their work.
This served to be the only ship we encountered, despite several ‘submerge and search’ techniques. Returning to port I had my sonar man promoted for his extensive work, and noticed an increase in the radio room efficiency level as a result.

I was ordered to the commander’s office the day following my arrival and informed that I had been selected for promotion. He informed me that I would be attending a special ceremony for this promotion, and that I should invite a partner to the event. Naturally I invited Suzanne. Any initial excitement I may have felt was suppressed, as I had been expecting this promotion for some time. Before I left the office that day I instructed our Chief Engineer and the Machinist Officer to begin installation of the newest engines to reach our fleet. Hopefully this extra power will assist us in our surface approach chases.

The promotion ceremony was an extremely grand affair. The Commander of our Flotilla gave an opening speech and invited the guest speaker, none other than Admiral Doenitz himself, to the podium. The Admiral exhorted the importance of effective leadership, and positive approach to both our trade and our men. He looked over the assembled Kaleun’s and told us that each and every one played a vital role in the prosecution of this war.
“The war will end on a clarion note,” he said, “sounded by the battle hardened men of the U-Boot services.”
Politely we clapped, and the awards began. In short order I was called up and presented with my papers and badges of rank. Shortly after, the new Kapitanleutnant gathered a smiling Suzanne in his arms. I smiled down at her and she whispered in a husky voice, “I always thought you looked sexy in dress uniform. But these new stripes make you look…” with a throaty laugh at my blush she left off the sentence, took my hand and walked out of the hall.

The fateful night we had spent together, bringing her family into mine had resolved itself relatively quickly. My father had gone that very day and located her family. Within hours he had arranged them in the house, the whirlwind that were my parents depositing the traumatized family in their homes before they new what had happened to them. By the end of the week, my father and Suzanne’s were fast friends, and the two woman were inseparable. A letter arrived on the day of my return to base. Six pages, three from my parents, three from hers, addressed to both of us in my care. Suzanne and I chuckled through the whole letter, imagining all too well the four of them sitting around the drawing room offering bits of advice for the letter. Then, two days later I received a call in my office.
“Leutnant Linden? This is Peytr, Suzanne’s father.”
“Good morning, sir! What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to offer our thanks for your hospitality son. You are a kind man, and so is your family.”
“In this war sir, we do al we can.”
“You’ve done far more than any other, and for people you’ve never met.”
”I could do no less for your daughter, I admit, she’s stolen my heart quite badly.”
A laugh, “I was phoning to inform you that Suzanne’s sister Claire was found, she had been in hospital, listed as “Unidentified Person”. She is well enough to speak now, she was trapped under rubble from the attack. We’ve both been to see her, the doctors assure us she is going to make a full recovery.”
“Truly joyous news!” I answered, exuberant, this would cheer Suzanne up immensely. Then the thoughts and decisions I had come to slammed the next question into my head, without particular thought I blurted,
“Sir, I must ask this. But…may I have your permission to take your daughter’s hand in marriage?”
A stunned silence on the other end of the poor connection was broken only by the sound of crockery smashing on the office floor. I looked up and noticed Fritz staring at me, oblivious to the coffee cup at his feet.
“We were all expecting that son,” came the reply, a little bemused, “of course you do. I know you’ll watch over her.”
“Thank you sir.”
Putting down the phone I looked up at Fritz. He sat at my desk and clasped his hands.
“Gerhard?” He prompted subtly.
“What?” I couldn’t suppress the grin. My friend’s face split into a similar grin.
“The bachelor party will be epic…”
My grin faded. But, I decided, not until my promotion.
That day I walked into the hospital and took Suzanne aside to give her the news about her sister. She wept with joy and hugged me hard, a few of her nursing colleagues we had gotten to know hugged her in congratulations too. No-one else had been informed of the situation with her family, just her missing sister.

Now, walking hand in hand away from my promotion ceremony I knew it was time to prepare. I looked across at the most incredible woman I had ever met and smiled. She had no idea what was about to hit her.

Gerhard Linden
U-49 Kapt.