U 96: Legendary submarine continues to live in Wilhelmshaven!

U 96: Legendary submarine continues to live in Wilhelmshaven!

A fascinating discovery is located in Wilhelmshaven: parts of the famous German submarine U 96, which became immortal due to the novel "Das Boot" by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, are still present on site. Journalist Gerrit Reichert reveals in a new chapter on the history of the submarine that both the rear with the diesel engine and possibly the bug could have remained there after the boat was destroyed.

u 96 was a Type-Vii-C-submarine and is considered one of the most frequently used submarines of the German Navy alongside his legendary reputation, which was shaped by Buchheim's work and the 1981 film adaptation. During his active service, U 96 carried out a total of eleven missions, in which 29 Allied ships sank it with an overall tonnage of 178,651 gross registration tons (BRT). In addition, four ships with a total of 33,000 BRT were damaged, which ensured U 96 an important place in the history books of the famous Atlantic Battle.

The last days of the U 96

On February 15, 1945, U 96 was decommissioned in Wilhelmshaven, just a few weeks later the submarine suffered its fate during an air raid on March 30, 1945. In this attack by the 8th Air Force of the USAAF, the boat was destroyed by bomb attacks; Fortunately, there were no crew members on board at this point.

Gerrit Reichert, the journalist and author, has researched in Wilhelmshaven for over a year to reconstruct the whereabouts of U 96 after the bombing. The resulting remnants found a new destination in spring 1948: they were used as filling material for the Grodendamm, which separates the former marine port from Lake Banter. So they have survived as part of this structural change to this day.

"Almost a decade of intensive research has now ended," said Reichert, who has developed a name for his in -depth studies on U 96. His next publication, which he brings out together with the 4th edition of his book "U 96-reality and myth", will appear on October 7, 2024. This book will not only illuminate the history of the submarine, but also contains a manuscript page of a long-lost work of Buchheim, which is considered a literary rarity.

A look at the upcoming events

Reichert plans to present its latest research results at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 17 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is available for interviews. There, the extended 4th edition of "U 96 reality and myth" is also presented, which, in addition to over 150, offers a unique insight into the history of the U 96.

The stories of the submarine continue to live not only through Buchheim's literary work and the iconic film adaptation of 1981, but also achieves new dimensions through the latest research results. This renewal of acquaintance around U 96 as part of the structure in Wilhelmshaven is not only a historical phenomenon, it also consolidates the cultural importance of the boat and offers historians and readers a deeper insight into the survival fight of the crew during the Second World War.

For those interested, it is exciting to see how past and open up new perspectives. The information about the discovery of the parts of U 96 is, among other things, in a contribution to lomazoma.com