Steel Boat, Iron Hearts: The Wartime Saga of Hans Goebeler and U-505 by Goebeler Hans & Vanzo John

Author:Goebeler, Hans & Vanzo, John [Goebeler, Hans]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027100
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2008-09-29T23:00:00+00:00

A few days after our visit by Rommel, I had a memorable experience while on guard duty. Late one night, I was standing watch on the upper deck when I heard footsteps approaching from the direction of the pier. It was a lone Kriegsmarine officer, wearing the uniform of a Kapitänleutnant. He entered the gangway and nonchalantly attempted to board the boat. I knew that he wasn’t one of our boat’s officers, nor was he the Officer of the Guard for that night, so I followed standard procedure and shouted, “Halt! What is the password?”

He ignored my challenge, and with a haughty look of mild annoyance, attempted to walk past me. I had no alternative other than to unlock the safety of my Schmeisser MP-40 machine pistol and aim the barrel directly at his chest. “Remain where you are or I will shoot! Hands up!”

He evidently believed I would carry out my threat, because the intruder immediately stopped in his tracks and raised his hands. Although he didn’t dare move a muscle, he was absolutely furious at me. “Are you crazy? Can’t you see I’m an officer?”

I ignored his tantrum and called the Petty Officer in charge of the watch. The Petty Officer arrived and requested to see the officer’s identity papers. When the man refused, we immediately arrested him. Twenty minutes later, the Officer of the Guard himself came to investigate the situation. A quick search of the so-called Kapitänleutnant revealed a miniature camera hidden in his uniform. The spy was led away to what, I presume, was a very unpleasant fate.

The next day, during our noontime formation, I was singled out for a commendation by our Exec. Unfortunately, that was not to be my last encounter with spies and saboteurs in Lorient.

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