General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: Christmas in Bergen?
Posted by:
Frank
()
Date: December 22, 2001 03:26PM
<HTML>Hi all -
Thought the forum might like some tips from Wolfgang Luth on celebrating Christmas underwater:
"At Christmas time candles on fir wreaths made of twisted towels and green coloured toilet paper were lit in every room. Christmas baking lasted for two weeks and everbody was permitted to nibble at a little just like at home. On Christmas Eve a home-made Santa Claus, who wears only a bed-sheet in the tropics, stands in the festively-decorated bow compartment and presents every man with some candy and a book with a dedication. All this of course is accompanied with appropriate verses and phrases. We sang Christmas carols and the Captain gave a Christmas speech. After the celebration we ate supper on the gaily decorated tables. The officers` mess was dissolved and the officers ate with the men."
All quite jolly, at least in theory. I love the idea of candles on twisted toilet-paper wreaths, though I don`t know what the fire-prevention officer would have said about it. Luth also says elsewhere that the crew are encouraged to discuss "all things which belong to the general education of the seaman. According to orders, we only avoid talking about religion. We speak about Germany, the Führer and his National Socialist Movement." If that was what Luth`s `Christmas speech` consisted of, it must really have raised the general level of jollity to Bacchanalian heights ........... Mind you, apparently he was one of the most politically correct kommandants of his time.
Festive greetings to all -
Frank</HTML>
Thought the forum might like some tips from Wolfgang Luth on celebrating Christmas underwater:
"At Christmas time candles on fir wreaths made of twisted towels and green coloured toilet paper were lit in every room. Christmas baking lasted for two weeks and everbody was permitted to nibble at a little just like at home. On Christmas Eve a home-made Santa Claus, who wears only a bed-sheet in the tropics, stands in the festively-decorated bow compartment and presents every man with some candy and a book with a dedication. All this of course is accompanied with appropriate verses and phrases. We sang Christmas carols and the Captain gave a Christmas speech. After the celebration we ate supper on the gaily decorated tables. The officers` mess was dissolved and the officers ate with the men."
All quite jolly, at least in theory. I love the idea of candles on twisted toilet-paper wreaths, though I don`t know what the fire-prevention officer would have said about it. Luth also says elsewhere that the crew are encouraged to discuss "all things which belong to the general education of the seaman. According to orders, we only avoid talking about religion. We speak about Germany, the Führer and his National Socialist Movement." If that was what Luth`s `Christmas speech` consisted of, it must really have raised the general level of jollity to Bacchanalian heights ........... Mind you, apparently he was one of the most politically correct kommandants of his time.
Festive greetings to all -
Frank</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Christmas in Bergen
|
ken baker | 12/22/2001 01:44AM |
|
Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Joe Brennan | 12/22/2001 10:23AM |
|
Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Frank | 12/22/2001 03:26PM |
|
Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Rainer Bruns | 12/22/2001 03:54PM |
|
Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Joe Brennan | 12/22/2001 10:14PM |
|
Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Yuri IL'IN | 12/22/2001 09:36PM |
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Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Joe | 12/23/2001 04:21PM |
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Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Yuri IL'IN | 12/24/2001 06:28AM |
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Re: Christmas in Bergen?
|
Jeff | 12/24/2001 04:16PM |
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Re: Christmas in Bergen / Sailors
|
John Griffiths | 12/22/2001 05:51PM |