General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
US tankers refuelling U-boats in 1941.
Posted by:
tcolvin
()
Date: June 24, 2007 03:06PM
There are Bundesarchiv photos, numbers 86MW/4285/31 and 32, which were published in Paul Beaver's 'U-Boats in the Atlantic", and show U-107 and other U-Boats refuelling from the US Tanker Prairie.
The section on U-107 in this website states; "On 3 and 4 of May (1941), U-107 refuelled from the German support ship Nordmark."
Beaver's caption states; "The American tanker Prairie refuels a group of U-boats, including U-107, just six months before the US entered the war on the Allied side. Prior to Pearl Harbour, many Americans were more pro-German than pro-British and, in fact, several senior officials in major oil companies were naturalised American citizens of German extraction. Indeed, there were four American tankers waiting in the Atlantic to supply the Bismarck when she sailed on her last ill-fated cruise".
Is Beaver right? Is this website wrong? Did the US Prairie refuel U-boats, or did Nordmark impersonate the US Prairie as a ruse de guerre?
If US tankers refuelled U-boats in the Atlantic, then what was a) its frequency b) the method used for arranging the meeting c) method of payment d) the situation with German surface ships e) the US government's knowledge and involvement f) ditto for the British government and g) the RN's knowledge and counteraction.
Any other information about this extraordinary and frankly incredible story would be most welcome.
The section on U-107 in this website states; "On 3 and 4 of May (1941), U-107 refuelled from the German support ship Nordmark."
Beaver's caption states; "The American tanker Prairie refuels a group of U-boats, including U-107, just six months before the US entered the war on the Allied side. Prior to Pearl Harbour, many Americans were more pro-German than pro-British and, in fact, several senior officials in major oil companies were naturalised American citizens of German extraction. Indeed, there were four American tankers waiting in the Atlantic to supply the Bismarck when she sailed on her last ill-fated cruise".
Is Beaver right? Is this website wrong? Did the US Prairie refuel U-boats, or did Nordmark impersonate the US Prairie as a ruse de guerre?
If US tankers refuelled U-boats in the Atlantic, then what was a) its frequency b) the method used for arranging the meeting c) method of payment d) the situation with German surface ships e) the US government's knowledge and involvement f) ditto for the British government and g) the RN's knowledge and counteraction.
Any other information about this extraordinary and frankly incredible story would be most welcome.
US tankers refuelling U-boats in 1941.