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Enchanter · 12-24-07, 08:02 PM

Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 26 November ’41

This will be the final entry in this diary.

On the morning of November 26 1941, Gerhard Linden set sail for his assigned patrol route. Poor intelligence or just a lack of communication led him to the rendezvous point for an Allied battle formation.

First indication of trouble was when, under cover of night his ship was rammed side on by a light destroyer.
Crippled and unable to submerge, Kapitanleutnant Gerhard Linden ordered his crew to the guns and began a raging fire fight. Standing atop the watch tower he directed torpedo fire while his brave crew fought gun actions against the British Navy.

Accounting for five enemy warships, this Hero of the Fatherland was finally sunk by gunfire.

As his crew abandoned ship, Gerhard Linden, gravely wounded, began the operation of destroying the various top secret coding devices found aboard his vessel.
He was lost with his boat, and 35 of 55 crewmen.
Their ultimate sacrifice led to the safe destruction of the top secret equipment, and the total loss of U-Boot 504.

I know it was his habit to speak of his personal affairs in this diary too. His wedding and subsequent honeymoon was what he would later describe to his friends as the most perfect example of heaven in the world. Photos show a happy smiling couple, and friends talk of a wonderful union between two well loved people.
His family grieves the loss of a son, as the people of the Reich grieve the loss of a hero.
His 14 days of marriage, he wrote in a love letter, were the best two weeks of his life.

I know his spirit is at peace, laid to rest among the fighting men he had come to cherish, and aboard the command to which he had aspired his entire career. He was lost in a manner reflective of his brave, unwavering dedication to his land, his crew and his Fuhrer.
His devotion to his family, and his new bride was rivalled only by his devotion to his duty, as a warrior of the Reich, and an officer of the Kriegsmarine.

Farewell Gerhard, my loving, wonderful husband. You shall be sorely missed forever.

Suzanne Linden.
28 November 1941

12-24-07, 08:02 PM	#15
Enchanter Bosun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 66 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Personal Diary of Gerhard Linden 26 November ’41 This will be the final entry in this diary. On the morning of November 26 1941, Gerhard Linden set sail for his assigned patrol route. Poor intelligence or just a lack of communication led him to the rendezvous point for an Allied battle formation. First indication of trouble was when, under cover of night his ship was rammed side on by a light destroyer. Crippled and unable to submerge, Kapitanleutnant Gerhard Linden ordered his crew to the guns and began a raging fire fight. Standing atop the watch tower he directed torpedo fire while his brave crew fought gun actions against the British Navy. Accounting for five enemy warships, this Hero of the Fatherland was finally sunk by gunfire. As his crew abandoned ship, Gerhard Linden, gravely wounded, began the operation of destroying the various top secret coding devices found aboard his vessel. He was lost with his boat, and 35 of 55 crewmen. Their ultimate sacrifice led to the safe destruction of the top secret equipment, and the total loss of U-Boot 504. I know it was his habit to speak of his personal affairs in this diary too. His wedding and subsequent honeymoon was what he would later describe to his friends as the most perfect example of heaven in the world. Photos show a happy smiling couple, and friends talk of a wonderful union between two well loved people. His family grieves the loss of a son, as the people of the Reich grieve the loss of a hero. His 14 days of marriage, he wrote in a love letter, were the best two weeks of his life. I know his spirit is at peace, laid to rest among the fighting men he had come to cherish, and aboard the command to which he had aspired his entire career. He was lost in a manner reflective of his brave, unwavering dedication to his land, his crew and his *Fuhrer*. His devotion to his family, and his new bride was rivalled only by his devotion to his duty, as a warrior of the Reich, and an officer of the Kriegsmarine. Farewell Gerhard, my loving, wonderful husband. You shall be sorely missed forever. Suzanne Linden. 28 November 1941 __________________ Hasta la wookie...baby.