U 96: The history of the legendary submarine and its gripping inserts

u 96, one of the most famous German submarines, achieved celebrity from the novel and the film adaptation “Das Boot” and the associated melody. The construction application for type VII C submarine was granted on May 30, 1938, and it was built at the Germania shipyard in Kiel. The stacking took place on August 1, 1940, followed by the commissioning on September 14, 1940. The mascot of the submarine is a laughing sawfish that was designed by Hans Kosatz.

Under the command of Lieutenant Captain Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock, U 96 had its first assignment between December 4 and 29, 1940, in which several steamer and motor ships were sunk or damaged. On November 30, 1941, U 96 was attacked by an aircraft on the street of Gibraltar and suffered serious damage. The submarine sank a total of 27 ships and damaged five more during his active missions. Technical data of the submarine include a length of 67.1 meters, a width of 6.2 meters and a depth of 4.74 meters. U 96 was able to dive up to 250 meters deep and reached a maximum speed of 17.7 knots and under water 7.6 knots.

from active operations to destruction

The range of U 96 was 15,700 kilometers on the surface and 150 kilometers below water, with a crew of 44 to 52 men. The submarine was armed with five torpedo ears, an 88 mm cover cannon and a 20 mm flight defense cannon. In 1943, U 96 was converted into a training boat, which ended the active service. On February 15, 1945, the submarine in Wilhelmshaven was decommissioned and finally destroyed on March 30, 1945 by a US air attack without harming people. The unclear whereabouts of the wreck suggests that it may be in the grotendamm.

The film "Das Boot", based on the novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, was published in 1981 by Wolfgang Petersen. The soundtrack of Klaus Doldinger experienced a very successful return in 1991 as a techno version of U 96. A total of 1,274 people died during the U 96 missions. The German submarine museum in Cuxhaven emphasizes the importance of the facts and the need to avoid war glorification, such as NDR reported.

In a further connection, the Buchheim Museum shows an exhibition with around 250 photographs by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, was created during the Second World War, mainly during the missions with U 96. Buchheim was a naval secretary and documented his experience from autumn 1940. The exhibition illuminates important events based on the 7th submarine company of U 96 in autumn 1941. Buchheim felt called to witness and took the photographs on his own order.

The exhibition for the first time shows around 5000 photographs from Buchheim's archives, many of which are unpublished. Image sequences illustrate events such as water bomb attacks and encounters with other submarines. The selection of photographs focuses on U 96, the crew members, everyday life on board and the interior. Recordings also show the Saint-Nazaire Atlantic base, the construction of bunkers and destruction. Buchheim's photographs of people and landscapes in Brittany are devoted to a room in the exhibition. The supporting program for the exhibition includes readings and lectures, including from Buchheim's bestseller "Das Boot". Admission to the exhibition is 5 euros per person, pre -sale and reservation are possible, such as Buchheim Museum explained.