Anyone see this one on PBS??? U-689 or 683 can't remember........ about a sub that supposedly lost radio contact with home base and ventured into American waters off the New Jersey coast.... They theorize that it was sunk by its own torpedo as when it fired at a merchant ship they believe the "fish" circled back and hit the U instead. Pretty interesting documentary- had three divers die, two as a result of the Bends,crew corresponded with German in U-Boot Archives, wreck site excavation turned up a box in the battery compartment that positively identified the boat.
It came on realllllly early this morning on PBS. I checked my local PBS listing and it comes on again on the 21st, so I will record it!
I think it was U 869 and I have seen it before. Some things I liked about it--well I like the whole Documentary but--I liked it when the researchers-went to the Uboat Archiv in Altenbruch, Germany (which is owned and Operated by Horst Bredow--the sole survivor from his Uboat)) and I liked seeing him as well as things they showed in his building--that I saw personally when Susanne and I visited. Also--knowing Horst personally--I know it was a bit "victory" of sorts, for the people who found an item that proved it belonged to the lost sub. I got a kick out of them proving to Horst and making him believe that he and the German Gov't was actully wrong as to where this Uboat actually sank. Anyway--if ever in Germany--that is a must visit place. [ 21. June 2003, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
I have indeed watched the documentary and it is a very good one! They even interviewed the U-boat super ace and swords recipient Erich Topp. No, actually at the end of the programme they clearify that it was a mal-functioning torpedo tube what is the most probable cause for the U-boat sinking, which I can't remember the exact number right now.
Well, when I was in second grade we had a Red Army veteran in class telling us about his battles in WW2. He said that once Soviet Union took Berlin some would say that Hitler got away on a U Boat. Where would he go? Argentina?
