ePub The Adventures of a Light Dragoon in the Napoleonic Wars - A Cavalryman During the Peninsular Waterloo Campaigns; in Captivity at the Siege of Bhu by George Farmer; George Robert Gleig in History

Description

Following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919; Germany was not permitted to build or operate submarines. However clandestine training onboard Finnish and Spanish submarines took place and U-boats were still built to German designs in Dutch yards. At the outset of the Second World War; Dönitz argued for a 300-strong U-boat fleet; since his force of 57 U-boats ‘could only inflict pin-pricks against British seaborne trade’. In August 1939; U-48 left Germany; commanded by ‘Vaddi’ Schultze; to take up a waiting position around England. It scored its first success on 5 September; when it torpedoed the British freighter Royal Sceptre; then the Winkleigh on 8 September. On both occasions – the first of many – Schultze showed himself to be a notable humanitarian: he addressed signals to Churchill giving positions of the sinkings so that crews could be saved. By 1 August 1941; U-48; the most successful boat of the Second World War; had sunk 56 merchant ships of 322;478 gross tons and one corvette. She was then transferred to the Baltic as a training boat. Schultze became commander of operation 3 U-Flotilla and later was appointed commander; II/Naval College Schleswig. He died in 1987 at the age of 78. U-48 was scuttled on 3 May 1945.